Stages 8, 10 and 11
Figeac - Toulouse 174km
Pau - Hautacam 154km
Lannemezan - Foix 166km

2008 Departures
July 4/18
August 1/15/29
September 12/26

Day 1. Friday – Arrival and transfer to Figeac.
You will be collected from your incoming flight at Toulouse airport and transferred to your hotel in the historical medieval Town of Figeac. Once checked in you will enjoy a superb evening dinner and a welcome drink courtesy of Ride le Tour. Each rider will then be issued with laminated route info, loan bar-mounted Sat Nav (routes pre-programmed) and loan emergency mobile telephone.
http://www.ville-figeac.fr/

Day 2. Saturday – Le Grand Depart. 174km. Figeac to Toulouse.
Up early for a hearty breakfast. Each rider will be issued with energy bars/gels and fruit. Leave start point at 8AM and cycle our first stage of the Tour de France. Today it is Stage 8, a flat profile to break us in gently. Ride le Tour will replenish drinks bottles, and provide energy bars at 45km intervals though we recommend that you stop off at a café for lunch. Finish the stage and check into our hotel in Toulouse. In the evening there will be a group dinner and presentation of the Rider of the Day Award. You’ve just ridden a real stage of the 2008 Tour de France!
http://www.toulouse.fr/

Day 3. Sunday – Rest day.
After breakfast the morning is yours to just relax, sight see or cycle some of beautiful France. Depart hotel at mid-day for the transfer to our next stage town – Pau. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the local area. Group dinner is provided in the hotel restaurant.
http://www.pau.fr/

Day 4. Monday – Our 2nd Stage. 154km. Pau to Hautacam
This is where the real challenge begins! This is where you take on the majesty and height of the high Pyrenees. A real mountain stage featuring the legendary Col du Tourmalet (2115 metres) finishing high in the mountains at the ski station of Hautacam. You will need to be up early and leave the hotel at 8AM. Each rider will be issued with energy bars/gels and fruit. Ride le Tour will replenish drinks bottles, and provide food en route though we recommend that you stop off at a café for lunch. Arrive at stage end and check into our Hotel. Evening – group dinner and presentation of the Rider of the Day Award.
http://www.hautacam.com

Day 5. Tuesday – Rest day.
After breakfast the day is yours to just relax, sight see or cycle. We’ll be staying in the same hotel today so you have total freedom to do as you choose. Another legendary mountain, the Col d’Aubisque is very close by. If you have the energy then that’s the place to go! Group dinner is provided in the hotel restaurant.

Day 6. Wednesday – Our 3rd Stage. 166km. Lannemezan - Foix
Today you tackle your last stage. Up early for a hearty breakfast and short transfer to the start of Stage 11. Today’s Stage has a medium mountains profile. We’re leaving the big peaks behind us now. Not to be underestimated though, the 109km mark sees the start of the 11.6km climb up to the Col de la Crouzette which has an average gradient of 7.1%. Each rider will be issued with energy bars/gels and fruit. Ride le Tour will replenish drinks bottles, and provide food en route though we recommend that you stop off at a café for lunch. Finish the stage and check into our hotel in Foix.
Evening – group dinner and presentation of the Rider of the Day Award, I Rode the Tour Certificates for all riders and Rider of the Tour award.
http://www.mairie-foix.fr/

Day 7. Thursday. Final day.
Check out and transfer back to Toulouse airport.

Flight links.
British Airways – www.ba.com
easyJet – www.easyjet.com
Flybe – www.flybe.com
Jet2 – www.jet2.com