For the 2019 edition, Le Tour de France passes by some of the most iconic ski resorts in the Alps. The tour stages start off in the south before heading north into the famous Tarantaise Valley with three resort finishes: Valloire, Tignes, and Val Thorens. Allow us to point you in the best direction on where to see Le Tour de France and which luxury summer chalets to stay in during the race!
Stage 18, Embrun – Valloire, 25th July
The first stage in the Alps begins in the town of Embrun and heads north towards the Maurienne Valley, before finishing in Valloire. Valloire is one of the busier French resorts and has a strong year-long community with many cyclists and skiers visiting each year.
From Embrun, the race will head up the Col de Vars and start the 1st of the 3 first category climbs. The Col de Vars is 9.3km in length with an average gradient of 7.5%, with the steepest sections reaching 10.2%. The riders then get a nice downhill section before passing rough Risoul and Briançon, ahead of taking on the behemoth that is the Col d’Izoard, the 2nd of the 3 first category climbs.
The Col d’Izoard is 14.1km of pain at an average gradient of 7.3%, so slightly less than the Col de Vars. The steepest parts of the Izoard reach a gradient of 10% and that’s for a fair stretch too! Just in case the riders aren’t tired enough, there is the 23km Col du Galibier to conquer before the race down into Valloire. With an average gradient of 5.1%, it is more of a slow burner, however, there are two sections near the summit which reach 9% before summiting at 2,632m, which is the second highest point of the 2019 tour.
Stage 19, St Jean de Maurienne – Tignes, 26th July
After a well-earned rest overnight, the riders will hopefully have recovered as they take on the high point of Le Tour at the formidable Col d’Iseran, at some 2,770m. Before they get to the Iseran, they will pass through Aussois and Bonneval sur Arc of the Vanoise National Park. The Col d’Iseran is closed in the winter as the roads are often covered in snow from November all the way through until June time.
Once the riders have conquered 12.9km of the Iseran, with an average gradient of 7.5% (the steepest section is 10.2%), they then have a decent of almost 1,000 vertical metres before they arrive into the famous ski town of Val d’Isere. The riders continue to descend all the way down to Tignes Les Brevieres at 1,557m, before they head up through the villages of Tignes and finish in Tignes Val Claret at 2,100m. This is somewhat of a shorter climb for the riders at 7.4km and an average gradient of 7%, with just one steep section of 9.1%.
Stage 20, Albertville – Val Thorens, 27th July
The penultimate stage of the 2019 Tour is in the heart of the Tarentaise and finishes up in Val Thorens, which at 2,300m is the highest ski resort in Europe! The stage heads into the Beaufort Valley, home of the famous Beaufort cheese, and heads on a gradual climb up to the Cormet de Roseland at 1,908m. There are only a couple of steep sections, where riders will test their legs in preparation for the long assault of the Belleville Valley before they finish in Val Thorens.
The climb up to Val Thorens is a long one. From Moutiers, the riders will be looking at 33.4km of road, at an average gradient of 5.5%, which is slightly misleading as there are a few flat and downhill sections. At the bottom part of the climb, the gradient gets up to 11.6%, this is where riders will know if they can compete for the win or if they will need to pace themselves to survive. The finish line is just above the resort where riders will need to tackle the last section of road which is unpaved.
With some great luxury summer chalets available in the Alps, where better to base yourself to watch Le Tour de France 2019? Here are just a couple which will be great spots to enjoy the race and take in the scenery…
Chalet Quezac, Tignes Les Brevieres
Chalet Quezac commands an excellent location in the quaint resort of Tignes Les Brevieres, right on the main road into town which the riders will pass through. Quezac is one of the best chalets in the area and boasts 7 bedrooms and sleeps up to 12 adults and 4 children. The property has large outdoor spaces and terraces where one can enjoy a bite to eat, a glass of fizz and Le Tour whizzing past!
Chalets Aralia & Aphylla, St Martin de Belleville
If you are a large group of cycling enthusiasts and are looking for cycling accommodation for Le Tour de France, then these two chalets, which can be rented as one, are ideal. They each have 4 bedrooms, so 16 adults can stay here comfortably, there is also a bunk room in Chalet Aralia if there are any younger budding peddlers in the group. Le Tour will pass about 500m from the chalet, so this is a great chalet for those looking to spend a summer holiday in the Alps and watch Le Tour de France.
If you are keen to come out to the Alps this summer and stay in the comforts of one of our luxury chalets whilst enjoying Le Tour de France, then please do let us know your requirements and we will be happy to discuss them with you. You can either give us a call on +44 1202 203659 or you can send us an e-mail.
