A perfect Tour for tourists...

There will be a vast array of things to admire on the route of the 2013 Tour de France: from the Gothic cathedral in Albi, to the imposing military fortress in Saint-Malo, and onward to the magnificent medieval town of Mont-Saint-Michel, this is a Tour that’s perfect for tourists. There are historic sites mixed with futuristic architecture – from Postman Cheval’s Ideal Palace in Hauterives or the impressive new MuCEM in Marseilles… the visual treats extend well beyond the sight of the peloton. The terrain may be ideal for this sporting challenge but the route also exposes fans to many other elements of France.
Tourists and television viewers alike will be lured in by the beauty of the stages of a route that takes the Tour to Corsica for the first time. In the opening stanza of the race, the peloton will past the beautiful cliffs of Bonifacio, the creeks of Piana, and the peaks of Bavella.
After leaving the ‘Island of Beauty’, the theme of water will stay in the spotlight; there’s a visit to the Promenade des Anglais in Nice and the traditional visits to both the Pyrenees and Alps. The final time trial comes early (stage 17) and it takes the Tour to the shores of Serre-Ponçon.
Other sites for tourists this July include the old city of Lyon and Vaison-la-Romaine, and the chateaux of the Loire Valley. And, on the final day, the stage to Paris will start in Versailles. Before the winner’s jersey is presented, however, there will be a twilight journey through the heart of the capital of France. The peloton will race through the City of Lights at dusk on the final day that is destined to be spectacular. Even after the race is over, there are treats for the spectators including a light show on the Arc de Triomphe after the presentation of the champion’s yellow jersey.