{"id":12321,"date":"2018-06-29T12:50:33","date_gmt":"2018-06-29T10:50:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.suncamp.nl\/blog\/?post_type=listing&p=12321"},"modified":"2021-07-02T23:33:44","modified_gmt":"2021-07-02T21:33:44","slug":"on-the-tour-de-france-trail-1","status":"publish","type":"listing","link":"https:\/\/www.suncamp.co.uk\/blog\/listing\/on-the-tour-de-france-trail-1\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Tour de France trail (1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

How about combining a camping holiday with getting to see the world’s greatest cycling event? The Tour de France cyclists are once again crossing the country between 7 and 29 July, which is of course the perfect opportunity to witness it in person. If you\u2019d like to know the best place to park your motorhome or pitch your tent, here are five camping tips for making the most of the French landscape and the Tour de France. Today, part 1 with the first two tips.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 105th edition of the Tour is an almost 100% French affair. Only 16 of the 3,351 kilometres to be covered are over non-French territory. While the starting point is quite often elsewhere in Europe \u2013 last year it was in D\u00fcsseldorf \u2013 virtually the entire Tour is now in France. That’s good news for campers in France also wishing to take in some of the Tour during their holiday.<\/p>\n

\"Camping<\/p>\n

In Part 1, here are two camping tips for the start of the Tour de France<\/a>. In this first part, the cyclists ride in nine stages from the Atlantic coast in the Vend\u00e9e to the city of Roubaix \u2013 sacred to cyclists \u2013 on the Belgian border.<\/p>\n

Tip 1: Le Grand D\u00e9part<\/i> in Pays de la Loire<\/h2>\n

Saturday 7 July, Sunday 8 July and Monday 9 July<\/i><\/p>\n

The starting shot for the Tour de France will be fired in the Pays de la Loire<\/a> region; on the island of \u00cele de Noirmoutier, to be precise. This special island can \u2018simply\u2019 be reached from the mainland by road; there\u2019s no bridge or ferry here. That means you have to get your timing right, since the Passage du Gois is submerged in water, only appearing at low tide. This slippery road was also on the route map in 2011 and 1999, with the latter crossing being particularly notorious. Michael Boogerd had to quit the competition following a mass pile-up on the Passage du Gois, causing Switzerland’s Alex Z\u00fclle to lose six minutes to the subsequent winner Lance Armstrong.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Tour cyclists have thus been warned, since they\u2019ll be leaving the island along this same road; and 201 km further, in Fontenay-le-Comte, is where we\u2019ll see who first gets to don the yellow jersey. Anyone staying in this region between 7 and 10 July won\u2019t in fact be able to avoid the Tour, since the cyclists will also be in Pays de la Loire on Sunday 8 July (flat ride from Mouilleron-Saint-Germain to La Roche-sur-Yon) and Monday 9 July (team time trial in Cholet).<\/p>\n

While that means there are plenty of options to see some action, you\u2019ll by no means tire of the amazing surroundings either. Get on a bike yourself or put on your walking shoes. You\u2019ll soon realise why this region, brimming with woodlands, hills and castles, is also known as the garden of France<\/i>. Along the Loire you\u2019ll not only marvel at the landscapes, you\u2019ll also discover the bustling regional capital Nantes and numerous untouched French towns and villages.<\/p>\n

Not to be missed are the beaches and resorts along the Atlantic coastline. In La Baule \u2013 also the starting point for stage four on Tuesday 10 July \u2013 and Les Sables-d\u2019Olonne you can not only unwind on the wonderful beach, but also enjoy a snack or a drink at the boulevard’s cafes. In terms of cuisine the Loire region is famous for its fresh fruit and vegetables, the splendid local wines and rillauds d\u2019Anjou<\/i> (braised pork belly). Fish aficionados in particular are in for a treat on the coast, and the oysters from this region are renowned for being the best in the world.<\/p>\n\n

Tip 2: The charm of Brittany<\/h2>\n

Wednesday 11 July and Thursday 12 July<\/i><\/p>\n

After the cyclists have left the Pays de la Loire, they\u2019ll be heading off to Brittany<\/a>. Stage five commences in Lorient and ends in Quimper, and a day later the peloton will be riding from Brest to M\u00fbr de Bretagne. Awaiting the cyclists here is a spectacular yet difficult arrival along the 2 km climb of the same name, with an average gradient of 6.9%. Who knows, your favourites might seize their first opportunity here before the final victory, with someone else wearing the yellow jersey after this stage.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re also spending your holidays on the French peninsula during that period, you have two options for coming across the Tour Team and cheering on your favourites. However, your other days there will also fly by in these varied surroundings with rugged coastlines, wide beaches and wonderful islands.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

In the south of Brittany you\u2019ll find amazing beaches, suitable for sun worshippers and water lovers alike. The area surrounding Quimper in particular, in the Bay of Concarneau, is a surfers\u2019 paradise. The C\u00f4te de Granit Ros in the north attracts plenty of attention. An impressive coastline with the most astounding rock formation in pink hues. The Bay of Morlaix, with the charming port town of Roscoff and the charming Ile de Batz, is one of this region’s highlights.<\/p>\n

The French nobility had already discovered Brittany\u2019s beauty centuries ago, meaning you can nowadays also enjoy their imposing country houses and castles. These constructions mostly date from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, also the time when the mythical forest of Broc\u00e9liande became famous. This forest, located in the heart of Brittany, is where the legend of King Arthur was set. It still retains an enchanted feel, and you\u2019ll wander past special attractions such as the Tombeau de Merlin<\/i> (part of a megalith) and the Fontaine de Barenton<\/i>, a spring from the legends concerning Merlin and King Arthur.<\/p>\n