Going to Paris ... Best place to watch the last stage of the Tour de France?

robklurfield

robklurfield

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The Mrs. & I are headed to Paris on Thursday. We'll be in the 16th Arrondisment. Anyone have suggestions for the best place to watch the last stage of the Tour de France?
 
Finish line? The U-turn at the top of the course? Just guessing based on what I see on TV. The place will be jammed.

Wayne
 
Don't they come right up the Champs Elysees? Finish at the Arc de Triumph? I like to shoot the finish of stage one of the Amgen Tour of California here in Santa Rosa, and my best advice would be to get to the finish area a couple of hours early and scout out a good spot. Bon voyage, and enjoy the 16th. We've stayed out there the last two trips, and found it to be a really nice and quiet escape from the madness of the city center.
 
Vics said:
Don't they come right up the Champs Elysees? Finish at the Arc de Triumph? I like to shoot the finish of stage one of the Amgen Tour of California here in Santa Rosa, and my best advice would be to get to the finish area a couple of hours early and scout out a good spot. Bon voyage, and enjoy the 16th. We've stayed out there the last two trips, and found it to be a really nice and quiet escape from the madness of the city center.
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They finish about halfway up the uphill side of the street, riding towards the Arc. Have fun!
 
According to that blog post, you'll need to stake a location claim early in the morning...and continue to fight for it until the finish in the afternoon :)

Looking forward to pics, Rob.
 
It will be very crowded and difficult to get a good vantage point in Paris. My family was there in '09 and we caught just a brief glimps. We were sort of near the Louvre.

But congrats on the trip and enjoy the city! Don't make the tour de france viewing the primary purpose for the trip, so you won't be disappointed.

Best place to view the tour is out in the countryside somewhere far from Paris.
 
It's been a while but I remeber watching it from an elevated point at the concorde.
It also had the benefit that they had to slow down for the hairpin.

Getting a good spot at the finish line will be all out war I presume.

It might be nice to catch the crowd there instead.
 
Take your own water bottles with you on a hot day. Many of the vendors walking through the crowds are selling refilled bottles with the lids screwed on tight to make you think you're getting a fresh one. And there are scams involving a found gold ring...
 
In this photo, Place de la Concorde is behind the riders. Finish is on the left of the riders.

TDF_Champs.jpg


I wonder how much a ticket for the Ferris Wheel costs?

I am totally jealous. Have fun!

Wayne
 
FrankS said:
Take your own water bottles with you on a hot day. Many of the vendors walking through the crowds are selling refilled bottles with the lids screwed on tight to make you think you're getting a fresh one. And there are scams involving a found gold ring...
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That (the found gold ring "scam") is in all major cities in Western Europe, generally executed by Eastern Europeans. They also have the "take this branch for free for good luck...now pay me" and "please sign this form to help deaf-mutes...we won't stop harassing you until you pay up" scam.


Good advise on the water bottle.

It hasn't been too hot lately, anyway.
 
robklurfield said:
The Mrs. & I are headed to Paris on Thursday. We'll be in the 16th Arrondisment. Anyone have suggestions for the best place to watch the last stage of the Tour de France?
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Niice. The 16th is pretty chic (and the 7th).

Keep in mind that, unless you have secured a good spot in Champs Elysees (unlikely unless you're a member of the press or the security detail), once they show up you'll get to see them for under a minute.

All the tourists will be in the uber-touristy places (Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, etc...) and the crowds will be your main concern.

I haven't looked at this year's map yet (the exact trail changes ever so significantly every year, except for the finish line), but last year I got a good view from Vincennes (which is on the exact opposite of Paris from the 16th). If you don't know Paris, I don't recommend going there, as you may get lost.

I took this shot last year, and it's pretty much you'll get to see (if you're not blocked by other people trying to get shots with their phone)




If you have tons of patience, it's worth it, even if it takes about a minute for them to buzz by (and they're not going that fast, compared to the rest of the race). They do slow down as they're conscious that it's pretty much more for show than anything.
 
I lived in Paris in the mid 1990's and watched the final stage on the Champs Elysees.
The peloton moves pretty fast and they will do 8 laps on the course.
It is a good location because the Champs is very wide and slopes up to the Arc de Triomphe.
The Champs is paved with cobblestones and the riders will wide ride on the 12" wide strip of concrete near the curb for speed and to avoid the bumps.

Paris is...Paris.
Have a great time!
 
The last time I was in Paris I had the fortunate luck to be living in Boulogne-Billancourt (just outside the 16th) and had the peloton passed by twice and then I took the metro down to Champs-Elysees to catch the round-n-rounds. If you check this year's route, you could find a couple of vantage points to do the same. I think I'll have a look at the 2012 route and let you know which point I would go this year if I was in Paris.

*jealous*
 
My wife says our inside source (an expat Yank living in Paris) recommends we head to the Arc de Triomphe and hang out by the statue of Charles DeGaulle, which is apparently at Place Clemenceau right off the Champs Elysees (sorry about all my missing accent marks).
 
robklurfield said:
My wife says our inside source (an expat Yank living in Paris) recommends we head to the Arc de Triomphe and hang out by the statue of Charles DeGaulle, which is apparently at Place Clemenceau right off the Champs Elysees (sorry about all my missing accent marks).
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That's on the downhill side of the street, not the finishing side. Just FYI.
 
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