Tour de France, Lyon and the Canal di Midi

Tour de France, Lyon and the Canal di Midi

My initial aim for coming to Europe was to catch a couple of stages in the Tour de France and ride through the numerous villages and countryside on bicycle paths. Despite France owning what is probably the most important cycling event of the year it sadly lacks infrastructure for cycling off the main roads. Odd when you think about what the Tour represents. Germany and the Netherlands are way ahead in this important aspect for cycling in the country and cities.

Victory in Lyon - in spirit at least

 

I headed for Lyon to catch two stages - one in ending in Lyon and another starting the next day in Givors only 25k away. I stayed in the youth hostel up on the hill with great views of Lyon, close to the centre and as it happened was also the weekend of the French national holiday 14 July - Bastille Day. Nice timing.

Your typical European 'minor' road - nothing for cyclists

 

Lyon is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. The population is second to Paris.

The city is known historically as an important area for the production and weaving of silk and now has developed a reputation as the capital of gastronomy in France. It has a significant role in the history of cinema due to the important invention of the cinematographe by Auguste and Louis Lumière. Lyon also hosts the international headquarters of Interpol.

Having attended two Tour de France stages I can now tick this off my ever growing bucket list. I attended the Tour Down Under Cycling race in South Australia in January this year so I have seen the spectacle and a lot of the riders here compete in Australia as well. Andre Greipel has one many stages and the tour itself recently. But it is rather special to be here in the country where it all started 100 years ago. Yes, this year is the 100th anniversary.

Some local cycling tourists asked if I'd heard of the Canal du Midi ride in Southern France? it's a 240 km long canal in Southern France. I said I was aware of the EuroVelo path running up the west coast but not this one. The track along the canal is 240km long if you take the route from Sete on the Mediterranean coast and ride west and north to Toulouse.

it was either this trek or the EuroVelo so picked this one so I could get some warm weather riding and experience southern France cuisine and culture.

Petit Pear tarte with delightful packaging

 

I actually rode from Montpellier 45km further north of Sete and found the path at Beziers. It took four days to ride as this is really a poorly maintained 'goat track' and unsuitable for normal road bikes or a mountain bike fully laden with panniers. Still, it did provide some free camping spots and plenty of water - for washing only.

If you like wine growing regions head for this part of France. It's wasted on me as I don't drink alcohol but more than happy to sit in the shade of a summer vine growing on a pergola and eat the grapes with some fine cheeses. Dark seedless please with some blue vein fromage and German rye bread.

 

 

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