It's not too late! Last-minute guide to watching the Tour de France in France

Published by Lyn on 27 June 2013

The clock is ticking – the 100th Tour de France is about to set off on its annual pilgrimage around country, but it's not too late to be roadside to watch the peloton rumble by. Here's how.

The Tour de France peloton.

Last-minute guided Tour de France bike rides

A number of good tour companies still have a few spots remaining on their Tour de France itineraries, so it's not only possible to see the race, but to also ride the route in the days before and after the big boys. Both these tours are fully guided and include accommodation, vehicle/baggage support and some meals.

Velorious Tours (+33 (0)4 67 90 82 40) has 2 spots remaining on its June 30 Tour de France week based in Languedoc. The 6-day tour is priced at €995, and includes rides to three stages of the Tour de France – to the finish of stage 6 in Montpellier, to stage 7 in the mountains of the Haut Languedoc Parc, and to stage 8, where the race enters the Pyrenees.

VeloVercors (+33 (0) 4 75 71 35 50) has a July 13-July 20 ride that's based in the fabulous Vercors area of the Drome region, with the chance to climb Alpe d'Huez and Mont Ventoux on the same days as the Tour de France. The tour is priced ar £900 and based on two people sharing.

Watching the Tour de France in France

If you fancy following the Tour de France on your own, see our guide to watching the Tour de France for information and advice. See here for a route overview.

You'll need to get yor hands on the official race programme – an invaluable source of route maps, team info and cyclist profiles.

For information on getting to France, see our planes, trains and ferries pages. Here is some advice on driving in France.

Accommodation for the Tour de France

To check bike-friendly accommodation in France, see our where to stay section. There is more information and advice, with links to recommended online booking sites here. If all else fails, try nabbing free accommodation here.

Guide to following the Tour de France

Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Guide: The Complete Insider's Guide to Following the World's Greatest Race (UK, US) is THE guide to following the Tour de France. It includes all the logistics you'll need to consider if planning a cycling trip to watch the Tour de France.

More Tour de France inspiration

If all else fails and you end up watching the Tour de France on TV, then these books are worth having on the coffee table in front of you for the 100th anniversary race. Here are some other Tour de France books to fill in the hours, too.

Ride the Tour de France route another time

Climbing Tour de France mountains is, of course, possible at other times of the year – the roads are open to all traffic year-round, so you can test yourself at your leisure. See our organsied tours section to search for companies that offer supported rides throughout the year, usually from April through until September or October.

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