We spend so much time thinking about, and studying the Tour de France route in every detail, that sometimes it’s too easy to overlook the logistical challenge of getting a group of nearly 100 cyclists from A to B to C and on to Paris. And of course, the hotels we choose for our cyclists are a big part of the logistical challenge.
Le Loop prides itself on taking care of all the planning and organising so that our cyclists have to do is turn up and cycle – but what happens when the Tour de France passes through a location that doesn’t have a hotel?
In 2018, in a first for Le Loop, we spent a night in a French boarding school (Fontenay Le Comte). In 2017, we stayed in a four star vineyard near Bergerac and in 2016 it was an Egyptian themed conference centre near Limoges! Over the years, we’ve slept in some amazing locations and our cyclists always tell us that the variety of hotels is one of the things they love about the event. For every 2 star chain hotel, there’s a refurbished monastery – and for every mountain top ski apartment, there’s a beachside resort with a swimming pool.
Wherever we stay, variety is key. So now that the 2019 hotel search is complete (taking into account the most sought after facilities of a balcony to dry clothes on, a communal TV to watch that day’s tour stage on, and a garden big enough for outdoor massage and bike washing with a view), we’re delighted to welcome you to our Loops and will make you feel comfortable and well looked after from Brussels to Macon to Albi to Pau to Gap to Paris!
We don’t usually release hotel details until late March, but we’re very happy to let you know that 2019 has more swimming pools than ever before and a couple of four star mountain hotels. This is the first time we’ll have slept at the top of the Tourmalet and we can’t wait!
Vive Le Tour!