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I’ll be in Paris the day of the last stage and I’d like to experience the event. I don’t suppose I’ll get a grandstand view of Cav winning on the Champs Elysees, and I’m not prepared to spend ages camping out to get a good spot, so is there a good locations to get a bit of a view and enjoy the occasion ?
I was there when Cav won in 2012. Nice day out. But the answer to your question is no, not unless you are prepared to spend ages camping out to get a good spot.
Can you get there early? The roads are closed all day and you can ride your own bike (or a hire bike) down the Champs-Elysees along with all the locals.
Splash the cash and get one of their fancy tickets. Did that a few years ago and it was amazing. 50 metres from the finish line, sitting in amongst all the riders who had abandoned during the race, about 3 rows back from the barrier. It was also Jens Voight's last tour, so was pretty special.
Last time I did it was about 15 years ago, get there early and prepared to keep the elbows out to keep your space.
If there are a few of you go somewhere near a cafe or McDonalds so you can nip in for drinks and the loo.
Anywhere on the Champs-Elysees you'll get about the same view as they are up and down 10 times so you'll see them passing 20.
First time I was there there was some roadworks and I stole an old cobblestone, my parents told me that was what caused Abdu to crash a few years later 🙂
K
I was accidentally there when I was 15, watched from the upstairs balcony of Macdonald's. Great view.
We've been there a handful of times. The area near the Louvre as the riders come up from the tunnel is normally pretty good if you get there an hour or so before they first come through. The riders slow up a bit as they climb out of the tunnel and turn the corner, so you get a pretty good view of them.
We stood on the Rue de Rivoli when we went (Lance was with Astana, it was a while ago), which was good because the riders came round 8 (or was it 6?) times. However, if I remember correctly from last year’s coverage, the police heavy mob weren’t letting people stand on the ‘park’ side of the road which obviously limits your vantage points. I think if I were to go again I’d take fat-boy-fat’s advice.
For the late night finish a few years back
we camped out on the side opposite the start finish from 10am on the day with a cheap cool box full of ice , cool drinks and food - fully prepared for it to be stolen in the heat of the action when we were all focused on the event.
IT wasn't stolen and we got a great view of the action and then hit mcdonalds for tea before heading back to the hotel.