100th Anniversary Tour de France 2003
The 2003 Tour
de France is the 100th anniversary of this
magnificent race, considered to be the most difficult and
challenging athletic event in existence.
The
organizers have created an historic and demanding course
including climbs in the Alps and Pyrenees mountains.
 Lance
Armstrong, with the help of his US Postal team, will be vying
for his 5th overall victory, making this historic
race one of the most exciting ever. Because of the high
demand for our style of tour, this season we are offering three
2-week tours in the Alps, designed to coincide with the Tour de
France. We will cycle many of the climbs that are regulars
in the Tour de France, as well as those which will be
highlighted by this year's Tour, the Galibier, the
Madeleine, and l'Alpe d’Huez. On each trip we have scheduled a
day or two, to watch the Tour de France in person; with plenty
of opportunity to ride the roads and climb the cols made sacred
by three generations of the world's most superb athletes.
We will be
well-positioned to ride to the Col du Galibier on our
French Alps Classic-Galibier
tour; July 8 - 23; at 18.5km climbing distance at an average
grade of 6.7%, we'll witness a very exciting stage as the
peloton challenges this pass, one of the highest in the Alps.
At 2360m
altitude, the Col d'Izouard is another one of the highest cols,
demanding no less than everything from the Tour domestiques, as
they give their all for their team leaders on this 19.4km, 5.9%
climb. From the town of Guillestre, on our
French Alps Classic-Izouard
Tour, we'll be perfectly situated to ride to the top to watch
the ascent of this Col, or, we can ride to just short of the
summit to watch a thrilling descent.
Our
Petite Alps tour will be
stationed in Bourg d'Oisans, placing us in perfect striking
distance of the Stage 8 finish at l'Alpe d'Huez. Of
course, we will just have to climb l'Alpe d'Huez ourselves, but
how much more motivating can it get with 10,000 fans already
lining the road?
Above photo of Galen Erickson and
Lance Armstrong courtesy of:
Thierry Guillot,
Dauphiné Libèré, Supplément au numéro 17628, 18
juillet 01, 88th Tour de France
|
