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Take A Trip Of A Lifetime! |
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TOUR DE FRANCE
ALPS
July 15 – 22, 2006 |
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Trip at a Glance |
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6
Days in France |
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View
4 Stages |
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6
Hotel Nights |
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Daily
Breakfast |
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Two
Dinners |
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Air
from Chicago (optional) |
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English Speaking Tour guides |
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5
Days of Riding (about 150 miles) |
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About Des Peres Travel |
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Des Peres
Travel has been in business since 1985. Claus Claussen, owner
and biking enthusiast, has set up numerous biking tours –
including annual bike training trips for 2 major US bike clubs
within the US and Europe particularly France, Spain, Portugal
and Italy. In 1989, Claus began organizing trip packages for the
Paris-Brest-Paris and has since successfully done it every four
years. Claus accompanies and leads all his tours to ensure
success and client satisfaction. In 2002, Des Peres Travel also
handled the travel arrangements for the Triathlon and Duathlon
World Championships for the US Triathlon Federation.
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About Your Tour
Leaders |
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Claus Claussen
is an avid cyclist (USCF Cat.3) and occasionally competes in age
group races. Born in Germany, Claus has lived in St. Louis since
1985. Before coming to St. Louis, he lived 20 years in France.
He speaks German, French, Portuguese and English fluently (with
his German/French accent). He has organized many bike races for
the St. Louis Cycling Club and was as well race director for the
1993 Masters National Championships, as well as for the Olympic
Festival 1994. In 2004 he followed the Tour in the Alps and in
2005 from the Pyrenees thru central France to Paris.
A good
friend, Jacques Chillon, from the AVAN Bike Club in Nice-France
will join Claus to lead this group. Jacques is an avid and
excellent cyclist, retired recently, and speaks fluent English
with his charming French accent. |
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About the
Tour |
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My valuable
experience from the last two years Tours is to avoid lodging on
the course itself; but rather approach the course by bike to
avoid getting caught in road closures and traffic jams, while at
the same time, experience the thrill of riding part of the
course.
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Day-by-Day Program |
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Saturday
July 15 |
Depart Chicago by Air France at
5:35 pm |
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Sunday
July 16 |
Arrive Paris at 8:50 am. Connect to
AF 7644 at 1:15 pm – arrive in Lyon at 2:25 pm. Our bus will
bring us to our hotel in Les Deux Alpes, the Ski Resort about 40
km from Alpe d’Huez. We assemble our bikes upon arrival for the
next Morning. |
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Monday
July 17 |
While the Tour
has a rest day, we take it easy and explore Les Deux Alpes and
the area by bike to get adjusted. In the evening we have a group
Welcome Dinner. |
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Tuesday
July 18 |
After breakfast, we pack our luggage
into the bus and head to Bourg d’Oisans by bike and climb up
towards Alpe d’Huez to secure a good spot to view the final
climb towards the finish of Stage 15. Once the road is open, we
descend to Bourg d’Oisans to find our bus to head to St. Jean de
Maurienne, our next overnight. The driving distance is about 50
miles, hopefully we can do it in 2-3 hours. |
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Wednesday
July 19 |
After Breakfast we head to a good
spot to view the finish at La Toussiere, The finish is 1,100 m
(4,000 ft) higher than St. Jean de Maurienne. The area offers
many opportunities to view the tour in the very mountainous
part. Another pass to consider is the Col de la Croix-de-Fer
(hors category After this very exciting day, we take our bus to
Megeve, where we will stay for the next three nights. The
driving distance is about 60 miles. |
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Thursday
July 20 |
After Breakfast we head for the
course, from Flumet to the Col des Aravis, Le Grand Bornand to
the Col de Colombiere. Various options are available. |
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Friday
July 21 |
After Breakfast we head with the bus
and our bikes to come closer to a good viewing point on the
stage from Morzine to Macon. In the afternoon it is time to
pack-up our bikes. Group farewell dinner. |
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Saturday
July 22 |
We will leave
our hotel by 5:00 am for Geneva. Our flight schedule is:
Geneva – Paris 9:00 am – 10:10 am
Paris – Chicago 1:15 pm - 3:20 pm |
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Hotels |
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Les
Deux Alpes: Mercure des Deux Alpes
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St. Jean de Maurienne:
Dorhotel |
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Megeve: Hotel La Prairie
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Bike Rides |
We will ride on five days to tour and approach or to ride the
course. The daily distances are 30 to 60 miles or depending on
your ability. Riders must have adequate training to be in
intermediate shape. |
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Price |
$ 3,900.00 per person single occupancy
$ 3,500.00 per person based on double room occupancy |
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Included |
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Airfare from Chicago
to Lyon and return from Geneva, taxes , fuel
surcharges (if you choose to use your own air
arrangements, the amount of $ 1,000.00 will be
deducted, however you must be at Lyon airport at
2.25 pm on 7/16 - we highly recommend to take our
group flights – which avoids any problems with
meeting the group at the Lyon airport) |
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6 Hotel nights in 3 to
4 Star hotels |
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Daily Breakfasts |
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Two dinners |
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Transportation from
the Lyon airport, during the Tour between the hotels
and to the Geneva airport |
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Bike transportation |
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Bike transportation on
Air France is free, if the bike case is the 2nd
piece of Luggage not exceeding 70 lbs. |
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Group T-Shirt |
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Not
Included |
Airfare from your hometown to/from Chicago. Bike charge, if you
use a domestic airline to fly to Chicago. On the return, your
luggage/bike can be checked directly to your hometown without
charge. All items of personal nature in hotels (such as drinks,
mini-bar, phone calls, laundry, etc.) Drinks not offered in our
dinners. |
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Payment |
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$500 deposit per person due at reservation to confirm your
booking. Final payment: 90 days before departure (April 15,
2006). Failure to pay may result in cancellation of your
reservation. We accept checks and credit cards.
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Cancellation |
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Cancellation before April 15: $ 250 penalty per person.
Before May 15 – 25% penalty per person
From May 16 to July 15 – 100% penalty
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Insurance |
At booking, we will send you an insurance application from
Travelex. We highly recommend getting insurance for
cancellation, lost luggage, trip interruption, illness, injury
and bicycle damage (during air transportation). |
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Conditions |
Des Peres Travel is not responsible for plane delays,
cancellations or misconnections due to plane delays, or any
cancellations due to unforeseen events such as bad weather,
plane being grounded, etc. |
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Take A Trip Of A Lifetime! |
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TOUR DE FRANCE
ALPS
July 15 – 22, 2006 |
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Photos
From the 2005 Trip [Click on any photo to view a
larger version] |
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Jacques and one
of
group members from Texas |
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Cow encounter on a Pass |
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We watch the Tour
on a Pass |
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We climb the Col
de Soulor |
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Claus with Kevin
Livingston |
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Sign-in |
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For questions or
reservations, please contact:
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Des Peres Travel
236 Brougham Drive
O'Fallon, MO 63368
Tel (636) 300-1562
Fax (636) 329-8177 |
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