Champs-Elysees

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"[font=Verdana]If you go to the final stage in Paris then go early to get a good spot… you will have to wait for about 3 hours but if you don’t get near the front you cant see any of the racing… about an hour before they arrive on the Champs Elysee there is a massive push from behind and you can lose your spot… it can be hard going and you maybe better going to a pub or café on the Champs Elysee to watch on TV… that way you can hear the roar of the crowd and watch the racing proper… I think if I went again I would do this in [/font][font=Verdana]Paris[/font][font=Verdana]… I just couldn’t stand on my tip toes any longer…. At the end of the stage the crowds dissipated and it was easier to see the victory laps and get some decent photos…..

One last thing... bring a bag to each stage as the tour caravans roll past about 30 minutes before the riders and give out free stuff... by the end you will have about 300 different caps etc...."[/font]

eddiebarr said:

My friends and I are hoping to attend the final day of the tour in Paris. Does anybody have any ideas of the best vantage points, get there times or any other useful hints.

Thanks in advance🙂

whiteboytrash said:

Please see:
cyclingforums.comshowthread.phpOpen ↗

"[font=Verdana]If you go to the final stage in Paris then go early to get a good spot… you will have to wait for about 3 hours but if you don’t get near the front you cant see any of the racing… about an hour before they arrive on the Champs Elysee there is a massive push from behind and you can lose your spot… it can be hard going and you maybe better going to a pub or café on the Champs Elysee to watch on TV… that way you can hear the roar of the crowd and watch the racing proper… I think if I went again I would do this in [/font][font=Verdana]Paris[/font][font=Verdana]… I just couldn’t stand on my tip toes any longer…. At the end of the stage the crowds dissipated and it was easier to see the victory laps and get some decent photos…..

One last thing... bring a bag to each stage as the tour caravans roll past about 30 minutes before the riders and give out free stuff... by the end you will have about 300 different caps etc...."[/font]

All the above is correct, but get there even earlier.
There are massive road blocks and finding your way there, to get on one side or the other of the CHamps can take a LONG time.

Take something to sit on to rest or stand on to see.
You stand a very good chance of losing your place so you have to be veryenergetic in saving your spot, which means if you absolutely want to be on the fence next to the champs, get there in the AM, have several people with you so you can go pee and return.

It is sooo cool and exciting especially when the teams take laps of honor.

Good luck!

hombredesubaru said:

All the above is correct, but get there even earlier.
There are massive road blocks and finding your way there, to get on one side or the other of the CHamps can take a LONG time.

Take something to sit on to rest or stand on to see.
You stand a very good chance of losing your place so you have to be veryenergetic in saving your spot, which means if you absolutely want to be on the fence next to the champs, get there in the AM, have several people with you so you can go pee and return.

It is sooo cool and exciting especially when the teams take laps of honor.

Good luck!

My wife and I will be at the finale and understand well what it takes to get a decent spot at a big time event. We have in mind to get to the Champs at sunrise and would like to have in mind a place to be. Can anyone suggest some specific areas to make our priority? We want our best shot a photography and have good gear. Thanks for any tips.

Been twice. As with the others, get there early.....and bring water...and sunscreen, Paris in July gets hot!!! In 97 I was at Place du Concorde (on the outside corner you can see the teams come up the Rue de Rivoli befor they turn left on the Champs) and it was packed! Crazy Germans EVERYWHERE! In 2000 I was on Champs Elysees at the 100m sprint line and it was soooo awesome, guys were going balls out for the points...plus you can make a quick sprint to the podium area after all the hoopla. Walking up and down the Champs earlier this May I was scoping out (while wife was window shopping) where I should be for the next TdF I go to. Have fun in Paris, it is truly one of the best cities in the world.

tri4fun said:

Been twice. As with the others, get there early.....and bring water...and sunscreen, Paris in July gets hot!!! In 97 I was at Place du Concorde (on the outside corner you can see the teams come up the Rue de Rivoli befor they turn left on the Champs) and it was packed! Crazy Germans EVERYWHERE! In 2000 I was on Champs Elysees at the 100m sprint line and it was soooo awesome, guys were going balls out for the points...plus you can make a quick sprint to the podium area after all the hoopla. Walking up and down the Champs earlier this May I was scoping out (while wife was window shopping) where I should be for the next TdF I go to. Have fun in Paris, it is truly one of the best cities in the world.

Thanks for the info. I was eyeing out the very end of the Champs nearest the Obelisque and get a spot where I can shoot looking back towards the Arc. I am arriving on thrusday so I should have time to scout things out.

When you say early, do you mean the night before or will sunrise still me a reasonable chance?

jrsachs said:

My wife and I will be at the finale and understand well what it takes to get a decent spot at a big time event. We have in mind to get to the Champs at sunrise and would like to have in mind a place to be. Can anyone suggest some specific areas to make our priority? We want our best shot a photography and have good gear. Thanks for any tips.

OK, I'm definitely going to put this stage up on my practical guide to seeing the Tour ( www.cyclotourist.net/roadsidetour ). You don't have to get there the night before - but 3 or 4 hours definitely. The finish line is about half way up (by the métro Champs Elysées-Clemenceau), but that area is taken up by official stands for press, riders' family, people who know people, etc. I'd say the top near the Arc de Triomphe (métro Charles de Gaulle - Etoile) is the best bet. Be assertive in keeping your slot, though, as people will try to push in!

If you don't fancy waiting quite so long, try watching it from the Tuileries gardens - you can usually get a slot on the wall (on the south side) just an hour or two beforehand. Only downer is you won't get to see the teams doing a victory lap of the Champs Elysees (but you will see the race pass 10 times).

I'll put more about this stage up on my site in the next week or two.

Olka75 said:

OK, I'm definitely going to put this stage up on my practical guide to seeing the Tour ( www.cyclotourist.net/roadsidetour ). You don't have to get there the night before - but 3 or 4 hours definitely. The finish line is about half way up (by the métro Champs Elysées-Clemenceau), but that area is taken up by official stands for press, riders' family, people who know people, etc. I'd say the top near the Arc de Triomphe (métro Charles de Gaulle - Etoile) is the best bet. Be assertive in keeping your slot, though, as people will try to push in!

If you don't fancy waiting quite so long, try watching it from the Tuileries gardens - you can usually get a slot on the wall (on the south side) just an hour or two beforehand. Only downer is you won't get to see the teams doing a victory lap of the Champs Elysees (but you will see the race pass 10 times).

I'll put more about this stage up on my site in the next week or two.

I was looking at maybe staking a place near the Marriott - between the FDR metro stop and the George V metro stop. Also thinking about trying to get near the sprint line to catch some of that crazyness. Am I right in thinking that spot will get me the sprint finish, 8 laps of the race and the victory lap? Thanks

Last year we went scouting round the day before in the morning. Didn't help much on the day. The whole section from the Place du Concorde up going up towards the Arc for god knows how far was cordened off, a no go area for us mere mortals. We ended up halfway up the Champs Elysees with no view of the finish line. We got there about 9.00 last yearand it was already packed. This year we're planning to get there much earlier.

eddiebarr said:

My friends and I are hoping to attend the final day of the tour in Paris. Does anybody have any ideas of the best vantage points, get there times or any other useful hints.

Thanks in advance🙂

I went last year. It was the 3rd stage is was able to catch, after the finish in Nimes, and the last mountain stage (i was even able to get a picture of me running next to the big guns!!) The Champs Elysees was actually my least favorite due to the huge amounts of fans. There are people showing up late but want to get as close as possible, so expect lots of shoving. They prior replies aren't exagerating about the crowds. I scouted out the area early, and had already decided i didn't want to spend an entire day waiting, so here is a great alternative...there are a couple of large department stores in downtown Paris (i can't remember their names though), i went and bought a $10 folding chair that i could stand on. While this worked, i would have spent a bit more and bought a small ladder or stool. When the race is over, just leave it there. With a 3 foot ladder, you can stand back from the 5-10 deep crowd and enjoy your prime view. also, its great for getting some good pictures. enjoy, hope this helps.

jrsachs said:

I was looking at maybe staking a place near the Marriott - between the FDR metro stop and the George V metro stop. Also thinking about trying to get near the sprint line to catch some of that crazyness. Am I right in thinking that spot will get me the sprint finish, 8 laps of the race and the victory lap? Thanks

Near the Marriott sounds good to me. You're on the side the riders go up the Champs-Elysees there, and also close enough to the finish line (which is approached coming up from Concorde) to see them after they come over the line. I would tend to agree with tstrauss though, that the Champs stage is one of the least enjoyable from the roadside because of the crowds and the pushing. If you have the chance to catch the St Etienne TT, go - it's a great opportunity to have a picnic, soak up the atmosphere and spread the whole experience out over a day. Plus, you'll be able to get more useless (but highly prized) goodies from the caravane - something that's very difficult from the Champs Elysees (they hardly throw anything out).

I too will be there on the final Sunday, hoping to cheer for Lance's 7th. Thank you all for the tips...

and the links.. keep the tips coming for us novice tour attendees...
buggz
Arlington, Tx

tstrauss said:

While this worked, i would have spent a bit more and bought a small ladder or stool. When the race is over, just leave it there. With a 3 foot ladder, you can stand back from the 5-10 deep crowd and enjoy your prime view. also, its great for getting some good pictures. enjoy, hope this helps.

That is a GREAT idea, thanks, I think i'll try that...😉