Discover France Announces

Enhanced 2012 Tour de France Program

For Non – Cyclists Who Can’t Get Enough of the Excitement

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Nov. 30, 2011 – Discover France http://www.discoverfrance.com, a French company, invites devotees of Tour de France (TDF) to join a variety of non-cycling trips offering VIP access to the pageantry of this international competition.

“We’ve had such enthusiasm from our ‘camp followers’ that in 2012 we’re providing even more access to VIP sites,” announced Loren Siekman, owner. “There are so many die-hard cycling fans who can’t get enough of the excitement we’ve tweaked our non-cycling trips to include more VIP access and more route highlights than ever before. Just because you can’t follow the tour on bike doesn’t mean you should miss these special opportunities.” Siekman noted that Discover France is one of the few officially licensed operators that run these tours, so they are granted the best access and the best viewing.

New for 2012 will be passage (on a first-come, first-serve basis) on select stages in an official Tour car. More non cycling tours have been introduced, including a Champagne Tasting & Tour VIP experience that will be a two-night trip in the Champagne region as well as VIP access. Helicopter flights combined with a VIP Tour car behind the peloton can be arranged for VIP clients, available for groups of three to six and starting at 9 a.m. and concluding at 6 p.m. on the same day.

Following is a sample of non-cycling tours and Paris packages all with VIP access.

• An Opening Stages Tour includes a July 3 and 4 team time trial finish in an exclusive area complete with snacks, champagne and the best view, plus in Olonne Sur Mer hanging out with former pros, media, and tour officials and team prior to the day’s stage.
• The Grenoble + Paris Tour brings guests on July 23 and 24 to the time trial finish in Grenoble in an exclusive area complete with amenities and the best view plus from VIP Tribune Grand Palais seating viewing the winner ride the Champs Elysees with the rest of the riders.
• A Paris + Hotel program includes Grand Palais Tribune seating after a personal welcome by Tour de France hostesses, plus two nights at a four-star hotel. Or another option is to forego the hotel portion and simply enjoy the Grand Palais hospitality in addition to Triomphe, a cocktail buffet, open bar throughout the afternoon, champagne served after the final and a VIP “Tour de France” gift.

Discover France Adventures has been organizing bicycle tours and hiking tours in France since 1994 and has offices in both the USA and in France. Discover France is a pioneer in bringing self guided cycling and hiking and now multisport adventures to a broader market outside of Europe. Pure Adventures is an outgrowth of the success of Discover France Adventures, now in its 17th year in 2011.

Self-guided bicycle tours were a growth area for the cycling industry last year and it continues to be this year, according to Pure Adventures (http://pure-adventures.com/), sister company to Discover France Adventures that specializes in self guided and custom guided cycling and multisport tours in France.

Discover France Adventures award winning tours are made up of their unique self guided tours and very competitively priced guided tours. They are proud to be a continued supporter of Sustainable Travel International.

Visit http://www.discoverfrance.com for all details or contact them by phone at 800.960.2221 or by email at contact@discoverfrance.com.

The 2012 Tour de France is Set

The route is set and cyclists around the world are gearing up for yet another Tour de France. The prologue is set to take off on June 30 in Liege, Belgium. This will be the nineteenth year in TDF history that the race begins in a country other than France. The 3 week and 20 stage Tour will travel throughout France stopping in towns such as Rouen, Pau, and Bagnères-de-Luchon before the annual grand finale in Paris. The 2012 TDF will cover over 3400 km!

ASO, the race organizer, has not been the only ones working hard to arrange this annual tour, Discover France has also been busy putting together their own TDF cycling and non-cycling tours. With another year being an official tour operator of the TDF, our team knows what to expect and how to build the perfect tour for you. We are putting the finishing touches on our tours, which will offer VIP services to witness all the glory of the prologue, 2 individual time trials, 9 flat stages, 4 medium mountain stages and 5 mountain stages. Our tour details are scheduled to be released in November, however many Le Tour enthusiasts have already pre-booked their tours risk free. Don’t miss the opportunity to go on your dream TDF tour with us. Pre book now or get on our email list to be the first to know when our tours are posted.

In the mean time, study the Tour’s route below and narrow down what stage you most want to be at the finish line. With our help, you can!!

2012 Tour de France Route:

Prologue – Sat, June 30 – Liège > Liège (6.1 km)

Stage 1 – Sun, July  1 – Liège > Seraing (198 km)
Stage 2 – Mon, July 2 – Visé > Tournai (207 km)
Stage 3 – Tues, July 3 – Orchies > Boulogne-sur-Mer (197 km)
Stage 4 – Wed, July 4 – Abbeville > Rouen (214 km)
Stage 5 – Thurs, July 5 – Rouen > Saint-Quentin (197 km)
Stage 6 – Fri, July 6 – Épernay > Metz (210 km)
Stage 7 – Sat, July 7 – Tomblaine > La Planche des Belles Filles (199 km)
Stage 8 – Sun, July 8 – Belfort > Porrentruy (154 km)
Stage 9 – Mon, July 9 – Arc-et-Senans > Besançon (38 km)
Stage 10 – Wed, July 11 – Mâcon > Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (194 km)
Stage 11 – Thurs, July 12 – Albertville > La Toussuire – Les Sybelles (140 km)
Stage 12 – Fri, July 13 – Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > Annonay (220 km)
Stage 13 – Sat, July 14 – Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Le Cap d’Agde (215 km)
Stage 14 – Sun, July 15 – Limoux > Foix (192 km)
Stage 15 – Mon, July 16 – Samatan > Pau (160 km)
Stage 16 – Wed, July 18 – Pau > Bagnères-de-Luchon (197 km)
Stage 17 – Thurs, July 19 – Bagnères-de-Luchon > Peyragudes (144 km)
Stage 18 – Fri, July 20 – Blagnac > Brive-la-Gaillarde (215 km)
Stage 19 – Sat, July 21 – Bonneval > Chartres (52 km)
Stage 20 – Sun, July 22 – Rambouillet > Paris Champs-Élysées (130 km)

5 Reasons to Join Discover France for the Tour de France

Tourists flock to France for the gorgeous scenery, delightful towns, and unique architecture, but during July the Tour de France trumps the list. Throughout the country, fans from around the world line the streets to cheer on the pro riders as they race by. On a Discover France VIP tour, because we are an official tour operator, you don’t just line the streets; you get to go behind the scenes of the Tour, test your power while riding the race route and taste some exquisite gastronomy.

Here are five compelling reasons to grab your bike and join a tour:

VIP access

As one of only 4 VIP official tour operators of the Tour de France, Discover France VIP tours offer unparalleled access to the 2012 Tour including the opportunity to ride the race course prior to the arrival of the pro-peloton, meeting the cycling pros and media with an official Tour de France guide at the Village and Izohard Bus, and crossing the finish line to take your place (and commemorative photo) on the awards podium! This special access to the 2012 Tour events can’t be found anywhere else except on our VIP cycling tours.

Different Degrees of Difficulty

Our VIP tours include challenging cycling or moderate cycling to suit every rider’s ability. Our challenging tours are for those who ride long, hard, and often and want to cover the big mountains at the Tour de France. Our moderate cycling tours are for those who ride a lot for fun, but want to enjoy other aspects of the tour and country. Discover France has spectator only tours for those not wanting to ride, but still looking to experience everything else offered including luxurious lodging, gastronomic dining, fantastic sites, and the unique French countryside and culture!

Guides

All of these exciting TDF tours include expert guides to lead the way and make sure every trip runs smoothly.  The guides are professionally trained and certified and are highly knowledgeable about the race and routes. They are multilingual as well and are experienced at guiding groups of foreigners over the big mountains and around the melee of the Tour de France. We are confident that our guides will show every guest the time of their life.

Excitement of the Tour

The Tour de France is one of the most well-known and widely attended sports events in the world. For almost a month, the professional riders race by millions of cheering spectators. The excitement and suspense is why so many people wait anxiously for July to come. We offer biking aficionados the opportunity to be at the finish line watching a hair-win sprint, or at the top of the giant cols observing the strength and determination of the pros first hand, or in Paris as the Tour winner receives the yellow jersey. Mostly, we offer the opportunity to experience the Tour de France exhilaration in a way few will ever get to.

New Acquaintances

Whether you are traveling with a small group, a partner, or by yourself, you will meet plenty of other excited bike enthusiasts. Guests join our tours from around the world to enjoy the Tour de France. New friendships will be made at the top of Alpe d’Huez, or backstage in the company of the pros and their teams, or while sipping champagne at the Champs Elysees finish line. Two past TDF guests met as strangers with one thing in common, the love of cycling; they are now planning their third biking trip together. The memories and friendships that develop on our tours will last a lifetime.

The Tour de France is one of the most amazing experiences for tourists, especially cyclists who are seeking adventure while also experiencing rich culture and history. The list above offers just a few of the many reasons you should grab your own bike and experience it for yourself.  It’s sure to be an unforgettable ride.