Not content with causing the postponement of the 2020 Tour to September instead of July, the Covid-19 virus also affected the outline of the 2021 edition, since the city of Copenhagen, which had initially been chosen to host the Grand Départ of next year, had to forfeit due to an overly busy schedule – the Danish capital being one of the host cities of Euro 2021.
The Brittany region applied to make up for the Scandinavian defection and was duly awarded 4 stages honoring all four Armorican departments. Starting with Finistère and the city of Brest, which is certainly not Copenhagen in terms of hotel infrastructure, but where the locals make up for it with great enthusiasm! Not surprisingly, the town of Mûr-de-Bretagne and the demanding slope of Menez Hiez count among the arrivals. Which poses another challenge from an accommodation perspective.
The Alps will be on the menu from July 3rd, starting from Oyonnax, another municipality where the lack of hotels is likely to make itself felt for the Tour followers. Tignes, which was deprived of its arrival in 2019 due to a mudslide, has been offered a finish and a rest stage as a compensation. The race will then descend into the Rhône valley before returning to the legendary Mont-Ventoux , which hasn’t been climbed since 2016, and where it will again be difficult to find a bed for the night.
Nîmes and Carcassonne will take it from there, after which the caravan will cross the border to settle down for a second rest in Andorra, then go up the French Pyrenees for a beautiful program that will include the Passes of Portet and Tourmalet. Following which, there will barely be any time left to sip a celebratory glass St Emilion before heading towards the Champs-Elysées from Chatou.
VPI specialists have been working since early September to secure rooms for you all along that amazing route, including in the most remote places – don’t hesitate to ask us for offers!
