The 2011 Tour was a thrilling race. Australia claimed its first ever victory, while the infamous Schleck brothers snatched up second and third places. 2012 should be equally (if not more) exciting; the inclusion of a few new stage sites will certainly spice things up. The Tour invariably promises high tension, particularly in the mountains, where the roads switchback and the steep grades separate out the real contenders. You will be there to witness all the epic moments: the climb at La Planche des Belles Filles in the Vosges, and the Alpine finish at La Toussuire.
The week starts high in the Vosges mountains for the uphill finish of Stage 7 at Planche des Belles Filles, a newcomer as a finish for the Tour. We follow the peloton the next day with a ride through the nearby Jura Mountains in Switzerland, and will be there again along the fences to witness the stage finish in Porrentruy. After two days of mountain stages we should have an indication of who the real contenders are.
From there we power through to Besançon for the highlights of an individual time trial, before heading south to the imposing peaks of the Alps. Here, with Lake Annecy at our backs, you'll ride the cols of the Parc Naturel Massif des Bauges before pedalling the famous hills and villages of the Chartreuse Massif.
Our final day of riding we will tackle the legendary climb to La Toussuire (1,705m), arriving in plenty of time to join the screaming, flag-waving fans awaiting the arrival of the leaders.
