Tour de France 2009

Hi

I will be in the perpignan area when the Tour comes to Perpignan. As I have never witnessed the Tour, I would be grateful for any info.

Is it best to go into toen to see the finish, or better to view it on route? Has Perpignan made any particular plans to celebrate the arrival of the Tour?

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%26quot;Is it best to go into toen to see the finish, or better to view it on route?%26quot;

It is probably going to be very crowded in town, I would prefer to view it on route.

%26quot;Has Perpignan made any particular plans to celebrate the arrival of the Tour?%26quot;

Nothing in the local paper so far, it is much to early.

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Hi,

The previous post is right that it will probably be very crowded in town. If you want to be very near the finish line you will probably have to be there about 4 hours before (or more) to get a decent place - even then you will not be right at the line as there are always grandstand seats at the finish line. It is a flat stage going into Perpignan, so you are probably talking about a sprint finish, unless the route through the town is such that it will slow the riders down very much. Either way - right at the finish you will probably wait for hours and see them flash past in about 2 minutes. It can be exciting seeing the finish but it is a long wait for two minutes of action!

Probably better out on the road. Have a look at the Tour website (www.letour.fr) just before you go at the details of the route for the day, all the roads will be listed. Try and pick somewhere where you can sit for an hour or two and wait comfortably e.g., somewhere in the country where you can put up chairs, have a picnic etc. Also pick somewhere that will slow the riders down e.g., a sharp bend in the road or a small climb if there are any. You will see a bit more that way than them all flashing past on a flat straight road. Another advantage of being on the road is that you are more likely to get stuff from the caravan if that is of interest.

Alison

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The detail route has not yet been issued. It is normally published on letour.fr about now.

Last year, google earth made an interactive video of the entire route - which would be an ideal way to select your vantage spot ?

Peter

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Thanks to everyone for the information.

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I a still trying to find the detailed route that will be followed. Does anyone know where the specific roads that the tour follows and towns it passes through is posted?

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I a still trying to find the detailed route that will be followed. Does anyone know where the specific roads that the tour follows and towns it passes through is posted?

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The Tour will arrive via the road from Elne and Argeles down Boulevard Mercader and Boulevard des Pyrenees in Perpignan. The finish line will be at Place de Catalogne, near the station.

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Are there any celebrations planned while the Tour is in town?

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The Tour is expected to arrive at 5 pm, Place de Catalogne. Expect huge crowds.

At 11 am there will be a %26quot;bell concert%26quot; at the cathedral. The two bell ringers will play music from different countries :

mairie-perpignan.fr/pdf/carillon/carillon_8_…