r/tourdefrance • u/markvauxhall • 17d ago

Stage Start Hospitality

Hi all,

Will be visiting Lille for the Grand Départ this year. Have previously watched several stages mid-stage, but this is our first time where we'll be around for the start / end of a stage. Wife is a huge cycling fan.

We're contemplating getting hospitality - cost is towards the upper range of what we've paid for other events in the past and we'd be comfortable paying if it's worthwhile.

Has anyone had start line hospitality before? If so, what is it like? It's hard to tell from the descriptions online if it's worthwhile or if it's really not much more than a paddock with free food / drink.

Thanks

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u/Helpful_Librarian_87 17d ago

I don’t know about that, but if you’re planning to go to the team busses for autographs, get a bunch of the mini bags of Haribos. They work as a perfect bribe

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u/RickJamesBeach762 3d ago

IME, yes it's worth it. We will be in Lille for Stages 1-3. Doing the start / finish hospitality in Lille, gonna DITY roadside S2, then drive over to Dunkirk after and do the finish hospitality there.

Last year we did Amstel gold start / finish hospitality and it was great. Yes often the daily team presentations are 'free', but there is a block of space up front for hospitality. We watch the women's presentation, were ushered over to see the women's start, then went back for the same for the men will all that space just for hospitality. At the end, we were 10m from the finish line, right on the road and got to see Vos pip the early celebrating Wiebes on the line and then Pidcock win the 3 up sprint breakaway in the mens race. .

Is it expensive? Sort of - about $300-400 per person per event. But it typically includes food / drinks and you get access and great spots to watch the finishes. As it's our first time in person at TDF, we wanted simple and fun - plus if you purchase it early, you can usually deposit & pay the rest over time to lower the pain of the costs.