I’ve been visiting the Tour de France for a good few years now (long before it ever became popular in the UK!) and this is a quick list of the stages I’ve been to. I try to update it each year.
An interesting point is how accessible the Tour is now. In the early days of visiting, I remember poring over cycling magazines trying to work out if the stage finish was going to be in the centre of town or some disused airstrip 3km from the nearest bus stop. Sometimes, a call to the tourist information office might produce the goods as would visiting there on the day of arrival. Now, a few clicks on the Tour website or the town’s dedicated webpage and all the information’s there.
Statistics
First visit: 1996
Actual number of years visited: 21
Number of countries visited 6: (Belgium, England, France, Monaco, Netherlands, Denmark)
Number of stages visited: 51
Most number of stages visited in one year: 6 (2014)
2024
Because of the 2024 Summer Olympics starting in Paris, the Tour de France was due to finish in Nice – the first time it’s finished outside of Paris. This couldn’t be missed so the hotel was booked in Nice in January – talk about preparation!
Stage 20 – amazing spot on the Promenade des Anglais in the baking sun as the riders rolled past in the neutralised section.
Stage 21 – grandstand view 15 metres from the finish line to view the individual time trial. One of the biggest cheers of the day from all the crowd was when Mark Cavendish came past who’d secured a record breaking 35th Tour de France stage win earlier in the race.
2023
A combination of taking leave from work
2022
Stage 1 – opening time trial in Copenhagen. Interestingly, the race started on a Friday this year. By the time I arrived in Copenhagen, the last kilometre was absolutely packed but managed to find a spot just after the finish line which was good for seeing the riders. Unfortunately, it absolutely chucked it down aaallll day!
Stage 2 – stage finish in Nyborg. Not that close to the finish but near enough. Stood next to a couple do Norwegian cycling fans who were top guys – especially when they bought a beer!
Stage 3 – stage start in Vejle – another amazing day. The Danes are just mad!
2021
No visit due to Covid-19
2020
No visit due to Covid-19
2019
Stage 1 – Bruxelles to Brussel
Stage 2 – Bruxelles to Brussel (Team Time Trial)
2018
Stage 8 – Dreux to Amiens. In Amiens
Stage 9 – Arras to Roubaux. In Roubaix
2017
Stage 20 – Marseille Time Trial. Near to the Vieux-Port around half way round the course.
The finish line was inside the Velodrome, meaning you can’t get up and close to the action. I’d also been down to the area leading up to the finish line earlier that morning on a 5k run [which was rather interesting / hot in itself] and it was already getting busy so I decided to stop in the port area, get a good spot and stay there.
This must be the longest I’ve travelled per stage – Doncaster to Marseille on the Friday, watched the race on the Saturday and back home on Sunday.
2016
Just started a new job and couldn’t take leave so no trip this year 🙁
2015
Stage 1 – Utrecht
Stage 2 – Start in Utrecht
Stage 3 – Mur de Huy
Stage 4 – Namur
Stage 15 – Valence
2014
Stage 1 – Leeds
Stage 2 – York then Sheffield
Stage 3 – London
Stage 4 – Lille
Stage 5 – Ieper but abandonded due to rain
Stage 21 – Paris
2013
Stage 4 – Nice Team TTT
Hotel West End
Sports Pulsions
Stage 6 – Finish in Montpellier 
Stage 7 – Start in Montpellier
2012
Prologue – Liege
Stage 1 – Seraing
Stage 2 – Namur
2011
Not a very rail accessible tour so didn’t visit
2010
A foray to a Grand Depart in another country!
Prologue – Rotterdam. Wet, miserable, rubbish photos.
Stage 1 – Rotterdam – Bruxelles. Near the finish in Bruxelles
Stage 2 – Bruxelles – Spa. By the start in Bruxelles
2009
Another good vintage
Prologue – Monaco. Fairly near to the finish and managed to get some decent photos, including a certain Manx Missile!
Stage 1 – Monaco to Brignoles. Watched the race pass on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.
Stage 2 – Marseille to La Grande Motte. Saw the Depart by the port in Marseille
Stage 3 – Montpellier – Montpellier time trial. Just up from the start point
2008
Unable to go. 🙁
2007
Possibly one of the best years… 3 countries, 4 stages in different 5 towns
Prologue – London. 200 m from finish on the Mall. What a location!
Stage 1 – London to Canterbury. Marshalled on the stage and then chased the race to watch the events unfold at Stone Street (poor Cav!). Joined the Caravane on the boat across to France…
Stage 2 – Dunkerque – Gent. Stood on the finish line in the rain but missed the end of race crashes.
Stage 3 – Waregem – Compiegne. Saw the Depart from Waregem
2006
Prologue – Strasbourg. Near to finish line
Stage 1 – Strasbourg to Strasbourg. Watched the ‘pre race’ – the riders just trundle by through the town until they are in the open road then the race starts properly. Then moved to the finish line to wait for the race.
2005
Stage 3 – La Châtaigneraie to Tours. Near the finish line
Stage 4 – Tours – Blois. Team Time Trial. About 1km from the start so wasn’t too busy. Conveniently found a bar where I was able to sit and wait for the teams to finish – along with quite a few other folk!
2004
Stage 3 – Waterloo to Wasquehal. Near to the finish line
Stage 4 – Cambrai to Arras. Team Time Trial. About 1km from the start on a good bend. Remember this stage as it chucked it down all day!
2003
Stage 11 – Narbonne to Toulouse. Near to the finish line, but nearly wasn’t. After standing for a couple of hours, the police decided to move a group of us as we were “in the wrong place”. After a great deal of persistence, we were able to stop.
Stage 12 – Gaillac to Cap’ Découverte. Individual time trial. Just by the starting ramp.
Stage 13 – Toulouse to Plateau de Bonascre. Watched the race start at the Cité de l’Espace
2002
Stage 5 – Soissons to Rouen. Near to the finish line
2001
Did not attend.
2000
Stage 13 – Avignon to Draguignan. Near to the finish line
1999
Stage 14 – Castres to Saint-Gaudens. Near to the finish line. Remember being not too well this year – had been away in Poland the week prior and picked up a bug leaving me with severe trots! The day previous I was pretty bad but managed to hold out when it was time to watch the race.
1998
Stage 14 – Valreas to Grenoble. Near to the finish line
1997
Stage 19 – Montbeliard to Dijon. Near to the finish line
1996
Stage 19 – Hendaye to Bordeaux. Near to the finish line
