Tour de France 2012 Tours www.tdf-tours.com

Tour de France Tours: Can Non-Riders Enjoy a Tour de France Trip? Oui!

2012-02-14T08:37:00.000-08:00

www.tdf-tours.com
www.spyns.com

"You don't need to be Lance on a bike to enjoy the Tour de France." Ryan King, Spyns president/owner.

Enjoy the Paris finish...without
a bike in sight.

Why are 90% of Tour de France trips designed for competitive riders? Before Spyns started offering mixed TDF tours for both riders and non-riders, I offered just Tour de France bike tours for hard-core riders. Sure we'd get the odd non-rider but this person was treated, well, like a leper ("Oh you're not riding. Why not?"). It was just uncomfortable and the discomfort continued when the poor non-rider had to tag along in our sag wagon. I always felt guilty charging people full price for a tour when they'd simply sit in a support van all day handing out water. Enter Kathy Trost.

Kathy and her partner Dave joined my 2006 Tour de France trip. Back then I was only a 1 guide / 1 tour-fits-all operation. Like an idiot, I just assumed Kathy was a rider. Yet every time I asked for her height or bike frame size she was terribly vague. I finally got her height, arranged for a bike, and left it at that. Then came the Tour de France. I went to pick up Kathy and Dave in Pau (Pyrenees). Kathy sheepishly admitted she had bad knees so clearly she wasn't going to ride. Rather than make her feel uncomfortable, I apologized for pushing her so hard on the rides and promised to figure something out. On the drive to their Tour de France hotel, a chateau near Pau, I arranged for a local French guide to show her around the Pyrenees. Dave and I would do our daily rides while Kathy would enjoy a host of non-riding activities (like visiting Lourdes). I realized that couples could be apart but liked having breakfast and dinner together. Dave and Kathy also enjoyed Tour de France stages together. He biked there while she transferred with her tour guide. Thus was borne Spyns mixed (riders & non-riders) Tour de France tours. "You should offer Tour de France trips for couples like us," Kathy said at our send off dinner at the Eiffel Tower. Bingo!

Meeting Dave & Kathy was a revelation. Until 2006, I was just another TDF tour company offering another bike tour that followed the Tour de France. Starting in 2007, I changed it up. With couples like Dave (rider) and Kathy (non-rider) in mind, I offered mixed trips with both riding and non-riding activities. Clients could see 3-5 Tour de France stages, depending on their tour. When not seeing Tour de France stages, riders could bike as little or as much as they wanted while non-riders enjoyed hikes, cooking classes, wine tastings etc. It took a few years to get the formula just right but I'm proud to say we've pioneered a new trip formula. It's amazing how when you keep an open mind in business, opportunities just present themselves.

Can a non-rider enjoy a Tour de France trip? Absolutely. You don't have to be professional athlete to enjoy any spectator sport. Not everyone watching the Superbowl is a pro football player after all. I've always felt serious cyclists represent the minority of Tour de France fans so our mixed trips attract a much larger audience and bigger groups than our previous riders-only tours.

This year Spyns is offering two mixed Tour de France tours for both riders and non-riders. An 8-day trip from the Pyrenees to Paris (July 16-23, 2012) and a 5-day trip from Dordogne to Paris (July 19-23, 2012). These Tour de France trips are popular for couples with 1 rider and 1 non-rider. They get to enjoy breakfast and dinner together but spend the day either riding or doing non-riding activities like canyoning or cooking classes. The schedule is flexible enough that riders can also take the day off to enjoy some of the non-riding activities like parapenting (a tandem parachute jump off the side of a mountain with instructor). For more information, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or call 1.888.825.4720 for more information.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com// or http://www.spyns.com//. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2012 Tour de France Package Tours: Contador Given 2-Year Ban Won't Compete in 2012 TDF

2012-02-10T00:46:00.000-08:00

www.tdf-tours.com
www.spyns.com

"Where's the beef?" Next time
skip the Big Mac Alberto!

While Spyns diligently prepares for its 2012 Tour de France tours, a certain Spaniard will be taking a vacation in July 2012. Alberto Contador got a two-year ban for failing a drug test and will lose his 2010 Tour de France crown, becoming the second rider to be stripped of a victory in cycling’s most prestigious race. The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, overturned the Spaniard’s acquittal by his national cycling federation, according to a statement on the tribunal’s website. He tested positive for muscle-building stimulant clenbuterol in winning the 2010 race. The court rejected his defense of eating contaminated meat.

As well as being stripped of his third Tour title, Contador loses his win at last year’s Giro d’Italia, the court said. The tribunal will make a separate ruling on a request by cycling ruling body Union Cycliste Internationale to fine the rider at least 2.5 million euros ($3.3 million). UCI and the World Anti- Doping Agency appealed the Spanish federation’s decision. It’s the latest setback to cycling’s credibility. Floyd Landis lost his Tour title for doping when the American was stripped of his 2006 win after testing positive for synthetic testosterone. The 1996 champion Bjarne Riis, who manages the Saxo Bank team Contador races for, in 2007 said doping was part of his everyday life as a cyclist.

“This is a sad day for our sport,” Pat McQuaid, the UCI president, said in a statement. “Some may think of it as a victory, but that is not at all the case. There are no winners when it comes to the issue of doping: every case, irrespective of its characteristics, is always a case too many.” Contador’s ban was backdated and he will be eligible to compete again on Aug. 5 this year, the court said. That rules him out of competing at July’s 2012 Tour de France. This may pave the way for a Schleck victory in July, if Andy can improve his time trial skills.

Not suprisingly, the court found that it was “highly unlikely” a steak Contador ate was contaminated and said submissions by WADA and UCI that Contador might have re-infused his own blood to boost performance, leaving traces of clenbuterol, were “equally unlikely.”
Instead, the court said it was more likely the clenbuterol came from a contaminated food supplement. WADA rules say an athlete is responsible for what he ingests, although the same court has cleared some athletes recently for what it saw as extenuating circumstances. Last July, it backed a ruling not to punish Olympic champion swimmer Cesar Cielo and two Brazilian compatriots who blamed contaminated food supplements for testing positive for the diuretic furosemide.

Pretty boy Andy Schleck, the 2010 runner-up, said he won’t feel happy if he is promoted to race winner. “I feel sad for Alberto,” Schleck said in an e-mailed statement. “I always believed in his innocence. My goal is to win the Tour de France in a sporting way, being the best of all competitors, not in court. If I succeed this year, I will consider it as my first Tour victory.” The case has cost both sides “millions” of euros, McQuaid said in an interview last month. Contador was represented by eight lawyers at the hearing last November and he also hired a detective company and lie-detector expert to help his defense. WADA had four lawyers at the hearing.

The case began when a laboratory in Cologne found 50 picograms per milliliter of clenbuterol in a urine sample Contador gave to anti-doping officials on the last rest day of the 2010 race, an amount the UCI called “very small” and scientists said would not have improved his performance. A picogram is one trillionth of a gram. Hopefully Contador will skip the McDonald's drive through during the 2013 Tour de France.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com// or http://www.spyns.com//. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Tour Packages: Investigation Against Armstrong Dropped

2012-02-08T06:47:00.000-08:00

www.tdf-tours.com
www.spyns.com

"Psst. Selling any...TDF
grandstand seats?"

We're seeing very strong sales for our 2012 Tour de France tours. I was always worried demand for Tour de France packages would evaporate in the post Lance Armstrong era, but cycling seems to have taken hold in North America. And with Cadel Evans' 2011 win, we're seeing strong sales from Australians as well. We're a leader in mixed Tour de France trips that allow riders and non-riders to mix. The formula certainly seems to be working.

Speaking of "teflon" Lance, I'm not surprised the U.S. Attorney's two-year doping investigation was dropped. Armstrong is just too clever to get caught up in such legal shenanigans. A spokesman for the office said U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. made the decision not to pursue prosecution after reviewing the evidence and consulting with his top lieutenants. Investigators looked at whether Mr. Armstrong and other officials of his former U.S. Postal Service team may have committed fraud by collecting money from sponsors for winning the Tour de France while allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs.

Before issuing his statement Friday, Mr. Birotte called and laid out his decision to the federal investigators who had produced the evidence that formed the basis for the indictment recommendation, said people familiar with the matter. Those investigators worked on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General. Mr. Birotte told at least one investigator that his decision was final and that there would be no discussion of the matter, a person close to the investigation said.

Did he or didn't he? In the past, Armstrong has strongly denied using performing-enhancing drugs and has questioned the integrity and motives of his accusers. "Character assassination is wrong. The rule of law has won out, and will win out again," said Elliot Peters, a lawyer at Keker & Van Nest LLP who represents Mr. Armstrong. Mark Fabiani, a spokesman for Mr. Armstrong, said he believed that prosecutors and the FBI were conducting a probe into the leaks in the Armstrong case. Doping isn't a crime under the U.S. federal criminal statutes.

Professional cyclists dope and with increasing frequency get caught. I've always thought Lance was too smart to get caught 'doping' simply by using performance-enhancing drugs in doses that weren't considered illegal. Clearly Floyd Landis didn't get the memo when he clocked in at 4 times the normal testosterone level shortly before his Tour de France win.

The only 'medicine' you'll see on Spyns 2012 Tour de France trips is an excellent red Bordeaux. Space is limited so you should book as quickly as possible.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com// or http://www.spyns.com//. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns TDF Tours - Hincapie believes Van Garderen can be a Tour de France contender.

2012-02-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.tdf-tours.com/

http://www.spyns.com/

Spyns is a Canadian Tour Operator that runs tours for both cyclists and non cyclists to see the Tour de France. Although Canadian, our clients tend to be predominantly Americans who will, no doubt, be quite excited by this up and coming American rider.

He’s helped three riders to a combined total of nine Tour de France victories during his career and, according to George Hincapie, there’s reason to believe that his fellow American rider Tejay Van Garderen can develop into a contender for the sport’s biggest prize.

'I want to win a GC this year' - Van Garderen

“I think we haven’t seen somebody like Tejay coming through the ranks in a long time,” Hincapie told VeloNation, speaking about his new BMC Racing team-mate. “What he has done already – second in the Dauphiné and holding the mountain jersey in the Tour de France for a couple of days is impressive. He is always really strong in the races that he is healthy and fit in. I think he has got unlimited potential as regards how far he can go.”

Van Garderen is still a very young rider, being just 23 years of age, yet he has already clocked up some impressive results. In 2008 he won a stage in the Tour de l’Avenir; in 2009 he finished second overall there, and in 2010 he stunned when he took third overall in the Critérium du Dauphiné, just months after turning pro. He was just 21 at the time.

Last year was also a very good one, with his performances including second overall on the Volta ao Algarve, second in the prologue of the Tour de Suisse, victory in the Tour of Utah time trial, third overall in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and fifth in the Tour of California.

Those performances give a clear indication as to his talent, particularly as he should naturally continue to improve over the next five or six seasons. When asked if he’ll be a Tour contender in a couple of years, Hincapie believes that to be the case. “Definitely so,” he answered. “He can time trial, he can climb, he can sprint… he is a very well-rounded cyclist.”

Van Garderen is an American rider but has Dutch ancestors. He competed as a Rabobank development squad rider in 2008 and 2009, then made the step up to the pro ranks with HTC Columbia in 2010. He quickly showed that he could handle the adjustment to the top level by netting ninth in the Volta ao Algarve and then second overall in the Presidental Tour of Turkey.

A runner-up slot behind Alberto Contador in the prologue of the Critérium du Dauphiné showed that his form was continuing to build, and he went on to take fourth in the 49 kilometre time trial, fifth on the stage to Sallanches and third overall in the race.

He spent a total of two years with the HTC squad, then transferred across to the BMC Racing Team after it became clear that Bob Stapleton’s team was stopping. Hincapie believes he’s one of the most promising of the new riders, and says he’s settling in well.

“I have got to know him in the last year or so,” he said. “He is excited to be on this team. We have been enjoying time together here.”

Hincapie has been on Tour de France winning teams with Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador and Cadel Evans. This year was expected to be his last in the peloton, but he recently told VeloNation that there’s a chance he will continue into the 2013 season. If so, he’ll continue to guide Van Garderen as the young American develops his promising Grand Tour potential.

The friendly rivalry between staff and clients alike has increased dramatically in the last few years at Spyns as our guides are generally Canadians, Australians, Americans and French. Five years ago our clients were predominantly American however with the success in recent years of both Australian and Canadian riders in the Tour, our clients are more like 60% American, with the rest being made up of Canadians and Ausralians. No wonder after Cadel's win last year!!!

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com// or http://www.spyns.com//. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns Tour de France Bike Tours: Tour de Crisis

2012-01-31T14:20:00.000-08:00

www.tdf-tours.com
www.spyns.com

France's President Sarkozy has a better chance
of winning the Tour de France than France's
upcoming presidential elections.

Poor France. While I love my adopted homeland (I spend most of the year in Burgundy), I've never quite understood the arrogance of France's political elite. The spectacle of French President Nicolas Sarkozy dictating austerity measures to Spain and Italy while France's own finances were in tatters was particularly galling. Well things are starting to change.

France lost its triple A credit rating - on Friday the 13th no less. Not surprisingly, the Euro drifted lower. The good news is joining a Spyns Tour de France trip should be less expensive this summer as the common currency falls. The bad news is this may set off a catastrophic chain reaction in European financial markets. Whether this has implications for our customers in the US, Canada, and Australia remains to be seen. But I can make a few predictions:

1. Greece is lost: What a difference a week makes. Last week, Greek government negotiations with creditors for a 50% debt writedown were "encouraging". Suddenly negotiations broke down. Now the writedown is 70% but, "without triggering a default." With a population of just 11 million, Greece simply cannot support 350 billion euros in debts. Hence belated attempts to write them down to a more manageable level. Unfortunately, speculative investment funds are sabotaging the negotiations in hopes of a default. If Greece defaults, creditors get 100% of their money back, via credit default swap insurance. But a default would harm the largest holders of Greek debt: namely the European Central Bank, and banks in France and Germany. I believe some form of default is inevitable. The Greek government is trying to put a positive spin on negotiations, however, they simply cannot write down debts, reduce government workers by half, and kickstart the economy within the 6 week window given by Greece's EU masters. The game is up. Greece is bust.

2. Europe's rescue funds need a rescue: Funny how the original bailout fund, the European Financial Stability Facility (or 'EFSF') now resembles the countries it's supposed to be saving. While the press simply repeats European propaganda that the fund has 'over 250 billion euros' or '400 billion euros' (it changes daily), the actual sums are rather puny. Please keep in mind that the fund has only raised 20 billion euros by issuing more debt - debt that eventually has to be repaid lest we forget. It also has to fund Greece, Portugal, and Ireland indefinitely to the tune of about 250 billion euros. So it has about 230 billion euros to raise and that's just to meet its current funding commitments. See the problem? In an eery paralell to countries about to default, the EFSF is now issuing bonds with ever shorter expiration dates. So it's gone from issuing 10-year bonds, to 5, to 3 and now survives on quick-fix 6-month bonds. If this sounds familiar, Greece did the same thing before it needed a bailout. So the EFSF is essentially stillborn. But it gets better. Now the cadaverous EFSF is to be merged with a new permanent fund called the European Stability Mechanism (or 'ESM'). This permanent bailout fund lacks an office, head, staff, and website so we can only expect it will be just as spectacularly unsuccessful as its predecessor. Now if all of this weren't complicated enough, investors are supposed to buy their bonds while Greek bondholders are going to take a 70-100% haircut. This should be interesting.

3. Germany's in for a whuppin...For historical reasons I need not discuss in this blog, Europe dominated by Germany makes the world, ahem, uncomfortable. Sadly, the Germans have bullied their Eurozone partners into signing a balaced budget treaty that will do little to solve the financial crisis. When governments tried to balance their budgets during the Great Depression, this exacerbated the problem. Greece is an excellent example of why austerity alone cannot achieve growth. Strangely, representatives of the IMF and Eurozone want more cuts before releasing another bailout loan. Expect tensions to rise before a full-fledged austerity revolt by Greece, Italy, and Spain.

4. French President Sarkozy will lose election...Once seen as a leader in European politics, French president Nicolas Sarkozy seems more and more like a German lackey. Now that France has lost its triple-A rating, the charade of France imposing germanic austerity while borrowing and spending like the Greeks has finally ended. In Sarkozy's defence, any leader would have difficulty managing: an election; record domestic unemployment; potential Greek default; and fundamental changes to Eurozone treaties. Sadly, president Sarkozy is doing little to help himself. On Sunday, he pledged to raise taxes just three months before the election. Madness! He has also adopted the questionable policy of waiting until the last moment to announce his candidacy. His main rival is Francois Hollande, the socialist candidate. In my opinion, this election is less about Hollande winning rather than Sarkozy losing...badly.

What does all of this mean for Spyns 2012 Tour de France trip clients? Hopefully a weaker Euro and more spending money for your Tour de France travel package.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com// or http://www.spyns.com//. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Grandstand Seats or Room Overlooking the Racecourse? Spyns 2012 Tour de France Tours

2012-01-30T04:45:00.000-08:00

www.tdf-tours.com
www.spyns.com

Spyns clients enjoy the Tour de France finish
from private balcony at the Westin hotel.

As we prepare for Spyns 2012 Tour de France trips, I'm astounded that demand for TDF packages remains so strong. My first Tour de France tour was back in 2003 when it appeared the sun would never set on Lance Armstrong's dominance. How wrong we were. After Lance's first retirement in 2005, demand dried up. It picked up again in 2009 when Lance returned and, to my surprise, we've seen strong growth this year as well.

But Tour de France tours have changed dramatically since 2003. Whereas clients were happy just to see the Tour, savvy consumers want VIP access, better hotels, lots of non-riding activities (other than sitting in a support van all day), and Tour de France grandstand seats in Paris. This blog reviews a common question clients ask us about the Paris finish: "Do I need grandstand seats or a room overlooking the Paris finish?" I'll review the pros/cons of both below.

Tour de France Grandstand Seats

Spyns has offered Paris finish grandstand seats as part of tours for the past 3 years. In any given year I estimate that 80% of the seats have already been pre-sold by Tour de France organizers to corporate sponsors or to the French government. This means that 20% capacity is left for the general public - including Spyns clients. The grandstands are set up in tents or temporary structures at the base of the Champs Elysees. So the location is spectacular. There are roughly 5 to 6 different kinds of tents each with a different name. For example, this year Spyns was able to purchase Grand Palais and Triomphe grandstand seats. Both grandstands are located at the base of the Champs Elysees but to gain access to them is quite expensive.

The Grand Palais is located on the east side of the street about 100 yards from the podium (where they award the yellow jersey). There are 15 to 20 rows under each tent not unlike what you would see at any outdoor sporting event. The Triomphe tent on the other hand is the more exclusive grandstand area and so seats are quite a bit more expensive. This particular area is more like a press center with a small white picket fence separating the tent's tables from the race course, various tables set up, bar service, and appetizers served all day so you can leisurely watch the tour. You can expect to pay roughly $300/ticket for Grand Palais and upwards of $500/ticket for the Triomphe tent.

Hotel Rooms Overlooking the Tour de France Racecourse

For the past five years, Spyns has worked with 3 different hotels along the Tour de France finish route: the Crillon, Westin, and Hotel Regina. All are located along the chic Rue de Rivoli, adjacent to the Tuilieries gardens and a few blocks from the Seine river and Champs Elysees. For clients joining our Premiere our Deluxe tours, we offer rooms with views over the Tour de France finish. Now this doesn't mean you'll see the podium, but you will have a balcony with excellent views of the riders as they go by (see video).

Paris Grandstand Seats or Room with View?

Here are the pros of Tour de France grandstand seats:

Unbeatable location
Great energy/atmosphere
Excellent views proximity to riders
Great service

Here are the cons:

Cost
Access is difficult on race day
Crowds!
Open seating so expect a bit of a tussle to get the best seats
Sharing the space with Europeans who have no notion of personal space

Here are the pros of having a room with view over the Paris finish:

Privacy
Convenience
You have access to a television
Easy bathroom access
Room service/minibar!

Here are some of the cons:

Price (rooms with views are expensive)
You won't be streetside or in the crowds watching the Tour (some people want the excitement)

My personal preference is to be in a hotel room. You can always pop down streetside to enjoy the atmosphere for a few laps and then pop back up to your room to enjoy champagne and the finish on television. Families also seem to prefer the Paris finish "room with view" option because kids don't generally like being in crowds. However, first-time Tour de France goers tend to prefer the grandstand seat option. If you'd like to book a Spyns Tour de France tour, complete with room or Paris finish grandstand seats, please contact us.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com// or http://www.spyns.com//. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns TDF Tours - 'Mixed' Tours for both cyclists and non cyclists.

2012-01-20T07:19:00.000-08:00

http://www.tdf-tours.com/

Spyns Tour de France Tours is one of the leading tour operators of Tour de France Tours, we have been running 'mixed' tours for couples, families and single travellers since 2003. We also operate tours for non riders only - for those who love the Tour de France but are not so keen to get on a bike themseves. For more information on these tours visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/

Based on our motto, "You don't have to be Lance on a bike to enjoy the tour," in 2012 we are offering mixed trips with itineraries for both riders and non-riders. These trips are wildly popular with couples with one rider and someone who "loves a rider".

Riders finishing their morning ride near Bordeaux - joining the non riders who have done a French cooking class and cooked lunch for their partners!

The tours include moderate to challenging rides for riders whilst also ensuring there is loads to do for those who want to join their partner, friend/s or family and enjoy an amazing holiday in France.

Pyrenees to Paris Premiere Tour (Mixed tour for riders and non-riders)

July 16-23, 2012 Price US$4389/person

Grape vines around Bordeaux!

Starting in Pau with a stage finish viewing, this trip will follow our classic formula of full itineraries for both riders and non-riders in the Pyrenees, Bordeaux, classic French wine country and then up to Paris for the exciting finish. Perfect for couples with 1 rider + 1 non-rider or friends traveling together. You'll see 5 exciting TDF stages including a finish (Pau), 2 mountain stages in the Pyrenees (Tourmalet & Peyragudes), the Chartres time trial, and Paris finish. Riders will have the opportunity to conquer the famous peaks in the Pyrenees (like Aubisque & Tourmalet) with non-riders enjoying canyoning, hikes and cooking classes to name a few. The group will always have breakfast and dinners together. Our 2 days in Paris will include room with view of the finish course, unforgettable morning pre-finish ride on the Champs Elysees (for all), and dinner at the Eiffel Tower. Click here to view the full itinerary.

Dordogne to Paris Premiere tour (Mixed tour for riders and non riders)

July 19-23, 2012. Price US$2259.00 per person

Sunflowers always remind me of Le Tour!

Starting in spectacular Dordogne (with its castles, rolling hills and delectable foie gras), this mixed trip will also have full itineraries for riders and non-riders. You'll see 3 TDF stages including Brive finish, Chartres time trial, and Paris. Less challenging than our Pyrenees-Paris tour, riders will explore the rolling hills and medieval valleys of France's Dordogne region but at a more leisurely pace. Non-riders enjoy cooking classes, truffel hunts, and hikes. You'll start your tour in a 17th century chateau hotel and finish in a room with a view over Paris' Eiffel Tower and TDF race course. Whether a rider or non-rider, you'll always see the stages together and enjoy breakfast/dinner together. Our 2 days in Paris will include room with view of the finish course, unforgettable morning pre-finish ride on the Champs Elysees (for all), and dinner at the Eiffel Tower. Click here to see the full itinerary.

View of the finish - Westin Hotel.

To register, we require a US$400.00 deposit per person with your balance due in April. You can book online via the website http://www.tdf-tours.com/ by using the 'Book Now' buttons or simply call us toll free to resgister via telephone (1.888.825.4720).

Please do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email, contact@tdf-tours.com if you have any questions at all. We love talking about our tours and Le Tour.

Being our most popular tours the mixed trips tend to sell the fastest and we are very pleased to say bookings are going very well so far, we already have limited places available on both our mixed tours. Dont wait until it is too late call us now on 1.888.825.4720.

For more information on Spyns Tour de France guided tours please visit our website http://www.tdf-tours.com/, email us at info@tdf-tours.com or call us now on 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com// or http://www.spyns.com//. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2012 Tour de France Tours: Contador's Doping Case Plods On

2012-01-13T12:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.tdf-tours.com/
http://www.spyns.com/

Where's the beef?

As Spyns gears us for its 2012 Tour de France adventures, Alberto Contador is training this week with his Saxo Bank teammates on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria. Can't be easy training as he waits for a final decision in his long-running doping...er clenbuterol case. Unfortunately, there could be further delays, however, in the final decision coming out of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

According to a report in the Spanish daily El Mundo, a ruling that was promised this week could be delayed at least until next week or perhaps even longer. El Mundo cited sources saying that the three-member panel deciding Contador’s fate wants more time to complete its final ruling due to the complicated nature of the case. All three members are practicing attorneys and the report said that they want to make sure the final ruling is air tight and will leave no room for a possible appeal. CAS rulings can be challenged in Swiss civil court, but that option has only been exercised in a few cases.

Confident that he will be absolved, Contador has been preparing for his 2012 season as if he will be racing a full calendar. He’s made it plain that his top goals are returning to the Tour de France in top shape with the full intention of winning. I have long maintained Contador is the favourite for another yellow jersey. Neither Cadel Evans nor Andy Schleck can ride at the same level. “We are only waiting for the final decision, of which I am optimistic,” Contador said at a ceremony last week when he was awarded his weight in honey by a Spanish town.

Contador is joining his teammates on five-hour training rides on the mountainous roads of Gran Canaria and is scheduled to stay there until January 15. He is planning his season debut at the Tour de San Luís in Argentina on January 23. Other pre-season races such as the Vuelta a Murcia and Tirreno-Adriatico are part of his plans, but so far his top goal is to arrive “100 percent to the Tour de France to fight for the overall victory.” Contador could face up to a two-year ban and the disqualification of his 2010 Tour victory as well as possible disqualification of his victories during the 2011 season.

I hope he rides in 2012, and competes in the 2012 Tour de France. While Contador was always the 'anti-Lance' for Spyns former clients, he exudes the same level of confidence (cockiness?) that Lance displayed during his long winning streak. While doping is wrong, he is a superb athlete who deserves our respect. Now if only he could stay away from the clenbuterol-tainted meat.

Join us for Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours and see Contador and others compete for the yellow jersey.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns Tour de France 2012 Trip Packages: Can the Tour de France be a Romantic Vacation?

2012-01-10T14:07:00.000-08:00

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Can Spyns Tour de France tours be romantic?
"Hell yes!" say former Spyns clients.

Le Tour romantique? Oui!

We have a number of soon-to-be newleyweds and clients celebrating anniversaries joining Spyns' 2012 Tour de France tours. Couples often ask, "Is the Tour de France romantic?" My answer is "Yes!" Now I'm not a Carribbean cruise guy so nothing seems like more fun that seeing Tour de France stages in the Pyrenees, biking through France's magnificent scenery, or going parapenting. Yes you'll be sharing these moments with large crowds but they won't be in your hotel room. And you don't have to share a Carnival Cruise buffet with them.

I'm generally not a beach person, given my pasty Irish skin, but I don't know why the "trip to Hawaii" has become the standard for honeymooners. Given the huge number of newlyweds and clients celebrating wedding anniversaries on our Tour de France tours, clearly the classic honeymoon is changing - and for the better I'd say. Yet here is a word of caution. I think you'd have to be a bit of a cycling fan to truly enjoy a Tour de France tour. While the dinner conversation on a Spyns TDF tour goes beyond tire pressure and the best chain rings, you should expect to hear a lot of "Tour de France talk." This may not be very romantic, however, your hotel room (and complimentary Spyns champagne) are just a few steps away.

I asked this question of some former newleyweds and they unanimously said their Spyns Tour de France tours were: "perfect", "unforgettable", and "incredible". As for romance, here are my top 4 romantic things you can do on one of our TDF trips:

1. Ride up to the Col d'Aubisque in the Pyrenees (part of our Pyrenees to Paris Tours). One of the most beautiful rides in the Pyrenees, this ascent is a lot like marriage itself: full of challenges, moments when you want to give up, but ultimately so rewarding. For couples, conquering some of the toughest climbs in France is a bonding experience.

2. Listen to Basque Singers: We had a group of singers perform during our 2010 Tour de France trips and it was incredibly moving. The Basque language is spoken is a small region around the Pyenees in southwest France and northeast Spain. When sung, the language is incredibly moving. We're working on having a group sing during the 2012 Tour de France trip.

3. Bike on the Champs Elysees: A Spyns tradition, we always bike through deserted downtown Paris on race finish day. Nothing could be more romantic that riding hand-in-hand with a loved one under the Eiffel Tower. I should know, I did it with my wife last July.

4. Dinner at the Eiffel Tower: All Spyns Tour de France tours include a send off dinner at the Eiffel Tower. This needs little explanation but I would like to add that the food is surprisingly good in the Tower's restaurant. Food, wine, service, and ambiance are all excellent in the tower.

So the answer is a resounding "yes", a Tour de France package tour can be very romantic...but only with Spyns of course.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns Tour de France Trips 2012: Euro Continues to Fall

2012-01-05T07:28:00.000-08:00

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Look! An Italian Banker. The
Euro Debt Crisis is a lot
like 'Whack a Mole'

Even in the post-Armstrong era, Americans are still the backbone of our Tour de France tour business. But we're also thrilled to have a number of Canadians and Australians traveling with us in 2012. The CDN$ and AUS$ have both appreciated against the euro in the last 18 months. This should mean strong TDF tour business in 2012. Everyone from Seattle to Sydney is enjoying better currency exchange rates against the once-mighty Euro ($1.28 against the US$ today and falling).

Today is a slow Tour de France news day so I'm going to blog about my next favourite subject: the European Debt Crisis. I should actually call this the World Debt Crisis but Europe is faring rather worse than everyone for completely self-inflicted reasons. Every developed nation is actually having a full-blown sovereign debt crisis but they're printing money and buying government bonds to avoid another crash. This is called 'Quantitative Easing' (QE). I've always considered QE a bit silly, not unlike conjuring up a credit card to pay off the last one, but economists seem to like it.

Sadly, the European Central Bank (ECB) can't do QE. Laws prevent it from buying government debt, however they are buying a lot of debt in the secondary market. Unlike the Federal Reserve which directly buys government bonds issued by the US government to keep interest rates (yields) down, the ECB is buying bonds resold by banks and insurance companies. This indirect QE is more or less keeping yields down on government debt. But it's creating a bond bubble by artificially propping up bond prices. It's having other negative side effects as well.

The ECB is playing the bond equivalent of "Whack a Mole" (see photo). When bond yields start spiking in Spain for example, the ECB "whacks a mole" through purchases of those bonds to bring down interest rates. This programme has had mixed results. For those who have played the game, keeping up is nearly impossible and you simply can't hit two moles at a time. So while the ECB is massaging peripheral debt yields (in Spain, Italy, Greece etc) through sporadic purchases, core yields for France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are slowly rising. The ECB can't buy core bonds for fear markets will take this as a bailout. It's a rather lose-lose situation. So the ECB is supporting the worst bonds and, through inaction, penalizing the best bonds. Not surprisingly, the euro is dropping to the delight of Spyns' 2012 Tour de France clients.

If that weren't complicated enough, Italy alone has to issue a colossal 400 billion euros worth of new bonds in 2012. Imagine the ECB struggling to win "whack a mole" when suddenly a giant meteor obliterates the entire carnival. It's actually more of a meteor shower because Spain, Ireland, Greece, Portugal and France are all having bank, budget, and bond problems. But hopefully devaluation in the form of a weaker Euro will precede economic armageddon. Heck I'd be happy with the currency trading at 1 euro = $1.15-$1.20.

Every time the Euro falls, it means another person thinks about joining our 2012 Tour de France tours. So I want the European carnival to continue...but please hold the meteor shower.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns Tour de France Tours: Robbie McEvan says 'Evans, Wiggins and Contador to podium in Tour de France'

2012-01-04T01:12:00.000-08:00

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Spyns Tour de France Tours staff are very much looking forward to this years race, with nearly half the staff being from DownUnder we were delighted and very proud to see Cadel in yellow in Paris. But can he do it again? Who will win the 99th Tour de France in 2012?

Course doesn't favour Schlecks, Australian claims.

Robbie McEwen says that Cadel Evans, Bradley Wiggins and Alberto Contador are the top favourites for the race this year, with Tony Martin and Levi Leipheimer rounding out the top five. Andy and Fränk Schleck have no chance with the few mountaintop finishes and many time trial kilometres, the Australian said.

"I would say the main contenders when you look at the course - those two long time trials - are Cadel, Wiggo and Contador,” he told the AAP news agency.

"You never know, maybe a guy like (Germany's) Tony Martin also and I wouldn't completely discount (American) Levi Leipheimer - they're my five guys.

"The Schlecks are really at a disadvantage with their lack of time trialling ability. That makes it very, very difficult for them next year."

McEwen picked his countryman and former teammate Evans to take the title again. Evans was the strongest rider this year in the race, showing his strength at both the Galibier mountaintop finish and the Grenoble time trial.

Evans was also lucky that nothing serious went wrong, McEwen pointed out. “You maybe don't need to have a lot of good luck, but you just have got to not have any bad luck," McEwen said.

Mc Ewen, 39, will ride for the newly formed Australian GreenEdge team in the coming season, but only for the early part of the year. He will then hang his bike on the wall and serve as a scout for the team, helping out at the Tour.

"If I can give them some insight into the course, the wind direction, the best side of the road to sprint on and they win by a millimetre, then that sort of advice could have played an important role," he said.

For more information on Spyns Tour de France guided tours please visit our website www.tdf-tours.com, email us at info@tdf-tours.com or call us now on 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2012 Tour de France Tours Spyns: Spanish Rider Sanchez Aims for TDF Win

2012-01-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

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Beijing Gold Medalist Sanchez wants
a yellow jersey for the 2012 TDF. Get in line
(behind Contador, Evans & Cavendish) amigo!

Happy New Year from Spyns! We're just seven months away from our 2012 Tour de France tours and many riders have yellow jerseys on the brain. Take Spanish rider Samuel Sánchez (Spain's Euskaltel-Euskadi Team) for example. Sanchez is hoping that 2012 is just as successful as 2011. A winner of a stage at the Tour de France and the King of the Mountain green jersey, the reigning Olympic champion says he still has some unfinished business in his career. Sanchez won gold in Beijing for the men's road race. This year, he takes aim at the Tour podium and the world championships, without putting too much pressure on himself for the London Olympic Games.

“I would like to win another stage at the Tour without forgetting about the podium,” Sánchez told the Spanish daily MARCA. “We’ve heard different things about the Olympic course in London, but it’s a one-day race and anything can happen." Sánchez said his green jersey didn’t come from just luck, but said the sensations of standing on the final podium in Paris was very different than winning the gold medal in Beijing nearly four years ago. "Of the mountain stages, I won one, took second in two other and fourth in the other. It wasn’t just luck, I deserved it,” he said. “To climb the Tour podium as first in one of the classifications is something unforgettable, but you already know a day or two before it’s going to happen. In Beijing, however, everything was very fast. It was unexpected and more intense. I felt more happiness in the Olympics.”

Sánchez says that the Tour will remain the top goal for the 2012 season, though he’ll try to win on home roads at the Vuelta al País Vasco in April and at the world championships in Valkenburg, Holland. Twice fourth at the worlds, Sánchez says he hopes to break into the medals this year. With the Olympics and worlds on tap following the Tour, Sánchez says he will skip both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España this year. I expect both races to suffer as the London 2012 Olympics realigns cycling priorities. Clearly British riders like Cavendish and Wiggins will focus on winning medals in their home country. I'd expect a number of riders to focus on London 2012 and the Tour de France at the expense of other races.

“I’ve always said that one year I’d like to do the Giro and Vuelta, but 2012 is an Olympic year and to prepare for the Games it’s best to race the Tour, because there’s no training better than that,” he said. “In 2013, maybe I will race the Giro to try to win a stage and be at the front. And later the Vuelta, because after winning five stages and finishing second and third in the GC, the only thing that’s missing is the victory.” His contract with Euskaltel-Euskadi ends at the end of 2012, but so far he’s not giving much away about where he might land. He’s spent his entire pro career with the Basque outfit — Sánchez is the team’s lone non-Basque rider — and he’s suggested the only way he would leave the team would be if it closed down.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2012 Tour de France Tours Spyns: TDF Champ Cadel Evans to Adopt

2011-12-30T05:47:00.000-08:00

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Yellow jersey: check.
Ethiopian baby: check.

As Spyns prepares for its 2012 Tour de France trip packages, a former TDF champion is about to become a father. Australia's Tour de France champion Cadel Evans and his Italian wife are adopting a one-year-old Ethiopian boy, according to a report. Evans had hinted at a child, telling his Twitter followers on Tuesday he was "busy babysitting". His wife, Chiara Passerini, who had posted an image via Twitter of her holding a small child's hand with the message "We had the most special Christmas of our lives", confirmed the couple had travelled to Ethiopia to adopt a child.

"We came here to bring home our little 12-month boy after months of paperwork," she told Australian newspaper The Age. "We always felt the strong wish to adopt, so we decided to start our family through adoption." The couple hope to bring the infant back to their home in Switzerland within weeks, she added. Evans, 34, has said he wants to ride in at least two more Tour de France races before he considers retiring from the event, which he became the first Australian to win this year as well as the oldest winner in 88 years. We had a number of Aussies (including guide Vicky Johnstone) on our 2011 Tour de France tour. I've never heard so much singing.

The cyclist is not expecting to race before February, having ruled out Australia's Tour Down Under in Adelaide in January as he looks at aiming for world and London Olympic glory in 2012 and defending his yellow jersey. My feeling is Contador will concentrate on winning the 2012 Tour de France, although I'm still hoping for a Schleck upset. I love an underdog!

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Bike Tours: Schleck "Not Serious Enough" to Win Tour Says Former Coach

2011-12-29T03:08:00.000-08:00

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As Spyns prepares for its 2012 Tour de France package tours, doubts are emerging as to whether our favourite rider Andy Schleck will ever win a yellow jersey. Schleck may never win the Tour de France “because he is not serious enough,” according to his former boss Bjarne Riis. The head of Team Saxo Bank rated his captains over the year, ranking Ivan Basso second to Alberto Contador.

“Andy has what it takes,” Riis told the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet. “But he also has the weakness that he lacks the last bit of will to go all the way. Maybe because it comes too easily to him. He may never reach his great goal of winning the Tour de France because he is not serious enough. But he is still young, and he becomes more mature with age. His problem is just that he races in the period when Alberto Contador also races - and he finds he can't beat Alberto.” Is Schleck destined to become another Jan Ulrich (permanent second to Lance Armstrong)?

Riis rated Contador not only as his best captain ever, but also as one of the best riders ever. “Alberto is just the perfect match in all fields: he has talent, he has a unique physical presence on a bike, he has an unparalleled focus and a work ethic without equal. He also knows how to relax. I've never even seen a rider with a talent like Contador. Never! We must go back to Eddy Merckx probably, Bernard Hinault, perhaps, to find someone similar. Alberto can be quite scary.” Basso was the rider “with the greatest potential”, second only to Contador, Riis said. “Ivan was an obvious talent, and his greatest talent was his seriousness.

“Before Alberto, I had never met anyone who was as structured, serious and professional as Ivan. He trained so much that it bordered on the extreme. Sometimes I tried to hold him back a little because it was too much.” The fourth captain he rated was Tyler Hamilton, for whom he also had high praise. “I think in fact that Tyler Hamilton has been one of the greatest personalities of purely human terms. All the captains or the stars have been good to think of the other employees, both riders and other staff, but Tyler was damn good at it. He has a big heart. He is a good man.”

We at Spyns Tour de France tours love the doe-eyed Schleck. While pre-tripping one of our Pyrenees Tour de France tours, we met the Schleck brothers as they trained on the Col de Marie Blanc. Both were very gracious and posed for photos - even with a Spyns sign. However, given the way Andy was getting bossed around by his power-babe girlfriend, clearly this wasn't a man in charge. I wondered: if he can't manage a relationship, how can he lead a team to victory?

I guess the big question about Andy Schleck in 2012 will be how his move to a team run by Johan Bruyneel will affect his racing. Schleck has lacked the competitive edge that Bruyneel is famous for – Schleck’s statement that he’d rather end up in second place on the Tour de France podium with his brother Fränk in third than win the race certainly doesn’t fit the Bruyneel philosophy! But Bruyneel’s attention to detail should aid Andy through this year’s Tour – and with 96km of individual time trialling, notoriously Schleck’s weak spot, he’ll need all the help he can get, if he wants to take that elusive win. Spyns clients will just have to wait until next July to see what happens.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Tours 2012: British Rider Cavendish UK's Sports Personality of the Year

2011-12-25T01:57:00.000-08:00

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We're just 7 months away from Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours and cycling is already garnering headlines in the UK. Forget football (soccer), rugby, or cricket. British rider Mark Cavendish completed his transforming effect on the world of cycling when he was named Sports Personality of the Year here in Manchester on Thursday night. For a pro rider to receive such august recognition in a non-Olympic year was, the world champion and Tour de France green jersey winner acknowledged, “unheard of.”

The 26 year-old was victorious by a landslide, garnering almost half of the 342,147 votes ahead of Open champion Darren Clarke in second place and 5,000 metre gold medallist Mo Farah in third. So emphatic was the triumph that even Clarke attracted less than a quarter of the support for the Isle of Man sprint demon. Speaking with great humility after the ceremony at BBC’s MediaCity in Salford, Cavendish said he felt that there was no higher honour either for himself or his sport. “The thing that makes this special is that with any sport, what you put in is what you get out. But with this, it is an honour,” he explained. “It is how people react to what I have achieved – that is what makes it the biggest honour possible for me.”

Cavendish admitted that 2012 could be still more momentous for him, given that it promises both the birth of his first daughter in April and the opportunity of Olympic gold at the London Games. “It is important that I provide my daughter with the best life possible, which means succeeding,” he said. “I want her to be proud of her daddy and that is more of a drive for me.”

He was mindful, too, that his win signalled a watershed, ushering cycling into the mainstream of British sport. “The more people who are riding bikes, the more they can appreciate what it means,” he said. “It is not just the Tour de France — one race a year. We are racing 100 days a year. They know what it is to race such distances for such a long time. They appreciate all it takes to do that.” Cavendish, whose nickname is the ‘Manx Missile’ as he hails from the Isle of Man, has disclosed he still wears he rainbow jersey he earned from the unforgettable afternoon in Copenhagen when he won the road cycling world title. That Sunday in September, the eight-strong GB team ignored all breakaways to control the peloton over the 170-mile course before delivering Cavendish to the finishing line in grand style.

His exploits in the Tour de France were even more staggering: besides the green jersey he took as the leading sprinter, he claimed a third successive stage win in Paris that made him the first man to have won the final three stages in succession since the great Belgian Eddy Merckx in 1972. My feeling is Cavendish will focus on the London 2012 Olympics rather than trying to win the 2012 Tour de France. And Spyns' clients will be there to see it all.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France 2012 Package Tours: Nice to Host Time Trial in 2013

2011-12-16T02:02:00.000-08:00

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The south of France will be part
of the 2013 Tour de France

We at Spyns are focused on our 2012 Tour de France tours, yet there is a surprising amount of detail about the 2013 race. Race organisers the Amaury Sport Organisation (or 'ASO') confirmed rumours today that Nice will host the fourth stage of that year’s race. Returning to the area after being there in 2009, the riders will compete in a team time trial which will conclude on the famous Promenade des Anglais. The distance of the test has not been detailed as yet, with that plus the specific course to be revealed at a later date. In my experience the ASO is always very secretive about the Tour routes, so this is a welcome change.

Stage five of the race will also be in the area, with the nearby village of Cagnes-sur-Mer hosting the start. I was in Cagnes a few years ago running a cycling tour and the village is spectacular. There are unconfirmed rumours that the stage could conclude on one of the region, but it’s too soon to say if that will be the case. If so, it would continue what looks to be a very decisive start to the event. The first three days will take place on the island of Corsica, which will host the Tour for the first time in its 100 year history. Let's hope the ferry workers don't go on strike like they do every summer.

Stage one on Saturday June 29th is a 200 kilometre race from Porto-Vecchio to Bastia, via the southern port of Bonifacio. Flat and fast, it looks set for a big bunch finish. Days two and three look considerably harder; the first of those is 155 kilometres in length and will begin in the Place Saint Nicolas in Bastia. It heads inland on small, twisting roads to tackle the Cols de Bellagranajo (723 m), de la Serra (807 m) and de Vizzavona (1,163 m), then crests the steep Monte Salario ten kilometres from the finish in Ajaccio. Stage three is ten kilometres shorter and this plus the undulating terrain makes for an aggressive day in the saddle. It begins in Ajaccio’s Place Moit, travels up the west of the island to the Cols de San Bastiano (415 m), de Lava (498 m), de Palmarella (374 m) and de Marsolino (443 m), giving opportunity for strong riders to shake things up before the finish in Calvi.

After that the teams, race staff, journalists and many of the spectators will transfer to mainland France prior to the start of the team time trial. Although Nice is one of the most well known destinations in France, its location in the isolated south east plus other factors have meant that it has only hosted the race 35 times in all. However it is the area where ASO’s early-season flagship event Paris-Nice concludes, and so has a very strong link to the sport. It appears the organisers are building what could be a very memorable race. “All of this will only be the beginning of the fun in the 100th edition,” ASO promises, whetting appetites for what other details will emerge in time. Spyns will be there with 2013 Tour de France tour.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2012 Tour de France Tours: Schleck Working on Time Trialing

2011-12-15T02:13:00.000-08:00

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Spyns' guide Vicky Johnstone with Schleck
in the Pyrenees.

As Spyns eagerly awaits it 2012 Tour de France tours, Andy "Babyface" Schleck clearly wants to win the 2012 Tour de France. The three-time TDF runner-up is working hard on his time trial skills, with a little help from his colleagues at the newly formed RadioShack-Nissan-Trek Team. American cyclist, Chris Horner will be supporting Andy in the French grand tour. He mentioned that both the Schleck brothers made some errors during the 2011 season. He told Cyclingnews, “I think it’s easy to see that Alberto and Andy’s form wasn’t as strong as it had been the year before because those two were definitely flying the year before. They were missing one percent or half a percent, but at this level that can win you the Tour de France”.

Chris mentioned that Andy was not in the best of his form before the Tour and failed to secure any wins, which was the main reason behind his defeat. Horner unfortunately crashed out of the 2011 Tour de France and watched the rest of the Tour "on TV". Schleck on the other hand has suffered relatively few injuries in his pro career. The 26-year-old finished second at the Tour de France in three consecutive seasons, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Spyns former clients wonder: "Will 2012 be his year?"

Schleck admitted he struggles during the time trial stages and is now working hard to improve his performance against the clock. He said, “I know I'm lacking in the race against the clock. I have to gain power and strength and I have already started working on it”. He finished 1 minute and 34 seconds behind Cadel Evans at the Tour de France 2011. Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador are two current favourites for the Tour, with Andy at the third spot. The 2012 Tour de France is almost custom designed for Evans: lots of time trials; relatively flat finish; and moderate climbs in the Pyrenees during the Tour's final week. Spyns is again offering Tour de France trips the final week of the Tour (July 16-23) so we look forward to seeing some epic battles in both the Pyrenees and for the final Chartres time trial.

One advantage that the Luxembourg cyclist, Andy, will have in the coming season is the strong line-up of the newly formed RadioShack-Nissan-Trek squad. The new team has the best riders from Leopard Trek and RadioShack, who will be a big support for Andy. Last year I thought his team was lacking somewhat whereas Cadel had an almost unbeatable lineup. Does Schleck have the fire to win next July? We'll see.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2012 Tour de France Tours Spyns: Alps vs. Pyrenees?

2011-12-13T08:41:00.000-08:00

Roadside in the Pyrenees

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As we at Spyns gear up for our 2012 Tour de France tour packages, a number of potential clients have asked whether they should choose the Pyrenees or Alps to see le Tour this year. My advice: run (don't walk) to the Pyrenees.

Yes the Alps are beautiful and yes you can ride epic Alpe d'Huez, but the region is also crowded, noisy, and impossible to navigate. When I look back at the past eight years' of Tour de France trips, clients absolutely love the Pyrenees whereas most leave the Alps tired and angry. Why? Here are my top three reasons why.

1. Crowds: A screaming crowd is part of the TDF experience, but an entire nation trying to get roadside takes away from the experience. Unfortunately, stages held in the Alps draw from five different countries: Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, and Switzerland. In fact, there are so many Dutch people in Bourg d'Oisans (an Alpen village at the base of Alpe d'Huez) that many of the shops have Dutch-speaking owners. The Alps are more crowded simply because of geography. They are at the heart of Western Europe and the French roads are so good that millions travel to see the Tour de France. The Dutch have an almost fanatical love of the region and legions of them travel to see stages. The Pyrenees however are located in southwest France, along the Spanish border. To see stages there, you have to drive up to 10-12 hours, often along small, isolated roads. So while there are crowds, they aren't as over-the-top as what you'd see in the Alps.

Roadside in the Alps.

2. Service Quality/Friendliness: In this category, the Pyrenees win hands down. France is not a country know for its, "Hey y'all!" service etiquette. The French tend to be quite reserved which many North Americans mistake for rudeness. In the Alps, however, people can be downright nasty to tourists. In my native Canada, Banff is the biggest tourist destination in the Canadian Rockies. Business owners there are spoiled because the tourists always come, rain or shine. When demand so far exceeds supply, service quality becomes an issue. The Alps are no different but add to that locals who consider every tourist "outsiders" and you get absurd situations like wealthy restaurant owners who force everyone to order the same meal - a common occurrence. Unlike the Alps, business owners in the Pyrenees are absolutly ecstatic to have anyone there in the summertime. While poorer businessowners than their Alpen cousins, they simply work harder for tourist dollars. So service quality is better in the Pyrenees and costs less than the Alps. This leads me to my last point: cost.

3. Cost: Hotels and restaurants in the Pyrenees are roughly half the price of what you'd pay for similar services in the Alps. As written above, it all boils down to demand. Demand far exceeds supply in the Alps, whereas the opposite is true of the Pyrenees. Hotel quality is roughly the same in both areas, having peaked some time in 1979 in my opinion. I am always surprised at the lack of really outstanding Tour de France-friendly hotels in the Alps. For an area that boasts more tourists than Colorado, the hotels are often expensive and a bit drab. Hotels in the Pyrenees are also rustic but reasonably priced. I'd rather pay 50 euros for a room in the Pyrenees rather than fork out 150 euros for the same room in the Alps.

The verdict? I'd pick the Pyrenees over the Alps any day. The 2012 Tour de France will spend its last week in the Pyrenees climbing such famous peaks as the Col d'Aubisque, Sulor, and Tourmalet. Whether you join one of our 2012 Tour de France trips is up to you but, with or without a tour, TDF stages in the Pyrenees are definitely worth seeing.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2012 Tour de France Tours: Can Schleck Win in 2012?

2011-12-12T05:22:00.000-08:00

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As Spyns diligently prepares for its 2012 Tour de France tours in the Pyrenees, Dordogen, and Paris, intrigue is building. Pro rider Chris Horner is happy to play a supporting role for Andy Schleck at the 2012 Tour de France, but he bluntyly warned that his new RadioShack-Nissan teammate will have to reach July in better form than he did last season. Why favoured by Spyns former clients, I felt he lacked the support in 2011 that hopefully we'll see in 2012's race.

Horner downplayed the idea that the Schleck brothers had made many tactical errors over the course of the three weeks, but did voice his concern that Andy had arrived at the start shy of the same condition he had in 2010. “I think it’s easy to see that Alberto [Contador] and Andy’s form wasn’t as strong as it had been the year before because those two were definitely flying the year before,” Horner told Cyclingnews in Calpe, where the 2011 Leopard and RadioShack teams were united for their first formal training camp. “They were missing one percent or half a percent, but at this level that can win you the Tour de France. “The mistakes Andy made during last year’s Tour were not made during the race, it was before the race. He didn’t arrive at the Tour de France with the same form that he had the year before. So that’s where the first mistake came from, and mistakes after that were small and insignificant with the exception of the Alpe d’Huez stage.”

By the time that memorable stage came around, of course, the unfortunate Horner was watching at home on television after crashing out of the Tour at the end of week one. While he enjoyed the spectacle, he was surprised by the approach of all of the overall contenders. “Every GC guy on that stage tactically blew that up compared to how they should have raced it,” he said. “[Schleck] should have just let Contador go. Maybe if Andy was a little calmer and actually stayed at the back, he could have dropped Cadel [on the final climb] and made the time up there. But in the end, Cadel pulled out a superior TT and that was one of his best time trials for sure.”

While the Schlecks will have to work diligently on an Achilles heel that seems ever more exposed by the high quota of time trial miles on next year’s route, they should enjoy more robust support in the mountains in 2012. The Leopard Trek team set the tempo early on many of the Tour’s mountain stages last July, but the brothers appeared to be lacking support at the business end of affairs, and Horner is hopeful he can slot into that role. “If Andy is the best guy at the Tour de France hands down, then I get to ride on the front on the second to last climb and start the last climb at the front. I’m on TV the whole time, destroying the whole field, bringing it down to five-ten guys maybe, and then Andy gets to go on and win the Tour de France and I make €50,000 afterwards, no problem,” he said. On the other hand, if Contador and Evans are to be considered the primary favourites for the Tour (“at this moment of course,” Horner smiled), tactically, such a scenario could play to RadioShack-Nissan’s advantage.

“When you’re the third favourite in the Tour de France, the first and second team are always going to have to do the work on the early parts of the race,” he said. “In theory, we should be completely fresh when we hit the first mountain stage, and at that point in time, we’ll see if Andy’s the best in the world for the Tour de France that year, or if we’re going to have to play tactics.”

Spyns 2012 Tour de France tour packages include trips to the Pyrenees, Dordogne, and Paris. Next year's race includes a large number of flat rides and time trials. While we expect Schleck to dominate in the mountains, Contador is stronger on the flats and had some career best time trials during last year's Tour de France. Spyns clients will just have to see who wins in 2012.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2012 Tour de France Tours: Eurozone 4 - The Movie

2011-12-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

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Yet another summit...pass the
popcorn.

It's been a slow week regarding 2012 Tour de France news, so I'm going to blog about my second-favourite subject, the Eurozone Crisis (cue lightning). I recently learned goldfish have a 30-second memory. Apparently markets do too.

Just a few weeks ago, everyone was braying "This is the end!" Bond yields spiked, the euro dropped, and markets sank. Yet somehow this week we're all saved. And the only change has been yet another meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. By my count this is their fourth pairing to save the Eurozone. And if that wasn't familiar enough, there is yet another Eurozone summit planned at the end of this week. Unfortunately, the relief rallies following each summit get shorter. It feels a bit like "Groundhog Day" where Bill Murry re-lives the same day over and over again. And yet things continue to remain in flux. To wit:

1. Merkel Alone in Charge: As the crisis escalates, the fiction of Franco-German 'partnership' has been exposed. President Sarkozy loudly clamoured for the European Central Bank to 'monetize' (print money) soverign debt. That has died as have many of his other ideas such as ramping up the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) - more on that later. I now believe the Germans are letting Sarkozy maintain a ceremonial role to prevent accusations of German diktat.

2. Portugal, Ireland, and Greece Fester: These three bankrupt European Union countries no longer make headlines yet the EU must still fund them...indefinitely. They require approximately 220 billion euros ($290 billion) to be funded by the EFSF yet that fund is essentially shut off from the markets. So the Eurozone will have to find several hundred billion euros to fund these countries as worsening recessions have shut them out of the markets as well. Portugal, Ireland, and Greece will inevitably bargain for better bailout terms. Failing that, they'll threaten to vote against the treaty changes (see below).

3. A "Fast" Treaty Change: It took governments months to approve the second Greek bailout yet now 27 nations are to approve a treaty change before March (symbolically one month before French presidential elections). This simply won't happen. Many countries have to approve such changes via referendum and these referenda have a nasty habit of morphing into confidence votes against unpopular national governments. Sarkozy and Merkel are wrong to assume the Greeks, Italians, Spanish and Irish will all simply vote in favour of giving up their financial sovereignty.

4. The Golden Rule: The Germans want financial stability enshrined in Europe's treaties yet the current 'financial stability pact' does just this already yet most EU members, including France and Germany, flaunted it. Former President Nixon wrote something along the lines of, "The US constitution, great document that it is, cannot alone guarantee the safety, stability and prosperity of the United States." I agree. No document can force compliance unless the people support it and I don't believe in these difficult times Europeans will support governments cutting social services and raising taxes.

5. A Post Script: Most of the English-speaking press continue to predict a Eurozone collapse. The British press are almost rabidly Eurosceptic. After 18 months of 'crisis' the Eurozone remains, the euro remains above $1.30, and stock markets are relatively stable. This is far from collapse. So I don't believe we'll see a collapse but rather a devolution. I believe the Eurozone will survive but in a different form with Germany firmly in charge. France remains one of the most indebted countries in Europe, with alarmingly high youth unemployment, a bloated bureaucracy, and uncompetitive workforce. It resembles Italy and Spain and yet gives lessons as it it were Germany or Holland. France hasn't had a balanced budget since the early 1970s and yet President Sarkozy is preaching economic discipline when his government is more indebted than Spain. The fiction of French 'leadership' will eventually end, perhaps with Sarkozy losing the presidential elections in 2012.

On a macroeconomic level, Europe is trying to borrow its way out of decline. Without robust growth, standards of living must inevitably fail. With the exception of Germany and a handful of other EU members, the vast majority of Europe consumes too much on borrowed money, has zero growth, uncompetitive or underemployed workforces, and excessive government. European quantitative easing and European Central Bank rate cuts may stem the tides of change for now but not forever. Europe has borrowed heavily to maintain unsustainable living standards for its citizens. Change is inevitable. Whether that happens within the creaky Eurozone framework is unknown.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720

2012 Tour de France Package Tours: Schleck + Brunyneel = Yellow Jersey?

2011-12-05T08:24:00.000-08:00

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Spyns' guide Vicky Johnstone
with Schleck in the Pyrenees.

Andy Schleck and Johan Bruyneel will meet this week in Calpe, Spain, with visions of yellow jerseys dancing in their heads. The young Luxemburger will join Bruyneel for the first time next year as part of the new RadioShack-Nissan squad. Schleck clearly hopes to win the 2012 Tour de France.

The 2012 Tour de France covers a staggering 3479 kilometres. Spyns will again offer 2012 Tour de France package tours the final week - starting in Pyrenees and finishing in Paris. Given the important role time trials will play in the 2012 Tour de France strong track riders like Wiggins, Evans and even Contador will have an upper hand. Schleck is seen as being a weak time trialer. He will draw on Bruyneel's experience working with Armstrong and Contador to improve his time against the clock. "We've plan a lot on the time trial bike for next year, a lot of testing on the track and in the wind tunnel. Especially with next year's Tour, I have to be good. I have no doubt I'll be good."

I have long been a Schleck fan because the quiet, almost shy young rider represents a throwback to simpler tour days. Armstrong could be arrogant and Contador combative whereas Schleck always struck me as just a nice guy who happens to be a great rider. I truly hope he wins this year as it would perhaps represent a return to sanity so long overdue after the overexposed 2000s.

Over a month later, in September, the team announced it reached a deal with Bruyneel's RadioShack team. Leopard took on its sponsor - in 2012 it will race as RadioShack-Nissan - 12 of its riders and Bruyneel. Instead of trying to beat Schleck, Bruyneel will try to help him win against Bradley Wiggins (Sky), Evans (BMC Racing) and his former star, Contador (Saxo Bank).

Luxembourg's Leopard-Trek team debuted this year. Schleck and his brother, Fränk, finished second and third respectively at the Tour behind Australian Cadel Evans.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720"The team was good last year, but still I believe there were weak points. The owner of the team [Flavio Becca] would like to have a full team and a strong team," Schleck said in an earlier interview with Sporza. "With Johan Bruyneel on the top, one of the best tactical sport directors, we'll achieve big goals next year. He knows a lot about time trials, in training... We will keep working with [sports director] Kim Andersen. These two together will be the best team." As Spyns former Tour de France clients know, under Bruyneel's management, his teams have won the Tour de France a record nine times: seven with Lance Armstrong and two with Alberto Contador. "Life is a series of roads, crossings and meetings. Above all, the life of a cyclist," Schleck told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. "The Leopard [Schleck's current team] and RadioShack fusion is a good thing: the team will be even stronger."

Spyns 2012 Tour de France Trips: Cadel, like Europe's EFSF, Just Won't Give In

2011-11-30T02:22:00.000-08:00

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Cadel Evans is hungry for another two
yellow jerseys.

As Spys gears up for its 2012 Tour de France tours, 2011's champion Cadel Evans says he’s showing no signs of age and has at least two more Tours in him before he quits the sport's showcase event. Evans was the race’s oldest winner in 88 years when he won this year’s 2,130-mile event at age 34. The Australian told a news conference Tuesday he felt he was good for “two more good Tours at least.” Lance Armstrong raced at the ripe old (cycling) age of 38 so I'd give Cadel at least another 4. The man is certainly persistent.

Speaking of things that just can't go away, yesterday Eurozone finance ministers were doing their best to revive the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). As you may recall the EFSF was created in 2010 to fund the Greek bailout. The logic was simple: issue debt (in the form of bonds) backed by all Eurozone countries at a low interest rate. Loan the proceeds to countries like Greece, Ireland, and Portugal at a higher rate to make a little profit. Everything was ticking along until the bond market collapsed. European countries continue to sell bonds but at higher interest rates and now the EFSF is having difficulty selling its own bonds. The EFSF has failed and yet, like the Greek drama, no one seems capable of admitting it.

To put things in layman's terms, Europe is trying to pay off 17 different credit cards by consolidating the debts and using one mega card (the EFSF) which has a higher credit rating and lower interest rate. They're using debt to pay debt. Another issue is the French and Germans are using the EFSF like their own personal credit card. For example, the EFSF found itself on the hook for a second Greek bailout (price tag +100 billion euros) and, to the surprise of its initial bondholders, was going to be 'leveraged'. It's a bit like trying to re-use your credit card once you've already reached its limit. We have reached a point where the bailout fund now requires a bailout.

In practical terms, the EFSF has committments of approximately 220 billion euros of which it has raised...just 16 billion euros! That leaves a 204 billion euro shortfall ($270 billion). As I've stated before, the EFSF would have to issue 5.2 billion euros of bonds every week just to fulfill its initial mandate. This is problematic. No wonder Eurozone finance ministers are looking for funding (read: a bailout) from the European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Washington-based IMF is controlled by the US and they don't want to lend international funds when Europe can fund its own rescue. In essence, the only remaining option is for the ECB to print money and give it to the EFSF which would then in turn give money to the bailed out countries. This is called quantitative easing and the Germans don't want it.

What does all of this mean for Spyns 2012 Tour de France clients? The Europeans will continue bumping along, paying ever higher interest rates. Some weaker banks will fail and national governments will force bank mergers. Italy, Belgium, and France will eventually be shut out of the markets although I can't say when - maybe during the 2012 Tour de France next July. So in practical terms, we'll likely see a lower euro in early 2012 until the ECB is forced to turn on the money tap. It's going to be a rocky 2012.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2012 Tour de France Trips: British Rider Cavendish & Wife Expecting

2011-11-27T11:19:00.000-08:00

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Who says Tour de France riders suffer from impotence? Clearly not British rider Mark Cavendish, winner of the coveted green jersey at the Tour de France and Britain’s first world road race champion for 46 years. The 26-year-old's girlfriend, model Peta Todd, is expecting their first child in April. Cavendish said: ‘The baby is permanently on my mind and it’s incredible how much it’s changing me. Far from blunting my edge, it’s making me want to strive even harder because everything I do will affect my child’s future. There will be no holding back in 2012.’

Cavendish, the favourite to win gold in the men’s road race at the Olympics after his historic achievement at the World Championships this year, is already pounding the roads of the Essex countryside, where he and Peta live, as he prepares for what he hopes will be a defining year. ‘I’ve never been going so well at this time of the year as I am now,’ said Cavendish, who won five stages in this year’s Tour de France to take his tally to 20. ‘Before, with the Tour being in the summer, I haven’t needed to try so hard just now. But I’m a very different person this time because of what will happen in my life next year.’

Spyns 2011 Tour de France clients were luck enough to see Cavendish win the green jersey (awarded to the cyclist with the highest points). As we gear up for our 2012 Tour de France tours, I can't personally see Cavendish giving next July's race his all. He'll likely win a few TDF stages but will try to conserve his energy for the main event - London 2012's Olympics.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2012 Tour de France Tours with Spyns: Corsica to Host TDF's Grand Depart in 2013

2011-11-25T07:57:00.000-08:00

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Corsica here we come! Spyns tours
roadside during the 2011 Tour de France

Spyns former Tour de France clients have always enjoyed France's stunning scenery. But few places compare to the island of Corsica - rumoured location of the 2013 Tour de France's grand départ. As Spyns gears up for its 2012 Tour de France tours, the 100th edition of the three-week stage race will start on the Mediterranean island as the Tour visits the Ajaccio region for the first time since its inception in 1903 - or just oh 110 years later.

Race director Christian Prudhomme, nicknamed P-Diddy, described their decision as "a real challenge", while adding that further details would be released during an official presentation in Ajaccio on December 6. Every region of France has hosted a stage of the world's biggest bike race previously while many countries other than the host nation have staged the prestigious grand départ. However, Prudhomme's predecessor Jean-Marie Leblanc claimed that the island would struggle to accommodate the race. The argument lead to François Alfonsi of the Party of the Corsican Nation claiming in 2004 that: "the organisers must be afraid of terrorist attacks. If they are really thinking of a possible terrorist action, they are wrong. Our movement, which is nationalist and in favour of self-government would be delighted if the Tour came to Corsica."

Following the demise of the Tour of Corsica the island had not hosted any elite cycling races until 2010 after the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), who also organise the Tour, handed them the rights to host the Critérium International for three years. Despite organisers holding back details until Dec 6, Corsican daily newspaper Corse Matin have reported that the island will host the opening three stages of the race and will not feature a prologue. Hopefully the ferryboat staff won't go on strike like they do every summer - holding the island to ransom.

All joking aside, a few stages in Corsica would be welcome. The beautiful scenery, mountains, and stunning beaches make it the perfect starting point...and yet a logistical nighmare. We'll be there with bells on.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2012 Tour de France Tours: Oh Cadel....No Tour Down Under?

2011-11-23T09:44:00.000-08:00

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Will Cadel win both the yellow jersey
and Olympic gold?

Will he or won't he? Spyns former clients know I never thought Cadel Evans would win the 2011 Tour de France. He was too prone to spectacular crashes & weeping injuries. Evans was one of the stars of the 2010 Tour Down Under but he skipped the event in 2011 because it was too early in the season for his racing program. He went on to become the first Australian to win the Tour de France...much to the delight of the many Aussies on Spyns Tour de France tours. Evans will have a similar schedule next year as he builds up to his three major 2012 objectives - the Tour title defence in July, the road race at the London Olympics and the world road titles in the Netherlands. I hope he wins although Contador and Schleck will both be tough competition.

The other BMC team riders to participate in the Tour Down Under will be Greg Van Avermaet, Adam Blythe, Marcus Burghardt, Martin Kohler and Manuel Quinziato. Meanwhile, the cyclingnews website reports that Australian Heinrich Haussler will lead the Garmin-Cervelo team at the Adelaide Tour. Garmin rode superbly as a team at the Tour this year as Australian Cameron Meyer scored an unexpected overall win. But soon after the last stage, team boss Jonathan Vaughters dramatically sacked Australian director Matt White.

Evans is known as an excellent time trialer and Spyns Tour de France clients will enjoy a VIP stage day with VIP room, walking tour, and stage viewing for the Chartres time trial (stage 19) July 21. Chartres is just 1 hour south west of Paris.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2012 Tour de France Packages: Contador like Spanish Economy, Riding on Flat Tires

2011-11-22T06:02:00.000-08:00

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"Who wants Eurobonds? Anyone?"

I was in a pensive mood last week as I pre-tripped our 2012 Tour de France trips. While driving through the Pyrenees, every other sign read, "Direction Espagne" or "To Spain." Spyns has run both cycling and running of the bulls tours in Spain for years. Unfortunately, Spain has now become synonymous with doping scandals and shaky sovereign debt.

Will Contador win another yellow jersey in 2012? He's certainly the favourite to win next year's Tour de France. And he's clearly on a mission to win. After testing positive during a random drug test in 2010, winning another tour is clearly Contador's obession. Although he's never been a favourite of Spyns' former clients (not unlike Cadel Evans), you have to admire Contador for his riding ability and sheer drive. When you think back to Contador's Tour de France win in 2009 when the entire planet was hoping Armstrong would dominate, you have to respect the man. If only the Spanish economy were as strong as Contador's legs.

As Europe struggles with "the crisis" version 4.0, financial markets seem to be settling into a familiar pattern. Greece is but a gnawing memory as attention turns to Italy, Spain, Belgium, and (gulp) France. The pattern is: spike in bond yields; European Central Bank buys bonds to stem the panick; short respite; Germany says something awkward like, "We're all going down!"; another summit is announced; 24 hours of calm; and we start over. While Europeans have desperately tried to stay ahead of the markets, politicians simply cannot compete with financial institutions that can move billions of dollars faster than a Tour de France finish.

There is no better example of the convoluted response by European technocrats (mainly from France) than the European Financial Stability Facility (or 'EFSF'). The EFSF issues debt in the form of bonds guaranteed by members of the European Community. The bonds are issued at a low interest rate and the proceeds are then loaned to countries like Portugal, Ireland, and Greece at a slightly higher rate. You'd think that would be simple.

While Eurocrats are throwing around numbers like 440 billion euros or even a trillion euros, to date the EFSF has raised 16 billion euros. The initial bond auctions went well: lots of interest and low interest rates. Then things went horribly wrong. After yet another summit, the Europeans decided to leverage the EFSF to a trillion euros, dispatched the fund's manager to China-Japan, and expected Asian investors to simply buy more bonds without providing any details. There was something so colonial about the European powers' assumption the Chinese and Japanese would fall all over themselves to buy EFSF bonds. They were wrong. In fact, investors started selling their original bonds driving price down and yields up. The most recent EFSF bond sale was a disaster with little interest and higher interest rates. The bonds are only as strong as their guarantees and with Germany, creaky France, and ungovernable Italy backing them up, it's no wonder.

To put things in perpective, just to reach its original 440 billion funding target, the EFSF would have to issue 8 billion euros of bonds every week for the next year. This will be impossible given current market conditions. Only then would it cover its primary function even before the convoluted leveraging to a trillion euros. Like Floyd Landis' career, the EFSF is essentially dead. Sadly, the European farce continues as politicians and EU technocrats say the fund will indeed be leveraged. What the Germans don't want to hear is the ECB is the only plausible buyer.

So what does all of this mean for Spyns 2012 Tour de France clients? Likely a lower Euro come next spring, continued market instability, and (sigh) another Contador win in 2012. I'm still pulling for my boy Andy Schleck but Contador just has more fire. We'll have to wait and see in the Pyrenees next July.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2012 Tour de France Tours: Contador To Learn Fate in 2012

2011-11-21T09:08:00.000-08:00

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Contador and Armstrong....happier days

As Spyns gears up for its 2012 Tour de France trips, Alberto Contador, the Spanish cyclist who tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France, is hoping to discover in January whether he can keep his third winner's yellow jersey or suffer the ignominy of being stripped of his title.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has said a verdict is expected in early 2012 following a four-day hearing into the Spanish rider's case next week. Contador, a three-time Tour winner and this year’s Giro d’Italia champion, is due to appear at the highest court in world sports in Lausanne, Switzerland, starting next Monday to present his defence that contaminated beef caused his positive test for clenbuterol. CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb said the three-man appeal panel likely will need "six to eight weeks" to publish its ruling. "It is a normal period of time for a case of this complexity," Reeb added.

Contador tested positive for clenbuterol in the final week of his controversial 2010 Tour win - Contador upset many in the sport after his apparent refusal to wait for rival Andy Schleck after the Luxembourg rider suffered a slipped chain. Spyns clients saw Contador and Schelck battle it out in the Pyrenees back in '10.

The International Cycling Union and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to CAS after the Spanish cycling federation cleared Contador of blame in February. The WADA code classes clenbuterol, an anabolic agent which can help burn fat and build muscle as a zero-tolerance substance. However, athletes can be exonerated if they prove how they consumed it and were not at fault.

Contador has claimed he ate Spanish beef contaminated by the drug. If found guilty, Contador faces a ban of up to two years and losing his 2010 Tour title and 2011 Giro. CAS procedural rules allow its arbitration panels to issue fast-track decisions with detailed reasons to follow later, if all parties agree. "There is no such request. There is no particular need for speed," Reeb said. Contador's case has twice been delayed after lawyers for both sides asked the court for more time to prepare. Previously scheduled three-day hearings in June and August were postponed.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2012 Tour de France Tours: Summer Olympics vs. 2012 Tour de France

2011-10-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

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Will London 2012 rob the TDF 2012
of its most talented riders?

I'm just going to write it: most track riders will focus on Olympic Gold rather than a Yellow Jersey. While Alberto Contador has thrown down the gauntlet saying he wants to win again next July, some other riders are wavering.

British rider Mark Cavendish said he's focusing on London 2012 and now his countryman Bradley Wiggins has said as much. Wiggins has backed Geraint Thomas’ decision to prioritise London 2012 gold ahead of the Tour de France next year. Thomas has again reiterated his choice not to ride in the 2012 Tour in favour of trying to win another gold on the track in next year’s Olympics.

Wiggins and Thomas both won Olympic gold in the team pursuit in Beijing three years ago but have made differing decisions on their 2012 plans. Wiggins will however compete in the Tour de France, which finishes just days before the Olympics. The 31-year-old could miss out on the velodrome altogether in London if he is required for the road race rather than the track team pursuit which would leave Thomas and Ed Clancy as team leaders. Whatever Wiggins and Team GB decide, Thomas has chosen to go for track glory. “Geraint is amazing,” said Wiggins.

“Next year the sacrifices he will make to compete on the track at the Olympics are huge, in terms of missing the Tour de France.

Tour organisers must be worried as the Tour de France (and Classics) take place every year yet Olympic gold comes just every four years. It risks making this year's race more of a prologue to London 2012. If the more experienced rides hold back or even miss the Tour de France, it may open the field up to a fresh face (or perhaps a newish fresh face like Andy Schelck). Regardless, Spyns and our clients will be in the Pyrenees, Dordogne, and at the Tour de France Paris finish cheering on the winner.

Spyns 2012 Tour de France Tours: Will Cadel Win Yellow in 2012?

2011-10-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

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Cadel Evans...giving it his best as usual.

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As we gear up for Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, the question everyone seems to be asking is, "Can Cadel do it again?” For readers of this blog, you know that I have not been the most charitable critic when it comes to the Australian rider’s abilities. Man was I wrong.

Cadel is a study in persistence and deserves our respect. Despite years of failed hopes, injuries, and endless disappointments, Evans eventually triumphed. I wrongly predicted that Evans would suffer an injury at one of the Tour de France’s time trial. Cadel has a history of such a balls-out riding technique (see photo) that he often flipped off his bike. While he often ended up on the podium, I didn’t think 2011 would be his year. He certainly proved me wrong.

Following in the footsteps of Lance Armstrong, both Alberto Contador and Evans plan to skip the Giro and perhaps even the Tour Down Under to focus exclusively on the Tour de France and, later, Olympics. Armstrong was always criticised by the European media for not competing (competitively) in races like the Giro or Tour of Spain. Initial reaction to Cadel’s announcement he won’t race the Tour Down Under was negative, but the Aussies won’t be too critical of their new golden boy.If rumours about the 2012 Tour de France route prove to be correct, we may very well see Cadel Evans wearing yellow in Paris next July. Tour de France organisers may have accidentally disclosed the route just a few days ago. If this turns out to be the correct route, the distances, elevation, and time trials all favour another Cadel victory.

What does all of this mean for Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours? I wouldn’t expect too much from next year’s race as the Olympics will be the main sporting even next summer.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2012 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2012 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2012 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Trip Packages: Cadel Evans Crashes...Again!

2011-04-16T06:50:00.000-07:00

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Cadel riding his "gluteus
maximum" off.

In a previous blog post, I (presciently) wrote that Cadel Evans could win the 2011 Tour de France. If only he could stay on his bike. Former Spyns clients know I deeply respect the Australian rider, despite his rather obvious reckless streak. In fact, I can't quite recall a Tour without a spectacular Evans-style crash. As Spyns gears up for our 2011 Tour de France tours, Cadel is crashing yet again.

A recent quadriceps injury will keep Cadel Evans from starting Sunday's Amstel Gold Race and defending his title at the Flèche Wallonne next week. Evans hurt his right knee when he crashed on March 31 while riding near his Swiss home. BMC team doctor Max Testa said an MRI performed on Monday this week revealed there was a still a small bruise on the knee bone. "From a medical standpoint, he's out of competition for at least the next five days," Testa said. "Keeping him out longer will help the ultimate injury outcome and also give him time to get training to return on the top end."

Evans was disappointed not to be participating in the Ardennes Classics. "Normally, I thought I'd be back by now, but I had a check-up Tuesday and the injury has proven to be more of an obstacle than we first thought," he said. "What seemed and was first diagnosed as bruising to the vasto mediale has since been diagnosed as bruising also to the femur. Something that takes a little longer to heal. I had wanted to be a helper for Greg Van Avermaet at Amstel Gold and on a good level for Flèche Wallonne. But this won't be a long-term problem, especially for my preparation for the Tour. It's just a little hiccup along the way," added Evans. While I'm impressed Cadel knows the latin name for his injured muscle, it suggests he's had so many injuries that latin has now become a second language.

BMC directeur sportif John Lelangue said the team's approach for Sunday's 260-kilometer race will not change. "We're still riding for Greg Van Avermaet, but we're losing a really good guy with Cadel - first as a teammate for Amstel and also as a leader for Flèche Wallonne," Lelangue said. Barring any complications, Evans will return to action at the Tour de Romandie (April 26-May 1). The BMC line-up for Amstel Gold Race will thus be: Marcus Burghardt, Matthias Frank, Martin Kohler, Jeff Louder, Manuel Quinziato, Ivan Santaromita, Mauro Santambrogio and Greg Van Avermaet.

Spyns wishes Cadel a speedy recovery. Perhaps yet another injury will help Evans tame his "balls out" riding style in time to win a much-deserved yellow jersey in the 2011 Tour de France.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Tours: PIGS; Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and now Spain

2011-04-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

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'O bailout, wherefore art thou?

We're just a few months away from Spyns 2011 Tour de France trips. As we put the final touches on our rides, restaurants, and non-riding activities, my thoughts again turn to the Eurozone. I don't know who coined the term "PIGS" but I sure would like to buy her dinner. I am of course referring to the acronym describing Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain as the Eurozone countries most likely to default on their debts.

To put things in a cyclist's perspective, the Spanish aren't known for their strict attention to detail. Few were surprised when Alberto Contador was cleared of doping charges because Spanish authorities are seen as been somewhat less stringent than...the rest of the planet. Little surprise when the UCI (cycling's highest international body) appealed the decision effectively saying they had little faith in Spain's decision. Turning to the issue of debt, the Spanish government spends most of its time saying it does not require a bailout but the facts suggest otherwise.

The paralells between Ireland in 2008 and present-day Spain are frightening...as is the European Union's rhetoric. Back in 2008, anyone and everyone was saying Ireland had successfully avoided financial armageddon. The Irish government guaranteed all bank deposits, swiftly recapitalised major banks, created a "bad bank" for toxic assets, and drastically cut spending. And yet the Irish still required an international bailout in November 2010. Move forward to 2011. Spain has done all of these things and, yet again, everyone is breathing premature sighs of relief. There is one factor both governments didn't take into account: a black hole called housing. House prices will eventually be Spain's undoing.

Like Ireland in 2008, Spain now has the daunting task of stabilising house prices in a market with 1-2 million vacant homes, double-digit unemployment, and slow growth. Like Ireland, Spain is doing everything possible to prop up its banking sector to prevent a housing crisis. And like Ireland, Spain will eventually stumble and fail. As I have already written in this blog, politicians are not particularly adept at delivering bad news. Only the non-elected governor of the Bank of Spain has delivered something less than a fairy-tale view of Spain's housing and financial crisis. While the BOS puts the pricetag for recapitalising Spain's banks at 20 billion euros, in a stressed situation (like after a housing bust) that figure could baloon to over 100 billion euros. As we learned in Ireland, governments tend to lowball so I'd bank on the higher figure.

Portugal confirmed how fickle financial markets can be regarding government debt. One day Spain's neighbour was "on the road to recovery" and then it suddenly needed a bailout. Spain is also trying to simultaneously cut its deficit, restore growth, reduce unemployment, bolster house prices, combine and recapitalise its banks, and raise fresh private-sector capital for these newly combined banks. Each of these steps individually would take years to properly implement and yet Spain is supposed to execute all of them perfectly under the shark-like eyes of international bond traders. There is zero margin for error.

What does all of this mean for our 2011 Tour de France clients? Unless there is another breakdown in federal budget talks, which is highly likely, Spain should have another 8-10 weeks reprieve before the bond sharks smell blood in the water...again. The next countries in line to fall: Italy; Belgium; and France - but hopefully not before the Tour de France.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Bike Tour Packages: Too Many Professional Races to Choose From

2011-03-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

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"Should I stay or should I go now..."
Too many races to choose from in 2011.

I was just looking at the Tour de France website and am thrilled a stage of June's Critérium du Dauphiné will finish in Macon. My wife is from there so it's a good excuse to visit with her family, eat some of my mother-in-law's delectable gratin, and size up the 2011 Tour de France contendors. The question is: with such a crowded race schedule, who will show up?

As we gear up for our 2011 Tour de France tours, I wonder if the field of professional races has become too crowded and, maybe, a bit too greedy. Case in point: riders have to choose between the Giro or Tour de California; in June Tour de France contenders must choose between June’s Critérium du Dauphiné in France and the Tour of Switzerland (Tour de Suisse) to hone their form July. This year, the choice is going to be a difficult one. One of the principal Tour candidates, Dutch climber Robert Gesink of Rabobank, said earlier this year when he saw the ultra-mountainous nature of the Swiss race, with its three challenging mountaintop stage finishes (plus one other stiff mountain stage) and two time trials, that it was too tough to race just two weeks before the Tour. So he marked down the Dauphiné on his 2011 season schedule. I'm sure Cadel Evans with his new "taking it easy" training style will also choose the Dauphiné.

So what does Gesink do now? The just-announced route for the 63rd Dauphiné has all four of its mountain stages finishing on summits, along with one hilltop finish, just one sprinters’ stage and two time trials. Looks even tougher than Switzerland! But Gesink, like many other Tour contenders, will be intrigued that the stage 3 time trial is identical to the only individual TT in this year’s Tour: a hilly 42.5km circuit at Grenoble (see profile). Although the stage in July will come at the end of three weeks of racing on the eve of the Paris finish, when riders are tired and those still with some zip in their legs will come out on top, just riding at race speeds on the course a month earlier will be of great benefit. But will they be too tired?

It’s not an easy TT course. Besides its solid distance and more than 1,600 feet (500 meters) of climbing, the circuit features a variety of roads (both wide and narrow) and some tricky descents. It’s a course on which Gesink could actually do well at the Tour, possibly better than rivals Andy and Fränk Schleck (who have again chosen the Tour de Suisse as their last pre-Tour stage race). The Grenoble TT comes early on, following a brief prologue TT at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, a valley town in the French Alps; a first mountain stage with a Cat. 2 finishing climb up a spectacular canyon road to Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse; and the flattish stage 2 to Lyon that features the steep uphill finish. The only sprint stage, to my wife's home town of Mâcon (in Burgundy), follows the TT; and then comes a decidedly rugged finale of three alpine stage with mountaintop finishes at Les Gets, Collet d’Allevard and La Toussuire.

Lance Armstrong was often criticised for his all-out focus on winning the Tour de France. I can't see how the Critérium du Dauphiné's winner will have enough energy to win the 2011 Tour de France. I'd look for a lot of riders holding back while doing reconnaissance for the coveted yellow jersey.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Can Anything Stop Contador? : Spyns Tour de France tours, hotels, and grandstands

2011-03-29T01:33:00.000-07:00

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"What me worry?"

If Tour de France history has taught us anything, it seems there is a rule that anyone can train to race the Tour de France however it takes passion to win it. Look at Lance Armstrong back in 1995. A virtual unknown then, Lance went on to win stage 18 of the 1995 Tour de France following the death of fellow teammate Fabio Casartelli. Who could forget the image of Lance pointing skyward as he won the stage in tribute to his fallen teammate? Would Lance have won had he not battled cancer? I don't think so. I thought Andy Schleck was the odds-on favorite to win this year but I'm not sure the doe-eye Luxemburger he has the drive. Alberto Contador on the other hand is clearly a man on a mission.

The three-time Tour de France winner defended his lead in the final stage to clinch the Tour of Catalunya in Barcelona on Sunday. Not surprisingly, his win came after the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Thursday that it would challenge Contador's domestic acquittal on doping charges. Italy's Michele Scarponi finished 23 seconds behind the Spaniard with Ireland's Dan Martin in third. "I haven't raced here to make any response to anybody," said Contador. Bullshit. The man is clearly on a mission to win the Tour de France.

Spyns former clients may recall that I am no fan of Contador but I have a new found respect for the man. Lance was such a saint in the twilight of his career that it inevitably led to negative feelings about the Spanish rider. Who could love the man who destroyed the myth of Lance's invincibility? But the man can ride. The result was Contador's second successive title, after the Vuelta de Murcia, since winning his appeal to the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation against a provisional one-year doping ban in February. Contador laid the foundations of victory in a powerful performance on the mountain stage in Andorra on Wednesday and he comfortably contained Scarponi's challenge as the field headed into the centre of Barcelona. And now he's looking towards Italy. Said Contador, "This was one of the hardest week-long races I've ever done. I've done others with more mountains in them that were far easier. This has been a very good way of sharpening my form for the Tour of Italy."

Enter the authorities. Contador's participation for the rest of the season is still in doubt after the UCI announced that it would take his case to the the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Cycling's governing body doubts Contador's claim he ate contaminated beef with clenbuterol resulted in a postive test during the 2010 Tour de France. CAS is set to rule on his case before the start of this year's Tour de France on 2 July. If his ban is reinstated, Contador, 28, could pursue his case through the Swiss civil courts. Something tells me the feisty Spaniard won't be giving up without a fight.

As we diligently prepare for Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, I can't help but think of the sport has become a victim of its own success. Were there not such a money-driven drive for better ratings, stronger riders, and faster races, perhaps there wouldn’t be so much doping. Contador is a victim of his own success. It would be very difficult if not altogether impossible for someone to perform at his level "naturally". Clearly the man has the talent, given his numerous wins, but now he's become the poster boy for the anti-doping lobby. I for one hope that he will compete in the 2011 Tour de France simply because he's a great athlete.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Tours, Trips and Travel Packages: Tasmanian Matt Goss Joins a Growing List of Contenders

2011-03-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

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Matt Goss joins a growing
list of contendors for the 2011
Tour de France's yellow jersey

He's the best pro rider you've never heard of. Contador may be banned (again), Lance Armstrong has retired, and with many favourites floundering, Tasmanian Matt Goss looks more than capable of winning the yellow jersey this July. Look no further than his recent victory in Italy.

As Spyns diligently prepares for its 2011 Tour de France tours, I'm seeing a fairly crowded list of favorites like Wiggins, Cavendish, Evans, Schleck, and Contador to name a few. But we at Spyns love an underdog so while I was originally rooting for Andy with a strong second going to Cavesh, I would enjoy seeing someone like Matt Goss win Yellow in Paris. Moreover, he's humble, polite, and is anything but a prima donna.

Fueled by nothing more than a bowl of pasta, corn flakes and confidence from some recent recon, Goss rode off with his greatest ever victory when he became the first Australian in 104 years to win the famous Milan-San Remo race. Goss put into practice a lesson learned from watching the race on TV a few years ago to win one of the Five Monuments of world one-day cycling with his victory over two of the best sprinters in the world in Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara and Belgian Philippe Gilbert.

Cancellara, who was expected to dominate the eight-man rush for the line, later paid Goss the compliment of his career. "I think I had one of the best sprints of my life but Goss was very strong," said the multiple world time trial champion considered one of the fastest men on two wheels. With seven wins behind him already this season, the likeable Goss was installed as one of the pre-race favourites for victory in the 298km classic which dates back to 1907 and is with the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Lombardy one of the five Monuments of one-day racing.

But employing the tactic of staying close to Cancellara in the final run for the line - something he opted to do after studying the big Swiss rider on TV - set Goss up for the biggest win of his career. "It's been absolutely incredible," said Goss who has now won eight races in a season which kicked off with his second overall in the Tour Down Under in January. "I couldn't have dreamed up a better start to the year. I knew I'd been going well, I knew I could get a good result, but actually to get the win is incredible.'' The win saw Goss ride out of the long shadow cast by his multiple Tour de France stage winning teammate Mark Cavendish who finshed well back in the peloton yesterday.

My feeling is Cavendish will hold back this yea as his focus is winning cycling gold in London at next summer's Olympic Games. Andy Schleck seems to be floundering and I'm not quite sure if he has the stuff to win the yellow jersey. A well rested Cadel Evans has an outside chance but he's so accident prone and may likely get injured in the month-long 2011 Tour de France. Goss, on the other hand, has never looked better. He lives in nearby Monaco and was part of a breakaway group which formed around 70km from the finish, said he knew the route well, particularly the Cipressa and Poggio climbs near the end of the race. "It was an advantage knowing the route. I live nearby and I've trained over the Poggio a few times in the last few days just to check it again," he said.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Tour Packages Spyns 2011: Contador

2011-03-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

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Contador wearing a tainted
meat protector.

Love him or hate him, Alberto Contador is certainly the man to beat at this years' Tour de France. We are less than four months away from Spyns 2011 Tour de France trips and Contador is clearly focusing on a fourth yellow jersey. Spain's three-time Tour de France winner will have a lot on his mind when he begins his challenge on Monday to be crowned champion in the Tour of Catalonia (Spain) which is celebrating its centenary. All things considered, the 28-year-old has been in good form this season finishing fourth in the Tour of the Algarve and winning the Tour of Murcia. In just a few months, Contador has gone from has-been to main rival. I ask Spyns former clients: can anything stop the plucky Spaniard?

However strong he may be, Contador's mental and physical strength will be tested in the coming months. Aside from competing against a strong field he will also learn whether the International Cycling Union intends to appeal the decision by Spain's national federation to exonerate him over a positive doping test. Spain has a repuation for rather lax enforcement and I believe the ICU will likely appeal the decision. This would all but guarantee Contador's absence from the 2011 Tour de France. Contador, though, was more focused in the riders that will be competing for the title. "The riders who are here are some of my main rivals for the Tour de France," said the Saxo Bank rider. "There will be Cadel Evans (the crack Australian recent winner of the Tirreno-Adriatico), Ivan Basso (two-time Tour of Italy winner), Dennis Menchov (Russia's two-time Tour of Spain champion), Michele Scarponi (fourth in last year's Tour of Italy) and others I forget," he said. "They will be very difficult adversaries. They have begun the season in very good form and that is going to be clear in this race." Notice the conspicuous absence of Andy Schleck - the Luxemburger has struggled this season and no longer appears to be Contador's main rival.

Contador, whose positive test came at last year's Tour de France where he claims it emanated from a piece of contaminated meat he ate, pinpointed Wednesday's mountainous third stage as the pivotal one. "The third stage will be the key day, with the finish in Andorra, but the other days will be complicated as well," he said. I think Contador is in for many many complicated days in the run up to the 2011 Tour de France.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Tours Spyns 2011: Cadel Evans...a Favourite?

2011-03-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

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Classic Cadel Evans...giving it his
all. I'm rooting for you...kind of.

Loyal follows to this blog know that I don't pull any punches when it comes to Cadel Evans. The Aussie is accident prone, quick to anger, and espouses an "all or nothing" riding style completely in contrast to Lance Armstrong's mnemonic type of pedaling. But Evans is clearly what my dad always referred to as "a 10 year overnight success." Now Evans finds himself in the strange position of favourite in the upcoming pro races. We are just 4 months away from the Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours and I ask: can Cadel finally win the yellow jersey?

The competition is stiff with Contador, Schleck, and Cavendish to name a few. Spyns former clients recall that Evans finished second not once but twice in previous Tours de France. At the conclusion of the 2010 Tour de France, you may have thought Cadel Evans was burnt out and on the decline. But the “Little Aussie Battler” fights on. With early season form showing he is not done yet, does our man have one final push left in his legs? Following his win in the Tirreno-Adriatico, Cadel has Australians dreaming once more.

With Alberto Contador’s immediate future still unclear and Andy Schleck struggling for form, the outspoken Evans may have one final say before the next generation of stars begin emerging.
There is no denying he will be an outside shot, but there is something that Cadel has in him that you will not find anywhere else in professional cycling. He has the will and determination that finds him that little bit extra when all is seemingly lost. It is safe to say that many in Europe will have him returning to outsider status once again this year. However, readers are reminded that two of Cadel’s best Tour performances have come when he was not listed among the favourites. Many may not like him but to many Down Under he is a hero – a man who apologised to Australia for finishing second in the world’s toughest sporting event; a man who has done so much for the sport in his native Australia.

This is an apology of sorts and in a way I'm rooting for Cadel to win in Paris this summer...if not to keep the evil Contador at bay.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Tours: A Message About Japan's Meltdown

2011-03-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

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Map of Japan's 2011 earthquake
and resulting tsunami.

It is a relatively slow day today as far as Tour de France news is concerned, so I thought it would blog about my favorite subject -- economics! I blogged yesterday that Cadel Evans looked very strong on his bike in Italy but the problem is Cadel has such a hard time staying on his bike. He has such a "balls out" riding style. If he can keep his head down and ass in the saddle he may be a contender for the 2011 Tour de France. In other news, Alberto Contador’s lawyer believes that he has a "solid case" in his appeal against the doping charges. Only time will tell. If he is eventually excluded from the race, he will join a growing list of banned, yet talented, riders. Spyns former clients know that professional cycling is far from a clean sport. Like all professional sports, no one can perform at this level naturally.

Moving on from the 2011 Tour de France, I wanted to blog briefly about this latest trend of minimizing or at least blue skying everything. After listening to 2 solid years of "it's getting better" from politicians commenting on the economy, I wonder when we’re going to have our Churchill moment. For those who study the history of the 2nd world war, Chamberlain was prime minister before Churchill. He famously negotiated a peace settlement with Hitler and waving a letter signed by the Fuhrer boasted about "peace in our time" just before the outbreak of hostilities. While we are currently not at war, at least outside of the Middle East, recent developments suggest that things are getting a lot worse. What we currently lack is a leader who is going to tell us the truth as Churchill did in 1939.

This dawned on me while watching CNN coverage of the nuclear disaster in Japan. The story went something along the lines of "Japanese authorities say they have significantly reduced the risk of nuclear meltdown". Unfortunately while this was being read by the commentator, live coverage showed the lid being blown off of a reactor. Clearly this was not a controlled explosion and as we've seen in recent days the Japanese are looking at a Chernobyl style meltdown. The same thing could be said about the financial markets .

I have watched with interest as stock markets continued to climb despite rather shaky fundamentals. There has been a rather brutal correction in the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake, but my feeling is markets will continue to trend downward. After almost 24 months of stock markets reacting to not so bad news as if it were positive news, I believe the period of "the Emperor has no clothes" is ending. When you think about it, there really isn't that much of a difference between 2008 and now. Banks remain highly leveraged, consumers are deeply in debt, trade deficits with China are growing, the housing market is collapsing, and in a new development most Western governments have piled on debt to support anaemic economic growth. Strange how it took a natural disaster like an earthquake to shake people to their senses.

While my thoughts go out to everyone suffering in Japan at the moment, I would find it very hard to believe that the Bank of Japan is currently buying US treasuries and other forms of debt from developed countries. The Japanese are by far one of the largest buyers of international debt and particularly American debt. With a major purchaser now out of action perhaps indefinitely, fewer buyers will likely mean higher interest rates and that's not a good thing for debt markets. While the United States has the backstop of the U.S. Treasury buying its own debt via quantitative easing, Europe does not have the same type of mechanism. This is bad news for little Portugal so I would expect to see a bailout for that country in the next month or so.

There are three other factors that may derail the worldwide "recovery": Middle East unrest; an oil shock; and the US budget conundrum. Again we're seeing politicians downplay the effects of expensive oil, virtual civil war in the Middle East, and the apparent inability of the U.S. Congress to reach some form of compromise on the federal budget. Any one of these factors alone is capable of sending the world into a tailspin, at least financially speaking, but now all three are happening simultaneously. Something has to give eventually.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Bike Tours: Me Eating Crow About Cadel Evans...

2011-03-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

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Cadel Evans looked very strong
in Italy recently. Now let's hope
he doesn't crash (again).

With just a few months to go before the 2011 Tour de France (can't wait) and Spyns Tour de France trips (shameless promo), you might have heard a strange sound lately. That was the sound of me eating humble pie over Cadel Evans. Followers of the Spyns 2011 Tour de France (shameless plug) blog know that I've often dismissed the accident-prone Aussie. But given his recent and decisive stage win in Italy, he may be a contender for this year's yellow jersey.

Evans won the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race following Tuesday's final stage, a 9.3 km time-trial around San Benedetto del Tronto, won by Swiss Fabian Cancellara. Having taken the overall race lead on Sunday and consolidated it with victory on Monday, Evans was in a strong position coming into the final time-trial. However the BMC team leader, a former two-time runner-up in the Tour de France, took plenty of risks early on, coming close to potential disaster on several tight bends. Cadel tends to ride a bit recklessly as Spyns former clients clients may recall, so he tends to fall and break things...a lot.

In the end the Aussie, who only kicked his season off two weeks ago, did enough to finish 11secs ahead of Dutchman Robert Gesink of Rabobank, who leapfrogged Italian Michele Scarponi into second place. Despite the comparatively short distance, no one could touch world and Olympic time-trial champion Cancellara, whose time of 10min 33sec left the rest trailing in the Leopard-Trek rider's wake - that's Andy Schleck's team for those who didn't know he's no longer with Saxobank.

Dutchman Lars Boom, also of Rabobank, took second on the stage, nine seconds back, with Italy's Adriano Malori third at 18 seconds. Australia's 2009 world road race champion Cadel Evans won the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race following Tuesday's final stage, a 9.3km time-trial around San Benedetto del Tronto, won by Swiss Fabian Cancellara. Having taken the overall race lead on Sunday and consolidated it with victory on Monday, Evans was in a strong position coming into the final time-trial.

In the end the Australian, who only kicked his season off two weeks ago, did enough to finish 11secs ahead of Dutchman Robert Gesink of Rabobank, who leapfrogged Italian Michele Scarponi into second place. "First stage race of the year is done and a good start to 2011 if I say so myself," said the 34-year-old on his website. Evans, who also finished third in the 2009 Tour of Spain, conceded that the stage had been set for specialist Cancellara but he had been concerned that overall victory might slip away because of rustiness.

I criticized Cadel for taking so much time off when others were sweating away at training camps or racing. Evans isn't the youngest rider but the hiatus from competition and intensive training appear to have worked. He looked very solid on his bike despite the traditional Cadel near misses. "I was okay, it took me 2-3km to get into my rhythm, having eight months since my last 'crono', not surprising, but a bit of a worry when you only have 6km to make for lost time. "My time trial legs eventually got into gear, enough to hold onto my general classification position, and happily get the trophy." Evans' next target is the Tour of Catalonia - which runs from March 21-27 - and admitted that the tougher climbs would test him. "A different style of race there, on longer climbs against a field of climbers," said Evans. "We'll see ...I am not quite there yet on the really long passes like we will face in Andorra, but I won't be bad...."

We'll see how he performs in the 2011 Tour de France.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Tours: Paris-Nice Results - Tony Martin Wins!

2011-03-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

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Tony Martin Paris-Nice 2011 Winner

As we diligently prepare for the 2011 Tour de France tours, we shouldn't forget the Amaury Sport Association's other races like the Paris-Nice which ended today in a sodden finish. HTC Highroad's Tony Martin held firm to claim victory as Bradley Wiggins, finishing third, became the first Briton to finish on the podium since 1996. Thomas Voeckler was first rider home on the eighth and final stage, but it was Martin who claimed overall glory with a 36-second cushion from fellow German Andreas Klöden (RadioShack). Team Sky's Wiggins was a further five seconds back, making him the first man from Great Britain to finish in the top three since Chris Boardman 15 years ago. As Spyns former clients may recall, this is only the 3rd time in the race's history that a German has won.

There were two standouts from the race in my opinion: Levi Leipheimer finished a respectable 8th in the race. My fellow Canadian Ryder Hesjedal finished 33rd, not bad for someone so new to the professional cycling circuit. Getting back to the winner, Martin entered today's stage to Nice with a 36-second advantage from Klöden and did what he needed to do to stay in pole. In soaking wet conditions in the south of France, the 25-year-old finished in the peloton alongside Klöden and Wiggins. Voeckler led a mid-stage breakaway and stayed out in front with his only real challenger, Diego Ulissi (Lampre-ISD), fading away to finish 23 seconds back in second. Julien El Fares (Cofidis) was third. Martin said after sealing victory: "The biggest worry was having an accident or crashing. It was cold and the roads were very slippery because of the rain."I think [Klöden and Wiggins] were happy with their position, they knew that I had the legs to follow [any attacks]. I didn't expect them to attack, I was mostly concerned by the guys who were a bit further behind in the standings." Wiggins said on Twitter: "Paris-Nice finally over, Team Sky have been fantastic all week and today especially a big thank you to the guys, cheers."

One thing Spyns' Tour de France tour clients can expect in July - better weather!

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Paris Grandstand Seats Tour de France Tours Spyns 2011: Need 'em?

2011-03-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

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Spyns traditional morning ride on
the Champs Elysees, pre-race.

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As the entire Spyns team diligently prepares for the 2011 Tour de France, a number of clients have had questions about the Paris finish. As our loyal blog readers may already know we offer both week long Tour de France trips and shorter 3 day Paris finish tours. The Paris finish tours include grandstand seats to watch the Tour de France finish whereas our week long tours include either rooms overlooking the race course and or grandstand seats. The question is: do you need Tour de France grandstand seats?

I believe it's purely a question of cost. Demand far outstrips supply as far as grandstand seats are concerned. If you're unfamiliar with the Tour de France grandstand seat system, allow me to explain it. Every year the Tour de France finishes in Paris. This is always stage 21. The final stage is usually a formality as the winner is generally known. The riders start roughly 20 to 30 km outside Paris and ride into the city center following the same route along the Seine River up the rue de Rivoli and up the Champs Élysées. While the route into Paris changes from year to year as does the stage starting point, the Paris race route remains unchanged.

As you can imagine the crowds watching the tour arrive are enormous. If you're familiar with the New York City Macy's Day Parade, the crowds are roughly the same size and composition. That is to say people who are standing four deep, waiting 5 to 6 hours before the tour arrives, and rowdy but good-natured. If you'd rather not wait with the riffraff then you can reserve grandstand seats for the Paris finish. But they come at a price.

Spyns has offered Paris finish grandstand seats as part of tours for the past 3 years. In any given year I estimate that 80% of the seats have already been pre-sold by the Tour de France organizers to corporate sponsors or to the French government. This means that 20% capacity is left for the general public - including our clients. The grandstands are set up in tents or temporary structures at the base of the Champs Elysees. There are roughly 5 to 6 different kinds of tents each with a different name. For example, this year Spyns was able to purchase Grand Palais and Triomphe grandstand seats. Both grandstands are located at the base of the Champs Elysees but to gain access to them is quite expensive.

The Grand Palais is located on the east side of the street about 100 yards from the podium (where they award the yellow jersey). There are 15 to 20 rows under each tent not unlike what you would see at any outdoor sporting event. The Triomphe tent on the other hand is the more exclusive grandstand area and so seats are quite a bit more expensive. This particular area is more like a press center with a small white picket fence separating the tent's tables from the race course, various tables set up, bar service, and appetizers served all day so you can leisurely watch the tour.

For pricing information please see our website, a link to which is provided at the end of this blog. If you're traveling to France on a budget and can't afford Tour de France grandstand seats, you have the option of watching from the street. Here are a few tips if you're planning to do so. First, I would avoid the Champs Elysees altogether. People start lining up along the street 5 to 7 hours before the riders arrive (around 10 AM) and by the time the tour arrives at around 3:30 PM, unless you're in the front row along the barriers you won't see anything. If you do plan to watch from the street, I'd suggest 3 locations: near the Place de la Concorde which is at the base of the Champs Elysees (think the square with Napoleon's obelisk); anywhere along the Seine River; or along the Rue de Rivoli.

If you don't fancy waiting streetside for hours another possibility is to rent a hotel room along the racecourse. This too can be expensive unfortunately. When Lance Armstrong decided to return to pro cycling in 2009 and 2010 demand for hotel rooms during the Paris finish shot up and so did hotel rates. Hotels like the Westin which is located on the rue de Rivoli started charging 2 to 3 times more their regular rates for rooms with views. Still it's often less expensive than Paris grandstand seats during the Tour de France. From my experience, there is nothing better than opening your window and watching the tour below while having access to your own bathroom, room service, and a minibar. It's heaven!

In closing I have the following suggestions: if money is no object then by all means you should reserve Tour de France grandstand seats. These are part of our week long Tour de France tours and Paris finish packages. If you reserve one of our premier packages, you won't have Tour de France grandstand seats but rather a room that overlooks the race course. If you do choose to watch the race from the street, my only advice would be to avoid the crowds on the Champs Elysees.

I hope you've enjoyed my blog but please feel free to call me toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 with your questions about Tour de France grandstand seats.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Trip Packages: While Contador Fights on Armstrong Eats Steak

2011-03-02T23:03:00.000-08:00

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"Where's the beef?"

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador has today vowed to fight any attempts to reimpose doping sanctions against him following a positive test during last year's Tour de France. Both the International Cycling Union and the World Anti-Doping Agency still have the right to challenge a decision taken by the Spanish Cycling Federation not to issue Contador with a one-year ban from all competitions. The outcome could change final standings for the 2011 Tour de France. Without Contador, Andy Schleck was favored to win as he came a close second in the 2010 race.

Steak may be off the menu now for Alberto Contador, but another multiple Tour de France champion, the recently retired Lance Armstrong, has put a date in his diary to tuck into a nice, juicy T-bone., The 39-year-old, who last month announced that he had permanently retired from competitive cycling, is to be the guest of honour in April at the Steak & Steak Dinner fundraiser for Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield. Armstrong is clearly in his permanent off season. The cancer survivor and seven time Tour de France winner has given his backing to a proposed new tax on sales of tobacco in California that would add one dollar to the price of a packet of cigarettes in that state, with the proceeds being used to fund research into cancer and other conditions caused by tobacco.

The legislation, which it is believed would raise more than $500 million a year, could be put to a public vote in either June this year or February 2012, and is supported by organisations including the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Bike Tours Spyns: Cadel Evans - Tortise or Hare?

2011-03-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

Cadel Evans hopes to win
the 2011...but his training schedule
is a bit...ahem...light.

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It seems that Spyns is taking preparations for its 2011 Tour de France tours a bit more seriously than some. Case in point: Aussie rider Cadel Evans. The accident prone Evans has admitted he's taking a laid-back approach to the 2011 cycling season, although, he claims, it's all part of his bigger plans to get back in contention for victory at the Tour de France. Evans finished runner-up in the three week epic in 2007 and 2008, but has failed to challenge for the race's coveted yellow jersey in the past two years. Maybe it's because he's always crashing or crying or both we say.
Having come to the Tour last year after a solid campaign in the three-week Giro d'Italia in May/June -- which left him fatigued for the start of the Tour -- Evans this season is taking a far more relaxed approach. He will only kickstart his 2011 season on Thursday, at the Giro del Friuli in Italy, according to his BMC team. "There are a lot of riders who are far ahead of me in terms of physical condition," said Evans. At 34, Evans is also past his prime some would say.

"This is the latest start to a season I have had since 2004. It will be an adjustment for me, as well as those who are used to seeing me in front early in the season. People seem to forget how long and hard the cycling season is." Evans will notably be joined at the race by Italian teammate Alessandro Ballan.

My loyal Spyns co-worker Vicky Johnstone (head of guest services) absolutely loves Cadel. I believe she's the only Australian I know who does. Spyns former clients saw Evans come within a hair of winning in 2007 and 2008 but he crashed out of the 2010 Tour de France. We'll have to wait for Spyns 2011 Tour de France bike trips (shameless plug) to see how he performs this year.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Trip Packages: Cavendish Confirms He'll Ride the Giro d'Italia

2011-03-01T12:20:00.000-08:00

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Mark Cavendish...it's 1 o'clock
by my watch.

While few Spyns former clients know his name, I've always maintained British rider Mark Cavendish has more than a decent chance of winning the 2011 Tour de France. He's young enough, fast enough, and has the looks/smarts to get the much-needed endorsements. Most importantly, he speaks English. But why don't more Spyns Tour de France clients know him?

I think Lance Armstrong's presence at the 2009 and 2010 Tours de France sucked up most of the media attention just when the young Cavendish was getting his legs. Sadly, I'm not sure if he'll have a decent showing at the 2011 Tour de France because he's going to ride too many races in my opinon. Cavendish has confirmed that he will ride this year's Giro d'Italia, the first of three Grand Tours that he will ride in 2011. Speaking at a special Giro d'Italia presentation with race director Angelo Zomegnan at the iconic Bar Italia in London, Cavendish suggested there were at least four stages that he could target in the first part of the race. "I love the country, the Giro and the passion of the race. I had some great success in the Giro and other races such as Milan-San Remo in 2009. They're some of my fondest memories, so it’s great to go back there and race," Cavendish said. Unforunately, the Giro is just a month before le Tour and most riders are too exhausted to place in both.

Regardless, Cavendish seemed upbeat. "It's a beautiful Giro this year and it starts with a team time trial. We won the team time trial in 2009 and I got the maglia rosa and won three other stages. It was a special race for me and so it's back on my programme. To get some results would be incredible." This year's race starts in Turin on May 7 and ends in Milan on May 29. The race will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, visiting 17 of the 20 regions of the country, including Sicily in the far south, before the final ten days in the Dolomites and the Alps. It was suggested that seven stages could finish in sprints. Cavendish reckoned there would be four, with a chance of one or two others

Cavendish won two stages in the 2008 Giro d'Italia and others in 2009. He rode the Amgen Tour of California in 2010 but seems happy to be heading back to Italy in May. "It was a really important moment in my career," he said. "I did the Tour in 2007, it was my first Grand Tour but it wasn't that successful. The Giro in 2008 was the first Grand Tour I finished and I got two stage wins. It was a massive boost racing 21 days solid and winning and racing against the best guys in the world. It was a really big stepping stone to who I am today. It helped make me what I am." Cavendish travelled to London from his base in Quarrata in Tuscany. He now speaks some Italian and loves the passion that Italians have for cycling. "Angelo [Zomegnan] likes to include little climbs and corners and that makes it hectic but everything is relaxed around the race. It's more relaxed than other races, there's great scenery, great food and… the ladies too. It's exciting for everyone to ride it."

Cavendish insisted that his form is good for Milan-San Remo. He will ride the Strade Bianche race on Saturday and then Tirreno-Adriatico as final preparation for the Classicissima. After riding some of the cobbled classics, Cavendish will focus on preparing for the Giro d'Italia. My feeling is he's focusing on his real goal: Olympic gold at the London 2012 summer games. We'll just have to wait and see. Just 5 1/2 months to go before Spyns 2011 Tour de France trips.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Tours: Add Basso to List of Potential Yellow Jersy Contendors

2011-02-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

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Ivan Basso dreams of
2011 Tour de France victory.

I hope all of our 2011 Spyns TDF clients are biking hard to prepare for such epic climbs as Mont Ventoux, Alpe d'Huez and the Col de Croix de Fer. Although I regret Lance Armstrong's retirement from pro cycling, he tended to steal the spotlight from many strong riders. Case in point: Italian rider Ivan Basso. As we gear up for Spyns 2011 Tour de France trip packages, the list of would-be winners is growing. As much as I'd like to say Cadel Evans has a chance of winning this year (my co-worker Vicky is the only Australian I know who supports Cadel), the 34-year old rider doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell in my opinion.

Getting back to Basso...the Giro d'Italia winner won the GP Lugano today and confirmed his plans for early season dominance. "I have no intention of arriving at the Tour [de France] empty handed," Basso told La Gazzetta dello Sport last month. "I have to try to bring home something beforehand." Italy's Ivan Basso began his season at the Tour de San Luis in Argentina last month. Today's win in Lugano, Switzerland - ahead of Fabio Duarte and Giovanni Visconti - was his first since the one-day GP Carnago in August.

Last May, Basso won the Giro d'Italia, one of three Grand Tours. His Liquigas team-mate Vincenzo Nibali won the Spanish Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España. This year, Basso will likely skip the Giro d'Italia to try to win the Tour de France. The responsibility of defending the Giro d'Italia title will be in Nibali's hands. Basso admitted in October that he wants to win the Tour de France for his former trainer Aldo Sassi. Sassi died in December after suffering with brain cancer since last April.

Whereas Armstrong focused almost exclusively on the Tour de France, I believe Basso often made the mistake of winning the Giro. As an Italian, I can understand that he'd want to dominate on his home turf however the races are just months apart so he'd often arrive too exhausted to win the Tour de France. This year may be different as so many riders adopt the Armstrong technique of concentrating on just one major race per season.

"This one is for Aldo Sassi. We were on our roads in Lugano, near my home," said Basso today. "However, he wants another win." Basso also won the Giro d'Italia in 2006. He twice finished on the Tour de France podium behind Lance Armstrong (3rd in 2004, 2nd in 2005). Following a doping suspension, he returned to finish the 2009 Giro in fourth and to win it last May. He maintained his fitness through July at the Tour de France, but a fever knocked him out of contention mid-way through. He wants to continue to try to win from now until the end of April, when he will likely take a break before preparing for the Tour de France.

"I said that I wanted to have a good spring," he added. "You have to have some luck in these races, also condition. I'll start Tirreno with more motivation and confidence." Basso's next objective is the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race, March 9 to 15. It starts and ends with a time trial and features three difficult mountain legs. After Tirreno, he will continue with two more stage races: Tour of Catalonia, March 21 to 27, and Tour of the Basque Country, April 4 to 9. At the end of April, he will race the one-day Ardennes Classics, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Spyns clients will have to wait and see whether Contador, Schelck, Basso, Evans (no chance sorry Vicky!), Wiggins or Cavendish win the coveted yellow jersey at the 2011 Tour de France.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Travel Package Tours: We're Coming to an Economic Watershed

2011-02-26T00:28:00.000-08:00

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As Spyns Tour de France clients worldwide dream of Alpe d'Huez stages, Paris Grandstand seats, and gourmet French cuisine, I expect things to get a lot more volatile on the Euro-Dollar front. Thanks to the Greek implosion last year, we were treated to an exchange rate of 1 Euro = US$1.18. The Euro closed yesterday at $1.37 - 16% higher than last spring. This isn't a particularly good trend for a Eurozone looking to export its way back to financial growth. The Euro aside, an economic watershed is coming. Let's call it Lehmans part 2.

I believe we've reached a watershed point in the economic crisis for several reasons:

Voters are losing faith in their governments and central bankers who under-report unemployment and exaggerate false debt-fueled growth
Loose monetary policy has created massive stock market bubbles
The US is heading for budgetary armageddon
Inflation is on the rise worldwide except in the US
Commodity prices like oil are on the rise

I am astounded at naïveté of governments and central banks continuing to report lowering unemployment when the economic reality is so different. Voters know things are bad because they have friends and family suffering. Just last week, France reported a "marked" decline in unemployment. It was later revealed the adjustment was due to the unemployed falling off the radar when benefits lapsed. This is common. US employment is reported at just 9% when the number is much higher - closer to 15% in fact. When reporting growth, governments are bending over backwards to avoid reporting contractions and so are skewing the numbers. Britain is currently in another recession yet the media reports soaring consumer confidence.

I'm at a loss to understand the US Federal Reserve's current strategy. The Fed is printing money to purchase US treasury bills. This is keeping government debt artificially low, allowing the US government to borrow even more. It's a bit like paying your mortgage with a credit card. And then paying the credit card bill with another credit card. You can't afford the house. Nor can the US government afford trillon-dollar deficits. With all the money flying around it was inevitable a large chunk of it would push up stock prices. Not a surprise then the Dow Jones has almost doubled from its post-crisis lows.

Political paralysis regarding US debt is another problem. It was unrealistic to expect President Obama to cut government spending in a meaningful way just a year from the 2012 presidential elections. Obama seems to have little aptitude for leadership on this issue and the Congress is deadlocked along party lines. He's purely a campaigner, not a leader. Moreover, no one is talking about slashing the holy trinity of costs: healthcare; pensions; and military spending. The canary in the mine in my opinion is what's happening with state and municipal budgets. The fed isn't paying their debts so an adjustment is underway as mayors and governors slash spending. Wisconsin is a good example of what happens when you try to legislate wage caps on government workers. Look to states with the biggest drops in home prices (California and New Mexico for example) and subsequently drops in tax revenue to cut spending.

Inflation has always been a thorny issue. History certainly repeats itself yet governments continue to delude themselves and lie to their voters. If anyone is dying to read a good book about economic cycles, try "This Time It's Different" by Rogoff. It certainly feels like the 70s in Great Britain with increasing inflation and now an oil shock due to unrest in North Africa and the Middle East. I've always found it strange that negative economic indicators are always "short-term anomalies" whereas good news is "a trend". The Bank of England maintains near-zero interest rates when commodity prices, oil, and inflation are all ticking higher. These were similar conditions to the 1970s 20% inflation. Will history repeat itself?

In closing, I think we're in for another downturn. The US, UK and most of Western European countries failed to make the post-crisis structural reforms nessary to ensure future prosperity. Deficits ballooned, failed banks simply got bigger (often on borrowed government funds), unemployment rose, and trade deficits with emerging economies continued to rise. While this may have little to do with the 2011 Tour de France, the outcome will have an impact on consumer spending on such things as Tour de France tours.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Trip Packages: Will Tour de California Suffer Post-Armstrong?

2011-02-24T12:33:00.000-08:00

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Do not go gently into that
goodnight Lance...

Love him or hate him, Spyns former clients know Lance Armstrong could bring out a crowd. As the superstar exits, an obvious question hangs over the Amgen Tour of California pro cycling race. Has the event grown enough to thrive without him? Unlike the Tour de France, California's race can't count of die-hard fans as cycling was a fairly recent phenomenon. Lance Armstrong's decision to retire from cycling, announced Feb. 16 in an interview with the Associated Press, leaves the sixth annual race without its biggest draw.

The seven-time Tour de France winner's presence increased crowds the past two years in Sacramento, Calif., with an estimated 75,000 turning out to watch a 2.4-mile prologue in 2009 and close to 100,000 lining city streets to view the 104.3-mile opening stage last year. But the eight-day race, set for May 15-22, has grown in stature. It survived a move from February to May last year, when it began competing for riders with the Giro d'Italia, and it is viewed as good preparation for the Tour de France in July. "I quite frankly think the race has gotten bigger than just one individual," said John McCasey, executive director of the Sacramento Sports Commission. "We're talking about the biggest name in the sport, but I think at the end of the day, people will be all wrapped up in the event itself."

The Tour of California has added Lake Tahoe for the first time, returned to a midrace trek down Highway 1 and thrown in a demanding climb up Mount Baldy in the next-to-last stage. Stage 2 goes from Squaw Valley to the state Capitol, with the third stage starting in Auburn, Calif., and finishing in Modesto. "We would have definitely loved to have Lance here," said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. "There is some disappointment, but there are going to be so many different aspects of the tour and tremendous athletes who are going to take the spotlight whether he's here or not."

Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, which owns the race, didn't address how Armstrong's absence might affect the event. "We respect any athlete's decision to retire on their own terms," he said in a statement. "We have enjoyed having Lance compete in the Amgen Tour of California and wish him well in the future." Gene Albaugh, city manager of Nevada City, Calif., which hosted the Stage 1 start last year and will be a Stage 2 pass-through city in May, said Armstrong will be missed in the foothills. "He's a legend here," Albaugh said, noting Armstrong's victory in the 2009 Nevada City Bicycle Classic. "Some people come to see Lance. Others, the love of the race itself is incentive to get out and watch. We'll never forget him up here, that's for sure."

As Spyns clients gear up for our 2011 Tour de France trips, numbers don't seem to be adversely affected by Lance's absence. I personally saw thinner crowds last year for the Paris finish whereas in 2009, when Lance was in a combative mood vying for the yellow jersey, people were standing on the Champs Elysees 4-5 deep. I believe the lingering financial crisis, a higher euro, and recent doping scandals are having a more adverse effect on demand than Lance's absence. But he will be missed.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Trip Packages: Spyns Asks: Is the Tour de France Too Big?

2011-02-22T12:50:00.000-08:00

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Barcelona hopes to host
the TDF's Grand Depart in 2014.

As Spyns gears up for its 2011 Tour de France tours, I wonder if professional cycling's largest race is just too grandiose. We're three years away from the "Grand Depart" in 2014 and already regions as far-flung as Scotland and Catalonia are jockeying to win. It reminds me of the circus surrounding Olympic Games bids.

Tour de France organsisers the Amaury Sport Association (ASO) have stated that Barcelona has mounted a bid to host the Grand Départ of the 2014 Tour de France, and have also confirmed that Scotland is among other places also negotiating to host the start of the race, without specifying which year. Reports earlier this year suggested that EventScotland would be bidding to host the beginning of the 2017 race.

In a communication issued yesterday, organisers confirmed that the Mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu, had officially presented the city’s bid for the 2014 race, and added that the fact the city had hosted the 1992 Olympic Games and the start of the 2005 Dakar Rally, also owned by the ASO. “All this makes the city a strong candidate,” said ASO, “but it will be facing competition from many foreign communities which have shown interest in organising the Grand Départ, including Scotland, the city of Florence and the Liguria region (Italy), the city of Salzburg and Tyrol (Austria), Utrecht (Netherlands) and Kraków (Poland).” Barcelona has hosted the Tour de France three times, but never the Grand Départ, and indeed it was a Scot who took the race by the scruff of the neck the last time the Tour de France visited the Catalan capital.

Barcelona is clearly the favourite. If I were a TDF truck driver from Bayonne, I'd rather schlep it down to Barcelona rather than dealing with the logistics of getting to the UK or Austria. Scotland is simply too far away as is Salzburg. The advantage to starting in Barcelona is being able to transport everything overland back to France for the various stages. However, starting in Barcelona would mean a rather large trip back to north eastern France for the early stages.

On Stage 5 of the 2009 race, David Millar, who lives up the coast in Girona, put in a stunning solo breakaway in filthy weather that saw him ride ahead of the peloton through the wide streets of Barcelona, packed with fans, only to be caught on the slopes of Montjuic tantalisingly close to the finish, Thor Hushovd taking the win. As Spyns 2011 Tour de France trip clients know, this July’s race gets under way on French soil in the Vendée, while next year sees a foreign Grand Départ, hosted by the Belgian city of Liège. The 2013 race, which will be the 100th edition, seems almost certain to begin in Corsica. The island poses its own logistical issues because the dockworkers and ferry operators strike so often.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Tours 2011 Spyns: Contador 4th in Portugal

2011-02-21T10:21:00.000-08:00

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Yes he looks like a Tron extra.
Contador during a recent
timetrial.

Alberto Contador (who I've now nicknamed "AC") is a bit like the Portuguese economy - rumous of his death have been greatly exaggerated. Contador declared himself pleased with his return to competitive action after finishing fourth in the Volta ao Algarve on Sunday. Given what the man has been through in the past months, 4th is a more than respectable showing.

Contador was cleared by the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) last Tuesday after testing positive for the banned substance Clenbuterol at last year's Tour de France, and less than 24 hours after that ruling he was turning out for new employers Team Saxo Bank-Sungard in Portugal. In a bit of irony, Saxo Bank previously sponsored Contador's arch-rival Andy Schleck (codename "Bambi").

The three-time Tour de France winner had not raced since being provisionally suspended by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in September following his positive test, but despite a lack of competition he still went into today's final-day time-trial in second place and with a chance of retaining the Volta ao Algarve title that he had won the past two years. It was not to be for Contador, who could only finish 15th on the day, 45 seconds behind stage and overall winner Tony Martin, but the 28-year-old was nevertheless happy with his five-day showing in Portugal.
'The time trial did not go all that well, but it's already been a triumph just to be here,' he said.
'I'm very happy, although one always likes to do better. I think that it was a good performance for my first race. I read in some newspaper that I'd gone 205 days without competing, and that's too much.' He added: 'The performance was very good, because the people who were here in the time-trial were specialists, like Tony Martin. Those that finished in front are very strong riders.'

Contador felt he had 'nothing to lose' as he chased a third successive Algarve title, saying: 'I've done it differently to other years, when I came here with a lot of pressure to win the race. This year, in contrast, I've not been able to train too much, but this will also be better for me, because I always start the year too strong and then I've had to measure my breaks. 'This year, however, I will take things calmer.' Contador will join his team-mates for a training camp in Mallorca on Tuesday before then taking part in the Tour of Murcia from March 4-6. The RFEC's ruling on Contador may not yet be the end of the matter, with the International Cycling Union (UCI) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) having the right to challenge the decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). We can only hope the decision is faster than Europe's (neverending) bailout. Stay tuned for Spyns 2011 Tour de France trips to see if Contador wins yet another yellow jersey.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Tours: Contador Strong (but not infallible) in Tour de Algarve

2011-02-19T23:23:00.000-08:00

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Contador's strong showing in the
Algarve proves he's still a force to be
reckoned with in the pro cycling.

Team Sky's (Britain) Steve Cummings won the third stage of the the Volta ao Algarve to move top of the general classification standings with two stages remaining. Cummings, 29, edged out Tejay van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) and three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Team Saxo Bank-Sungard).

Contador returned to racing this week after being cleared of doping by the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation. Birkenhead-born Cummings now holds a six-second advantage over the Spaniard. Cummings was among a select group of riders who attacked on the Alto do Malhao during the 179-kilometre third stage from Tavira to Malhao in Portugal, before outpacing his two rivals at the summit.

He may have been cleared by the Spanish federation (RFEC) for his positive test for Clenbuterol at the Tour de France, but Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) is not out of the woods just yet. He’s still waiting for the UCI and the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) to decide whether they will appeal the decision before the end of March, but he also could face new and more serious doping accusations.

Professor Gerard Dine, one of the founders of the biological profile which became the French “longitudinal profile” and the international “biological passport” used by the UCI, thinks Contador’s samples should be re-analyzed in order to detect plasticizer traces. The presence of plasticizers in a sample would strongly suggest blood bag use. Asked if new analysis were possible, the French anti-doping expert told Sport24.com: “If the method [of plasticizer detection, Ed.] is validated, we can think that there will be a retroactive process. Then, [Contador] could be incriminated not because of Clenbuterol but because of an auto-transfusion.”

As Spyns former clients well know, doping is professional cycling's "dirty little secret" and I can only hope that Contador is cleared. Following the Floyd Landis debacle, drug-free Tour de France champions will reinforce the positive aspects of pro riding and perhaps our Tour de France business.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Package Tours Spyns: Armstrong Retires (Again)!

2011-02-17T01:51:00.000-08:00

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Au revoir Lance! It was fun
while it lasted.

As Spyns clients prepare for our 2011 Tour de France trips, Lance Armstrong retires..for good!If Armstrong had stayed retired after winning his seventh consecutive Tour de France in 2005, Floyd Landis might not have released a bunch of e-mails that brought chaos to Armstrong's life last spring. In those e-mails, Landis accused Armstrong of doping, but was only trying to finagle a way onto Armstrong's RadioShack team by threatening to go public. I question Landis's intelligence and perhaps even his sanity. He has consistently shown a lack of judgement like publishing a book entitled, "Positively False" only to admit he doped in the 2006 Tour de France.

In an unfortunate twist, those e-mails attracted the attention of federal prosecutor Jeff Novitzky, who is leading the investigation into whether Armstrong and others on the U.S. Postal Service team in 2002 used performance-enhancing drugs. And yet, it is impossible not to attach Armstrong's name to competitive greatness and to meaningful charity work through his Livestrong Foundation. If you think only about the sport, about the blue-eyed squint and the man who stood up, pushed those pedals down, who swerved and sped across an open field, hopped back into the peloton, avoided a crashed colleague with such instinctive power and creativity that you rubbed your eyes and wondered, "Did I just see that?" Or if you grinned a little and pounded your fist in appreciation when he turned to stare at a competitor just before leaving the guy gasping and sweating and suddenly staring at the blank spot where Armstrong and his bike had been. This is the Armstrong legacy.

If you also scrutinize the world of cycling and doping, of the decade-long parade of punished and admitted performance-enhancing miscreants, it's easy to wonder, "Was Armstrong so much better or was he winning on an equal playing field?" Although Armstrong has never failed a drug test and steadfastly refutes anyone who says he has doped, it's hard not to wonder since all of his top challengers — notably Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso — have been drug tarnished. Bob Stapleton, co-owner of the rival HTC-Highroad team, said Armstrong's career, how he beat cancer, how he started Livestrong, is a legacy wrapped more in good than bad.

"I think the story is so extraordinary," Stapleton said, "that it is the results on the bike and with cancer that will be remembered 20 years from now. Whatever happens with the grand jury, it may call into question some of the magnitude of his athletic success but as an overall historical figure not much." He also points out that Armstrong had respect from his peers. "He was just a beast on the bike," Stapleton said, "a ferocious competitor and if he proved unstoppable it was because he did the work to improve." And maybe, just maybe, doping or no doping, this is the real key: Armstrong won on an even playing field.

Former Spyns clients have nothing but respect for Lance Armstrong's achievements. Arrogant: yes. Prima donna: yes. Doper: who knows? Cycling may never see his equal but the Armstrong legacy will survive.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Tours: Contador Cleared!

2011-02-15T09:35:00.000-08:00

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"I'm back baby. Bring on
the 2011 Tour de France."

And let them eat crow! As Spyns prepares for its 2011 Tour de France trips, we were all looking to a win by baby-faced Andy Schleck. But Alberto Contador may yet compete in the 2011 Tour de France. Contador's lawyer Andy Ramos Gil confirmed on Tueday afternoon that the competitions committee of the Spanish National Cycling Federation has upheld Contador's appeal and is free to ride with immediate effect. That doesn't necessarily mean that Contador, who has been suspended since last September when the positive test from the Tour was revealed, is completely out of the woods yet. The World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) is free to appeal the new decision as is cycling's world governing authority the International Cycling Union (UCI).

I have long bashed the Spaniard but applaud his pluck. Anyone who has seen Contador race knows he is a fierce competitor and he refused to accept the ban. It appears the competitions committe has absolved Contador on article 296 of the UCI regulations which says that a rider can be exonerated if he can prove that he inadvertently ingested a product through no fault or negligence on their part. Contador and his team have, in fact, not been able to prove this - no part of the allegedly contaminated meat he ate in Pau remained - but equally the federation feel that neither has it been proved with any certainty how, when and where Contador was supposed to have deliberately taken clenbuterol. In short Contador has been given the benefit of the doubt by his own fedration, possibly not the most surprising result of this or any other season.

Spanish newspaper El País is reporting that the four lawyers on the committee may also have been swayed by a tweet posted last Thursday night by Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero that said “there are no legal grounds for sanctioning Contador”. The committee also studied WADA's decision not to appeal against the dismissal of similar charges against German table tennis player Dimitri Ovtcharov, who tested positive for clenbuterol after a tournament in China when it was proved his food was contaminated.

This will make for a very interesting 2011 Tour de France.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Tours: Contador Singing "Blame it on the Grain"

2011-02-11T08:30:00.000-08:00

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"Eat this RFEC!"

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Spyns former clients couldn't be described as Alberto Contador fans, however, we the man has talent. He's also proving to be quite the Spanish scrapper. A "disgusted" Alberto Contador hit out at the Spanish federation whom he accused of buckling to pressure from anti-doping authorities after it proposed he serve a one-year ban from cycling. The future of the three-time Tour de France champion has hung in the balance since he announced last August he had tested positive for traces of the banned substance clenbuterol during last July's race. Despite repeatedly denying taking any banned substances, blaming the result on food contamination, it increasingly looks like stage racing's biggest talent will be banned.

As Spyns prepares for its 2011 Tour de France trips, the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) made a proposal last month to ban Contador for a year, an offer which was seen by experts as a compromise deal. This would make Andy Schleck the favourite to win the 2011. He's also a favourite among Spyns former clients. Contador, however, immediately vowed to appeal the ban as he had done nothing wrong. He now believes the RFEC was pressured into making the proposal by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and feels "let down" by his federation's failure to clear him. "The UCI and WADA exerted a lot of pressure before that proposal" from the RFEC was made on January 26," the Spaniard said in an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE on Thursday.

"The RFEC knows I've always advocated an anti-doping stance. Everyone knows what's going on, but now I'm in a position where I'm facing a ban. It really makes you lose confidence" in the system. "I'm disgusted... I feel really let down by the attitude of the federation. This case has become way too politicised and it has prejudiced my case." He added: "The federation has our entire dossier. It is a long and comprehensive work which clears everything up. "They could have consulted an article which proves my innocence, but they haven't and for that I am disappointed," he told EFE. A defiant Contador said he would fight any future ban all the way: "I'm ready for whichever battle comes up." The RFEC is soon expected to confirm the length of Contador's sanction.

If however the Spanish cycling authorities fail to ban Contador, the UCI, which is understood to want to apply the anti-doping rules to the letter, would likely appeal to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to ban the Spaniard. The 28-year-old, who is also a former winner of the Giro d'Italia and Tour of Spain, would then lose his 2010 Tour de France victory. Clenbuterol is a banned weight loss/muscle-building drug which is also used to fatten cattle. Contador claims he ate a steak that was contaminated by the drug. The substance was banned by the European Union in 1996 but it is still administered illicitly by some cattle farmers.

Did he or didn't he? That is the question. As we prepare for our 2011 Tour de France tours, Contador is fighting for survival and shows no signs of giving up.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Tours: Schleck "I'm the 2011 Tour de France Favourite"

2011-02-10T06:05:00.000-08:00

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Awwwwwwww!

Spyns former clients have always had a soft sport for baby-faced Andy Schleck. As we prepare for Spyns 2011 Tour de France trips, we ask: is Andy Schleck the favorite to win this year's Tour de France? When the route was unveiled in October, he and Alberto Contador were said to be the top riders in the field. But with Contador's status for the race in doubt because of a doping suspension he could receive, Schleck could be the guy in the peloton with a giant bull's-eye on his back. Even Schleck knows that.

"If we review the ratings in recent years, it is normal that I [am] considered the favorite," Schleck told Spanish Web site as.com. The interviewer then asked if he'd be the favorite even if Contador were allowed to race: "I think so. I do not know what will happen with Contador. I'm going to concentrate on the Tour and not the other opponents." It's clear that Schleck, who along with his brother Frank left Saxo Bank last season to form their new Luxembourg-based team Leopard-Trek, knows he is overdue for a Tour victory after finishing second the last two years. The 2011 route is climber-friendly, which will benefit both him and Contador. With both in the field it would be a duel to the finish. If Contador is out, Schleck's fate would be in his own hands, er legs.

Spyns believes that only a European could come up with a name like Leopard-Trek. I can only imagine the jerseys. Also in the as.com interview, Schleck touched on the broken collarbone Frank suffered in a crash during Stage 3 of the 2010 Tour. The injury knocked him out of the race and it left Andy without his top wingman the rest of the way. "I had a good tour overall, won two stages, but I also had very bad luck," Andy said. "One of those setbacks was the fall of Frank. [Without] it, we could have a very different career."

Unfortunately, Contador won't be around to make the 2011 Tour de France even more interesting for Spyns tour clients. Pity that but we'd like to see Schleck earn a well-deserved yellow jersey.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Tours: 38-Year Old George Hincapie Prepares for Retirement...Maybe

2011-02-09T07:32:00.000-08:00

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Hincapie and Armstrong share a
laugh while riding for team
Discovery.

As Spyns' clients prepare for our 2011 Tour de France tours, another tour veteran is planning his retirment...and no it's not Lance Armstrong. George Hincapie (team BMC) gears up for his 18th season as a pro, he is quietly hatching plans for retirement. Not that the veteran American is ready for the rocking chair yet — Hincapie still hopes for a shot at making history at the Tour de France. “I am thinking 2012,” Hincapie told VeloNews. “It really depends on what the team would want me to do, but it would be nice to do one last Tour and call it quits.”

Hincapie, who turns 38 this summer, already holds the record for the most Tour appearances by an American, with 15 through 2010. Others who match that mark include Viatcheslav Ekimov, Lucien Van Impe and Guy Nulens. Joop Zoetemelk holds the record with 16 Tours, between 1970 and 1986, finishing all 16 he started. Hincapie is expected to start his 16th Tour this July, but he abandoned his first. If he retired in 2012 with “one last Tour,” that would put him on track for a record of 17 starts in the Tour.

Hincapie is not waxing poetic about his cycling career just yet, and says his move to BMC in 2010 has helped him stay motivated and hungry despite the demands of professional cycling.
“I am just really excited about this team, it came from being a small team, they were sort of courting me, giving me the two-three year plan to become a ProTour team, then all of sudden we hired guys like Cadel, it just skyrocketed,” Hincapie said. “What Jim (Ochowicz) and Andy (Rihs) sort of presented to me happened a lot quicker. For me to be part of that has been a special deal, I would like to see it through as long as possible. I still feel good, I feel like I can give a lot to the team as far as racing goes, I still enjoy doing it.”

Hincapie remains one of the most respected riders in the pack, especially among a new generation of Americans moving up through the ranks. Hincapie has taken on the role as elder statesman and mentor to younger pros and often plays host to riders at his home in South Carolina looking for mild off-season weather conditions. He regularly trains with Craig Lewis and saw visits this winter from Ted King and others. “I like (helping young riders). When I was getting started, I had guys like Sean Yates, Steve Bauer and Phil Anderson who really took me under their wing. It was really special to me and it helped me a lot,” he said, adding that he vows to return the favor. “I know how hard this sport is when you get thrown into the pro peloton. The racing gets exponentially harder real fast.”

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Bike Tours: Cavendish the "Man to Beat" at 2011 Tour de France

2011-02-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

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A British rider has yet to win the Tour de France. Spyns asks, "Will the 2011 Tour de France finally give us a British yellow jersey winner?" Ask Mark Cavendish. With an impressive 15 stage wins in four years at the Tour de France, it may be a while before Mark Cavendish's reputation as the fastest man on two wheels is challenged. But barely a month into the new cycling season, his rivals are planning to redress the balance in the big bunch sprints of the three-week Tours and selected one-day classics. While the sprint 'train' of Cavendish's HTC-Highroad team has raised the bar in the lead-up to race finales, it has inevitably inspired the competition, with Garmin and Team Sky now among the main challengers.

Germany's Andre Greipel and American Tyler Farrar have been knocking at Cavendish's door in recent years and events off the bike mean they are hoping for a bigger slice of the pie. Farrar's Garmin team recently merged with Cervelo, attracting the likes of world champion Thor Hushovd and Heinrich Haussler to Garmin-Cervelo and creating a quality-packed outfit that, on paper, will challenge Cavendish's dominance. Greipel was Cavendish's teammate for two years, during which time the Briton's success left the German in a second-string side. Frustrated with the lack of opportunities, he has since moved to Omega-Pharma.

Next week's Tour of Qatar and the ensuing races will give the sprinters an early chance to experiment and lay down some early markers. Yet Australian Mark Renshaw, Cavendish's final lead-out man, believes it will take a lot to beat his winning combination with the Isle of Man rider. "On paper they (Garmin-Cervelo) have a great sprint team but on paper they don't have a great lead-out team," Renshaw told AFP. "I dedicate myself completely to Cav. If they can do that, they're going to be a force to be reckoned with. But until Tyler (Farrar) or Thor (Husdhovd) or whoever steps over and dedicates themselves completely to one of the guys, it's going to be hard."

Having suffered defeat to Cavendish on all three Grand Tours, the 26-year-old Farrar is hoping the merger with Cervelo bears fruit. "We're such a strong team. On paper we're pretty incredible when it comes to the classics and sprints, and hopefully that's going to translate into a lot of big wins," Farrar, who broke his wrist on stage two of the 2010 Tour de France, told AFP. The big question mark surrounds Greipel, who has yet to compete in many big races, having been deprived by Cavendish's domination while they both raced for HTC. In Greipel's first outing with his new team he failed to defend his crown at the Tour Down Under in Australia, which he has won twice, and failed to bag a stage win. He concedes it will take time for his own sprint train to come together, but he expects Garmin-Cervelo – if they can get their tactics right – to be formidable.

"It's early days, we have to improve a few things but I think we'll see in the future that Omega-Pharma Lotto has a lead-out train," said the German. "If they all pull on one rope, Garmin-Cervelo will be unbeatable. Farrar, Hushovd, Haussler – if they are going for sprints for Farrar or Hushovd, there's not so many teams who can be faster." Cavendish has shown in the past he can win without a sprint train, coming off Renshaw's wheel on the 11th stage of the 2010 Tour de France – after which the Australian was barred for headbutting – to take his third win of the race. Ominously for his rivals, HTC-Highroad sports director Allan Peiper believes it is a tactic to be explored. "As good as a lead-out train is, it's only as good as the final man who's finishing it off," Peiper told AFP. "In my opinion, when they're at the top of their game, Mark (Renshaw) and Cav are pretty much untouchable, with or without a train. "A lot of respect to the other teams, like Garmin and Sky – they have great execution, but don't quite have the guy to finish it off." It will certainly be an exciting field of riders for Spyns 2011 Tour de France trips.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Trip Packages: Canadian Team Sets Tour de France 2013 Goal

2011-02-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

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Svein Tuft: Canada's new great
white hope.

As a Canadian travel company, Spyns is always fiercely proud when fellow Canadians enter the Euro-dominated world of professional cycling. Case in point: Svein Tuft (who could sound more like an action hero we ask). As Spyns prepares for its 2011 Tour de France tours, Tuft and his teammates are preparing for the 2013 Tour de France.

The tattoo in dark letters on Svein Tuft’s right forearm reads: We will never be here again. If Tuft wants to savour the ride, it’s understandable, since it’s hard to imagine a pro cyclist taking a more unlikely path. He was a Grade 10 dropout who logged thousands of kilometres in the woods of B.C. and Alaska on a bike he purchased for $40 at a second-hand store. He welded a trailer to the bike to carry supplies and his dog Bear, 80 pounds worth of fierceness and loyalty. This wasn’t training for the Tour de France. Tuft didn’t even know what it was. His first pro bike race didn’t happen until he was 23. Biking, to him, was a way to reach the mountains — he couldn’t afford a car. He barely had any money.

Tuft went into the wilderness to learn about himself. He hardly took any equipment — just a wool blanket and a tarp on his early trips. “That started everything for me,” said Tuft. “It was about exploring and the freedom of travel. I had nothing in those days and I will still say to this day, ‘That was living.’ I had no plan. I didn’t have BlackBerrys or cellphones or things to pay off. I had no money, but what I had was all I needed.” Tuft sounds like a throwback to the coureurs de bois days, that’s a good thing, since he’ll need those adventuresome qualities in his new role. He’s the leader on Team SpiderTech powered by C10, a new Canadian cycling team being unveiled Friday in Toronto that has big plans for the future — reaching the Tour de France by 2013.

Team leader Steve Bauer, the Canadian cycling great who wore the yellow jersey for 14 days in the Tour de France, couldn’t believe his good fortune when Tuft became available, after his previous team failed to get a Professional Continental license. Bauer’s team is the first Canadian entry to gain such a license. In Tuft, they are getting a guy who has won prologues on the world tour, captured silver in the time trial at the 2008 worlds and was seventh at the Beijing Olympics. Tuft could get more money by signing with a team one rung higher on the world tour, but this is clearly a guy who bleeds maple syrup.

“It’s always been my dream,” said the 33-year-old from Langley, B.C. “I want to grow with these guys as they make the steps. I love seeing Canadian talent doing well. It’s great to be at the very top level and do your stuff, but man, it’s so much more satisfying to be part of something you feel good about and you can really get behind.” The fellowship of the wheel is an important element for Tuft, who, continuing on that Lord of the Rings theme, could be viewed as the team’s Aragorn. This is a unique guy, not your typical athlete, and he’s eager to share what he’s learned with the younger riders on Team SpiderTech — but, maybe more importantly, still feels he’s learning himself. Where he once slept in his tent on the side of the road, he now lodges in first-rate hotels. The $40 bike has been replaced by sleek pieces of technology worth thousands of dollars.

None of this impresses Tuft. He loves bike racing, but also looks forward to retreating to the mountains in B.C. in the off-season. His tattoo is a reminder of what’s important to him. “What’s really of value is experiences and also being in the state of mind to enjoy those experiences,” said Tuft. “To me, that’s so key, because I’ve been places where the head’s just spinning outta control. And it’s the most beautiful place. And you’re just focused on whatever’s going on in your life or people. It’s like you’re not even there. To me, it’s just a sad way to go through life. Because at the end of the day, all you have are those experiences and those people in your life that are important to you. I want that.”

Canadian Olympic great Clara Hughes, who did research on Tuft for her work as a colour commentator for CBC at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, came away a huge fan. “I don’t think there’s another Svein Tuft on this planet,” said Hughes. “The fact he’s been able to channel that free spirit, that tough-as-nails persona that he is into something like road cycling is just awesome. He’s doing the sport in his own way, on his own terms, and that’s something I really respect and admire.” He certainly has the genes. His grandfather Arne finished sixth for Norway in the men’s 50-kilometre cross country ski race at the 1936 Winter Olympics. Tuft developed a great work ethic growing up. Maybe he didn’t have a choice. His father ran a general contracting business and expected the kids to chip in. “He’d put you to work if he saw you idle.”

When he went off on his adventures, Tuft supported himself with all kinds of jobs, from building log homes to hay baling in the Fraser Valley to working on farms in Chilliwack, which generally paid $12 or $15 an hour plus a big dinner. "You do that for three, four days and you’re really set to go, man.” Tuft was working at a place that salvaged wire rope and cable chain when he told the foreman he was going off for his first bike race. “There was nothing that would tell me that was a feasible thing to do, but here I am and I’m amazed what I’ve been able to do in such a short period of time,” he said. “For me, it’s never been about getting the riches. . . . I want the chance to do that work and show what I can do.” He’ll definitely be getting that.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Trip Packages: Will He or Won't He? Armstrong yet to Commit to Tour de California

2011-02-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

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Armstrong: Too cool for
California?

Spyns former clients may ask: is Lance Armstrong's halo now tarnished? the seven-time Tour de France winner has not entered the Tour of California, but changes in the event's drug test program revealed Wednesday open the door for him to do so. Organizers of America's biggest cycling race, to be contested May 15-22, will have the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) administer drug tests for the event rather than the International Cycling Union.

The switch, which sees USADA handle competition tests as well as pre-event random drug tests that start February 15, led the US race to rescind a practice used last year that barred competitors who were being investigated for doping. A US grand jury has spent months looking into doping in pro cycling. Armstrong and several of his associates were compelled to testify since Floyd Landis, an admitted dope cheat who forfeited his 2006 Tour de France title, accused Armstrong of doping. Spyns clients have seen Landis go from A-list pro rider to the cycling world's equivalent of a crack whore, turning tricks streetside, and telling anyone with a microphone he was abducted by aliens and, oh yeah, Lance is also a crack whore!

Armstrong, who was thought to be looking at the Tour of California as a possible close to his fabled career, has continuously denied taking performance-enhancing drugs but might have been banned under the old under-investigation restriction. "Every athlete is entitled to full and due process before being removed from the playing field," said US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart. Andrew Messick, the Tour of California president, said there is no entry from Armstrong or his RadioShack team. This isn't very good news for an event that requires Lance's star power to attract A-list advertisers. If we've learned anything over Lance's long Tour de France career, Armstrong = ratings.

Armstrong, 39, is coming off a 67th-place showing in last week's Tour Down Under in Australia, what he says was his final race outside the United States. Three months of out-of-competition random drug testing for blood and urine is part of the tougher drug test plans implemented in the switch to USADA testing, Messick said. "It is our intention to be a positive force in the sport of cycling and fighting to ensure that our race is clean is an essential step," Messick said. "The Tour is taking great strides in supporting clean athletes and actively advancing efforts for the integrity of competition," Tygart said.

Cycling has been dogged by doping scandals much too long. I vote to leave Lance Armstrong's legacy in peace and move on. Hopefully the 2011 Tour de France will be a squeaky clean event. Just tell Andy Schleck to stay away from Contador's famous tainted meat.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Trip Packages: German TV To Drop Live TDF Coverage

2011-02-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

Jan Ullrich: "Retirement is bliss!"

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Is this the 2011 Tour de France's "jump the shark" moment? As Spyns gears up for our 2011 Tour de France trips, Germany’s main broadcasters said Wednesday they are set to end live broadcasts of the Tour de France in 2012. Blaming a drop in viewing figures for the decision, German broadcasters ARD and ZDF said they will not renew their contract with the European Broadcasting Union to screen the event live and will only air highlights in the future from cycling’s showcase stage race in 2012. There is probably a cycling fanatic named Ziggy in Bavaria weeping uncontrollably.

Name a German comedian...you can't! When I searched the terms "German Comedy" on youtube, the results were less than spectacular. We at Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours (shameless plug) submit the following two reasons why Germans don't appreciate the Tour de France:

Reason One: It is French
Reason Two: Jan Ullrich retired in 2007

The German networks say live broadcasts over several hours can no longer be justified because fewer Germans are watching the race live. Both ARD and ZDF pulled the plug on live broadcasts during the 2007 Tour after a series of doping affairs. Live coverage was resumed in 2008, but with current champion Alberto Contador facing a one-year ban for an alleged doping offence, the latest problems in the sport are believed to be a factor in the broadcasters’ decisions.

Cycling’s popularity in Germany has dropped since the 1990s, when millions of Germans tuned in to watch Jan Ullrich win the race’s yellow jersey in 1997. Ullrich ended his career in February 2007 after being sacked by T-Mobile when he was linked to the Operation Puerto blood-doping scandal. We at Spyns say, if you're gonna have a sting, call it "Operation Puerto"!

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Trip Packages: Schleck Sees Basso as Main Competition

2011-02-01T04:39:00.000-08:00

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Spyns votes Andy Schleck as most likely to
win the 2011 Tour de France.

With Alberto Contador fighting a one-year ban and Lance Armstrong retired, we at Spyns believe Andy Schleck is a shoe-in for the yellow jersey. This is a completely self-serving analysis because I simply wanted to show this picture of Vicky Johnstone, Spyns Director of Guest Services, standing next to the baby-faced Schleck (with brother in background sporting his trademark Oakleys) in the Pyrenees in May 2010.

There is no shortage of talent gearing up for the 2011 Tour de France. Following Contador's ban, Luxembourger Andy Schleck sees Ivan Basso as Tour de France rival number one for July. "He has class, experience, works like no other and is improving at the Tour, twice already on the podium," Schleck told Italian newspaper, La Stampa. "He will be the opponent most marked."

Basso won the Giro d'Italia last year and in 2006. He has finished on the podium twice at the Tour de France, third in 2004 and second in 2005, and this year, he wants to aim for the win. He will likely skip the Giro in May and let Liquigas-Cannondale team-mate Vincenzo Nibali lead. Schleck will be the favourite at the Tour de France, though. He finished second the last two years, both times to Spain's Contador. Contador, however, will likely lose his third title from last year and serve a doping suspension for failing a doping test at the race. Last year's yellow jersey and trophy may end up at Schleck's home. Clearly the young rider wants to win outright rather than because someone else was eliminated. Who remembers that Óscar Pereiro won following Floyd Landis's disqualification in 2006?

"I have not thought of yet," said Schleck. "I wanted to win the Tour on the road by beating Alberto. And maybe I would have succeeded, without the mechanical incident last year. Winning like this, though, is not the best. "I still hope that Alberto can prove his innocence and can race the next Tour, where I would like to beat him." Good lad that Schleck! Schleck and his brother Fränk will lead new Luxembourg team, Leopard Trek. Besides the Tour, Andy Schleck will aim for the Ardennes Classics."Before, I will aim for Amstel Gold, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and also Flèche Wallonne. But the Tour is the Tour. Milano-Sanremo? It's not made for me, too fast and too dangerous. The Giro? Sooner or later I will, but this year I will aim for the Tour. I am still too young to aim for two major stage races in a row."

To prepare for the season, Schleck has worked in the gym and has gained weight. When we met him last year in the Pyrenees, Vicky commented, "He has the legs of an 11 year old girl." I put him at no more than 140 pounds. "I worked more on strength and power, with rides not as long, but more intense, also doing a lot at the gym. That's why I got three kilos of weight [7lbs], I hope it's muscles. I also have corrected my position on the bike for time trials." General opinion is that Schleck is a weaker time trialer. Andy and Fränk will make their race debut at the Mallorca Challenge in February. Their next race will be the Ruta del Sol stage race in southern Spain.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France trip clients look forward to seeing them both in July.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Tours: Euro Finance Ministers in Davos "The Crisis Is Over. Thank you and Goodnight"

2011-01-31T01:21:00.000-08:00

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http://www.spyns.com/

Few things are certain these days but I am sure of the following:

"I'll have the irony
please."

Spyns offers the best Tour de France tours;
The sun will rise tomorrow;
Contador will lose his doping appeal (and won't compete in the 2011 Tour de France); and
The Eurozone (and larger world) crisis are far from over.

What a surprise then to read about France's President Sarkozy, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and other Euro government thingies claiming the end of the Eurozone crisis. While speaking at the Davos Economic Forum in Switzerland, France's finance minister claimed the crisis had "turned the corner." This seems a bit delusional.

To wit: Ireland's bailout was inked just 5 weeks ago and has yet to be formally ratified in that country's parliament. Adding to the uncertainty, the Irish government has collapsed and the leading opposition party likely to form the next government has started making noises about bond haircuts. [They were summarily slapped down by both the ECB and European Commission: both defenders of German and French banks that own the bonds.] Portugal's economy is shrinking while bond interest rates remain stubbornly high. This is an unsustainable path for that country. Belgium has no government and is likely heading for a break up. Both inflation and unemployment are on the rise across Europe, most acutely in France, Great Britain, and Spain. So sounding the "all clear" may be a bit premature. The instability at Europe's doorstep is also a bit foreboding.

Politicians don't normally deal in bad news. Some have even been known to lie. I'd look at what's happening in North African countries like Egypt and Tunisia to see how quickly things can degerate when you have an explosive mix of high youth unemployment, skyrocketing cost of living, and governments that fail to address either. Turning to the Eurozone, these factors are common in Spain, the UK and France to name a few. While everyone is having a Chamberlain moment in Davos (the man who claimed "Peace in our time" just before the outbreak of WWII), I believe Western governments are dealing with symptoms rather than treating the illness.

While governments in Spain and the US artificially prop up housing prices, lowball unemployment, and continue with bank bailouts, soverign debt keeps growing at an alarming rate and shows few signs of abating. The US deficit is projected to be a staggering $1.5 trillion in 2011. It makes little sense for the US government to extend tax cuts under these circumstances. Sadly, governments on both sides of the Atlantic look no further than the next election when addressing problems that will take generations to resolve. Will this come to a head in 2011? Your guess is as good as mine.

I equate the current financial situation to a melting iceberg. Lehman's collapse was the fracture setting developed economies adrift. The resulting iceberg moved inexorably towards warmer waters and started melting - almost imperceptibly. The politicians are like penguins darting here and there around the massive surface, giving the impression of frenetic activity yet doing little to change the iceberg's trajectory. Once adrift, it is almost impossible to change the course of an iceberg. Similarly, it will take decades to repair the developed world's finances yet the political will is missing.

What does this mean for Spyns 2011 Tour de France clients? In the short term, I'd expect Spain's financial problems to become front page news again in the next 8-10 weeks. This will probably lead to a dip in the euro before the US budget crisis also makes headlines - likely when a large US city or state goes bankrupt. So Spyns clients should probably exchange their dollars to euros during the next dip as the euro will likely spike again in June/July 2011.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

2011 Tour de France Travel Packages: Adios Contador, Schleck Poised for Yellow Jersey

2011-01-28T14:54:00.000-08:00

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www.spyns.com

Contador: brining sexy back
to cycling.

As Spyns former clients can attest, I am no fan of Alberto Contador. While his talents aren't in question, there was always something that irked me about the unloveable latin rider. This general malaise was only confirmed during the 2010 Tour de France when Contador seized upon Andy Schleck's mechanical failure to sprint past his rival and, through questionable means, win yet another yellow jersey. Well, gotcha!

The plucky Spaniard is at it again. Alberto Contador has confirmed that he will not be retiring from cycling even if he is eventually banned and said that he will appeal against any kind of sanction. Speaking in a press conference on Friday, his first since he heard he would receive a one-year ban for clenbuterol, he said "I have no plans to quit. But above all, I consider this ban to be totally unfair. I've never doped. I'm an example of what it means to race clean."

Contador said he had done around 500 anti-doping tests in his career. "They've done tests on me in my home, with my family, I've had to go out of the cinema in the middle of the film or walk out on someone's birthday celebrations. I did all that because I believed in the antidoping system. I believed it was right. My only error has been to eat meat without it being previously tested. The norms [about positive tests for clenbuterol] will change within three months, six months or a year. But what about me? Those responsible for the anti-doping system have to rethink things. There's an antidoping regulation [which states that any amount of clenbuterol detected is a positive] which is completely obsolete."

He may have a point but in most people's minds, pro cycling has a serious doping problem. And many Spyns former clients disliked Contador because, well, he didn't let an ageing Lance Armstrong (and former teammate) win the 2009 Tour de France. Armstrong eventually placed 3rd. "The amount of clenbuterol found in my system could have had no effect on my performance and is physically impossible to take intentionally. In no way did it help me win the Tour de France. What hurts is that all of the scientists know I'm innocent. These rules no longer keep up with scientific developments and until the rules change there will be more cases of false positives in 2011."

Apart from re-asserting his innocence, the 27-year-old Madrilano was also critical of the way his provisional ban was leaked to the press, but said he will everything he can to try to reduce the ban in the next ten days before it becomes definitive. During the ongoing press conference, due to finish around 6pm Spanish time, Contador received the support of his team manager, Bjarne Riis, as well as his sponsors at Saxo Bank. This is no small feat.

It will be interesting to see the powers that be in professional cycling on the run. If as Contador claims the chemicals in his system could not have helped his performance, perhaps antidoping authorities will have to re-assess their testing. Lance said as much when an ancient urine sample was re-tested years later and found to contain traces of illegal substances. Armstrong was successful in having that thrown out on the basis the samples could have been tainted so many years later.

The ball is in Contador's court. Let's see how he plays it. But there is little doubt that Andy Schleck (cue smile with tooth sparkle) is the new favourite to win the 2011 Tour de France.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Tour packages www.tdf-tours.com: Tour de France / Mont Ventoux Victim Tom Simpson Subject of Film Project

2011-01-26T03:49:00.000-08:00

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Simpson on his fateful ride up
Mont Ventoux: 1967 Tour de France

Spyns former clients who conquered Mont Ventoux during our 2009 Tour de France trips know the "Geant de Provence" is one of the most challenging rides in France. Spyns 2011 Tour de France tour clients will have the opportunity to bike epic Mont Ventoux during our Provence to Paris Tours during the July 2011 edition of the Tour de France. But few Spyns former clients know that Mont Ventoux also has a morbid history that will soon make it to the screen.

This is England director Shane Meadows wants to make a film about Tom Simpson, the British cycling champion who died of exhaustion on Mont Ventoux while taking part in the 1967 Tour de France. Meadows, who grew up in Simpson's home county of Nottinghamshire, told the Associated Press: "He's a Nottingham guy and it's just one of those legendary stories that feels like a Hollywood movie script, though I wouldn't treat it like that." The film director, who hasn't yet bought the rights to the story, said he wouldn't gloss over Simpson's use of amphetamines while racing because "it was very different then". No casting decisions have yet been made.

Simpson, born in Haswell, County Durham in 1937, was Britain's first road world champion (in 1965) and won several other major races, including the 1961 Ronde van Vlaanderen, 1963 Bordeaux – Paris, 1964 Milan – San Remo and 1965 Giro di Lombardia, In 1962, he became the first Briton to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France and finished sixth overall (the best placing by a Briton until Robert Millar's fourth in 1984).

He was looking strong at the start of the 1967 Tour, having won that year's Paris – Nice and two stages of the Vuelta a España. But 3km from the summit of Mont Ventoux during the 13th stage he began to wobble. After another kilometre he fell off his bike and had to be pushed back on by spectators. He made it a further 300m before collapsing again, this time losing consciousness. A post mortem found drugs and alcohol had combined with the heat, the hard climb and stomach cramps to cause his death.

With full van support, a stop mid mountain, and guides riding in front and bank, Spyns clients can enjoy Mont Ventoux at their own pace and in complete safety.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Tours: Pro Cycling is a Contact Sport

2011-01-25T08:42:00.000-08:00

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Get the butt out!

In the past, Spyns former clients have likened professional cycling to other non-violent sports like horsebackriding or badminton. But anyone who watched Mark Renshaw get disqualified for headbutting at the 2010 Tour de France would have seen more "head" action at the recent Tour Down Under.

As Lance Armstrong retired from pro cycling, dethroned Tour Down Under champion Andre Greipel, who did not manage a stage win in his title defence, accused Argentinian sprinter Juan Jose Haedo of headbutting him and Robbie McEwen in an aggressive bunch sprint finale yesterday. Greipel likened his clashing with Haedo to the headbutting that led to a former teammate, Australian Mark Renshaw, being thrown off the Tour de France last year. And while he shook hands with Haedo after racing yesterday, the German did not refrain from criticising him subsequently.

Asked whether he thought Saxo Bank's Haedo had crossed the line, Greipel, who has switched from HTC-Highroad to Omega Pharma-Lotto said: ''I think yes. I mean, Renshaw was disqualified in the Tour de France for shit like this. We went into the last corner and he was pushing and headbutting me. I'm not the judge. I mean, it doesn't change anything now because I couldn't do my sprint and that's it. He did the same with McEwen, I think, from what I saw.''

A UCI commissaire (international cycling referrees who oversee the races) said last night there was limited television footage for judges to review such incidents at the Tour Down Under - which would have made it difficult for race officials to issue punishment - but he suggested several riders appeared to have contravened rules in the final furious moments of stage six, and that they looked to have offended seriously enough to have warranted expulsion from the race.
Despite the numerous incidents of heavy rider contact in the finish that determined the 2011 champion, no team laid an official complaint. In a land of full contact rugby and crocodile wrestling, a little head contact doesn't seem actionable.

The finish yesterday in downtown Adelaide was particularly hot given it was the final chance for some of the Tour's biggest names to score a stage victory. McEwen had stated it as his aim and was well in contention to pull it off in the final kilometres yesterday. For Michael Matthews, the 20-year-old Australian and reigning under-23 world road race champion contracted to professional outfit Rabobank, it was the first experience of an elite road race and yesterday's conclusion proved hair-raising. Matthews could have become the overall Tour Down Under champion had he won the final sprint.

''Everyone was pushing me everywhere,'' he said. ''Just going that fast, and the way these guys push around a bit is a bit different to the under-23s. In the under-23s there are a few elbows and stuff, but in this league it's definitely headbutts and full body movement, so, yeah, it's almost like a wrestling match in the last lap. Being a little guy trying to sprint, it's a bit hard being pushed around by the big guys. But I guess you've got to push them back and see how you go. I just couldn't quite push them back.'' We'll see how he fares in the 2011 Tour de France.

While he didn't feel he was manhandled illegally (enjoy that innuendo), Matthews said he saw riders who were. ''In front of me and around me guys were getting headbutts, but that's racing I guess. I'm not going to name names because it's not for me to do,'' he said. Hopefully Matthews won't be manhandled in front of Spyns clients during our 2011 Tour de France trips.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2011 Tour de France Package Tours: Contador's Future Hinges on Pork and Hair

2011-01-24T11:14:00.000-08:00

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"Got doping?"

As Lance Armstrong ends his professional cycling career down under, doping scandals continue to dog the world of professional cycling. In a more interesting twist, in the wake of Alberto Contador's recent positive test results, scientists continue debate on how to separate doping from meat contamination.

As Spyns clients prepare for our 2011 Tour de France tours, the cycling world awaits the verdict of the Spanish cycling federation concerning Alberto Contador's positive test result for clenbuterol, anti-doping scientists are continuing to debate over the best way to separate intentional doping with the substance and innocent meat contamination. Several recent clenbuterol positives have been based on infinitely small amounts of the drug in the athletes' urine, suggesting a possible contamination with clenbuterol-treated meat. And because there is no threshold for the muscle booster, innocent athletes who did not dope could be unfairly punished.

German table tennis player Dimitrij Ovtcharov, who tested positive for the drug in August 2010, was cleared by his national federation in October because he provided his hair to be tested, further supporting his claim that the positive came from ingested meat. "Clenbuterol sticks at least 20 times better to dark hair than to blonde," Detlef Thieme, director of Germany's WADA-accredited lab in Kreischa, told AP. Spyns former clients may ask while a table tennis player would need to dope. After Ovtcharov's hair test was negative, it offered additional evidence that he didn't cheat. Had Ovtcharov been blonde, that result would have been "rather vague," added Thieme, whose lab performed the test. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has since appealed the acquittal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) - a move it is likely to repeat should the Spanish cycling federation decide to clear the 2010 Tour de France winner Contador.

But within the scientific world, anti-doping experts point out that WADA's zero-tolerance policy for clenbuterol should be re-examined. Zhao Jian, deputy director-general of China's Anti-Doping Agency, said that the absence of a threshold for the substance is "not fair" because of a great possibility of punishing innocent athletes. Still, Zhao warned that dopers could use a threshold to escape punishment, as long as they tested below the limit. "It could give a green light to those who deliberately use," he said. Germany's Thieme suggested loosening the rules temporarily, while scientists pinpoint the risk of meat contamination with greater certainty. "That would be smart," he said. At the moment, "in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing proceedings", WADA is not commenting on the scientific investigation of clenbuterol positives, or whether it would be willing to introduce a threshold.

Another rider waiting for the outcome of Contador's case is Li Fuyu, who used to ride for RadioShack but was released after testing positive for clenbuterol in March 2010. Like Contador, the clenbuterol traces found in Li's urine were infinitely small, and the Chinese rider also blamed contaminated meat for the positive test. Officially, Li has been banned for two years by his federation, but if Contador is cleared, the Chinese cycling federation could shorten his supension. "Since his case is the same as that of Contador, he has to wait for the outcome of Contador," said a Chinese cycling official by the surname of Niu. "If Contador is acquitted, it’s possible that an adjustment will be made in (Li's) punishment."

The Spanish cycling federation is expected to provide a sentence on Contador by February 15. The up-and-coming Schleck brothers hope Contador will race in the 2011 Tour de France. Andy Schleck wants a chance to beat Contador after his narrow victory over his rival at the 2010 Tour de France.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.