Tour de France - Motorcycle Version from Bikes in the Fast Lane

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Tour de France - Motorcycle Version

October
2003

  File under Racing Travel France
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Paris, France

Most people in the world have heard of the "Tour de France", but few have heard of the Tour de France for Motorcycles. And still, it exists, it's true and it's legal !! The race/rally is called Moto-Tour, and is open to anyone on a motorcycle.

The race was started in 1973 with 114 participants (including 3 girls) running the 3200 kilometers. The 2003 version starts on the last day (5 Oct) of the Paris International Motorcycle Exhibition (Mondial du Deux Roux) and for a week takes the participants through France to their goal; Toulon (in the South of France).

Anyone can join

The race is open to all, and many are pure amateurs, but professional riders are there as well. So it's a chance to rub shoulders with top French bikers such as Dominique Sarron or even foreign celebrities such as Phil Read (8 times world champion). In total,
337 bikers joined the race with a large variety of motorcycles. The majority run in the race bike category, but there's even scooter, sidecar, and single cylinder categories..
Cost: 990 Euros!<

The Race

No, it's not what you think. You don't get to ride your race bike in Paris traffic, or on the
auto route doing 300 kph. There are several roads that have been closed to traffic, and you do get to go fast
there, but the idea is that you go from circuit to circuit as a navigation and speed control test, and at the race circuits, you have timed races. In other words, in between the circuits you need to pay attention to your speed and position, while on the circuits, you can go flat out.

The race (=rally) is an all-weather race. So if it rains, the race still goes on. There's also one night
event, where the riders need to ride in the dark.

The Schedule

5 octobre	Paris-Tours
Paris Porte de Versailles	Porte de Versailles	10h00-13h00
Tours	Stade d'honneur	15h30-18h00
6 octobre	Tours-Montluçon
Tours	Stade d'honneur	6h30
Circuit Bugatti	Parc Technopole	8h00
Special Neuvy-Le-Roi	Neuville-Pont-Pierre, D2, towards Rouziers	11h00
Special Bauzy	Chambord, D60, between Bracieux and Vernou-en-Sologne	13h30
Montluçon	Parc Athanor	16h30
7 octobre	Montluçon/Issoire
Montluçon	Parc Athanor	9h00
Special Teillet-Argenty	D151, towards Sainte-Thérence	9h35
Special Eygerolles	D79, towards Eugurande	11h00
Special Confolent-Port-Dieu	D159, towards Confolent	12h15
Issoire	Place du Foirail	14h00
Night Stage
Issoire	Place du Foirail	20h30
Special Saint-Quentin/Sauxillanges	D49/D 707 towards Vernet-la-Varenne	20h45
Special Saint-Jean-en-Val	D89, towards Saint-Etienne-sur-Usson	22h00
Issoire	Place du Foirail	22h30
8 octobre	Issoire/Villefranche sur Saône
Circuit Issoire	CEERTA	9h00
Special Saint Jean-en-Val	D89, towards Saint-Etienne-sur-Usson	10h30
Col des Supeyres	D106, towards Saint-Antheme	12h30
Special Thurins	D 628, towards  Croix-Perriière	14h15
Villefranche sur Saône	Parc des expositions	15h15
9 octobre	Villefranche sur Saône / Alès
Villefranche sur Saône	Parc des expositions	7h00
Special Dornas	Towards Col de Joux	11h30
Special Burzet	D289, towards SAinte Eulalie	12h15
Special La Bastide Puylaurent	Start at Pont de Nicoulaud, D 151, towards La Bastide	14h00
Alès	Place du Champ de Foire	15h30
10 octobre	Alès / Toulon
Alès	Place du Champ de Foire	9h00
Special Saint Estève Mon Ventoux	On the 974, towards Bedoin-Ventoux, start at Saint-Estève, arrival at Chalet Reynard 14h47
Special Venasque Col de Murs	Carpentras, D4 towards Cold de Murs	14h00
Toulon	Plage des Mourillons	17h00
11 octobre	Toulon
Toulon	Plage des Mourillons	9h00
Special Pierrefeu-du-Var	Hyères, on the road between le pas du Cerf and the D14	9h50
Special Mont Faron	North Toulon, on the raod of the Côte du Mont-Faron	10h40
Toulon	Mourillons beach	11h30
	Podium	18h30