Under Norma Circumstances

Watching three weeks of Tour de France coverage is a highlight in every cycling fan’s calendar. A cavalcade of yellow with thrills, spills and massive hills in the famous mountains of Europe, the race is a non-stop crowd pleaser of stories within stories. Unexpected successes, heartbreaking misfortune and legendary exploits play out day after day to keep us glued to our TV screens. A script that could only be written on the road leaves jaws dropped heart rates high. The drama keeps is coming back year after to year to cheer on our heroes, so just how does being there compare? We asked Norma to explain.

There’s no comparison. The atmosphere, the excitement, the in-person connection with the riders and teams — these are all things about the Tour de France that you don't get to see on TV. You connect with like-minded people who are just as crazy about cycling as you are. It's hard to fathom the effort that goes into putting the TDF together day after day. And you don’t have to be a cyclist to enjoy it.

The atmosphere is incredible. There are so many moving parts. We get to see the race at three different stages, experiencing the ambience, excitement, anticipation, and craziness — all without having to do any of the work. The trips are thoroughly reconned by our tour guide Jacinta — from the hotels to restaurants, to the bus routes that get us to each stage. Since everything is planned ahead of time, all we have to do is show up, relax, and enjoy. We mingle with cyclists, teams, buses, and cycling personalities at the Stages Starts. We get up close and personal. You also see them at the Stage Finishes, though it's not the best time for a chat — they’re usually a bit tired!

There might be a perception that it’s only cyclists who come to the Tour to watch, but that’s simply not the case. If you have any interest in bike racing, whether you ride or not, the Thomson Spectator Tour de France trip is for you. Often, couples come where one spouse isn’t interested in cycling, but after a trip, they end up loving it.

Guests start off as strangers and end up as friends — sometimes friends for life. There’s always a great mix of people: young, old, singles, and couples. You definitely always find some you really click with. The evening meals together are always a highlight. Everyone shares their day and their experiences. The side trips to interesting places, like taking a gondola up a mountain just to have lunch, are unforgettable. And there’s always time, when circumstances allow, to wander off and do your own thing.

Of course the racing is the ultimate draw. Every year I have experienced countless exciting moments that make everlasting memories. Like the year my hero, Chris Froome, ran up Mt. Ventoux carrying his bike after a crash, then dropped it right in front of our Thomson Spectators group and continued to run up the mountain until he got a new bike. Dreams come true in unexpected ways on a Thomson Spectator Tour!

It's so hard to pick a favorite location or stage, but if I was pushed I would say Stage 14 VIP Izoard on the Pla d'Adet. The bus ride took us through spectacular scenery, then onto a cable car above the clouds. At the VIP Izoard area, we were just 50 meters from the mountain top finish line, positioned at the last corner with both outdoor and indoor viewing options. Phenomenal food and drinks were served, and jumbotrons were set up everywhere. Breathtaking.

I have now been on 10 Thomson Spectator Tours: 8 to the Tour de France, 1 Giro d’Italia, and 1 Tour of California. It took me 8 trips to actually meet my hero, Chris Froome, but Jacinta finally made that possible at the Tour de France Stage Start in Denmark when he was riding for Israel. I’d absolutely go again.

I’m just waiting for the next Tour de France route announcement and another mountain to conquer.

If you want to taste the experience of a lifetime — once, twice or ten times — secure your spot with an advance reservation for the 2025 Tour de France.