Utrecht is ready for it:Le Grand Départ. What is there to do during the start of the Tour de France?
The stages
2 July the spectacle starts with the team presentation in Park Lepelenburg. The Carvane d'Utrecht will take place on 3 July. Stage 1 will be on 4 July. Sunday 5 July, after all kinds of festivities in the morning, stage 2 will start at 't Goylaan at 13.45. More information and the route can be found on Tourdefranceutrecht.com.
The advertising caravan
About 2 hours before the cyclists arrive, the advertising caravan crosses the track. It is a colorful procession of 220 vehicles. Companies draw attention to their product or service and gifts are handed out:from bottles of water to key rings and caps. The advertising caravan departs on Saturday at 12.00 and Sunday at 11.10.
Exhibits about the Tour
In the Railway Museum you will find an exhibition about the Tour de France. Do you find it a strange place for an exhibition about the Tour? That's not it. In the early years, the Tour de France route ran along the French track. There were no support vehicles yet, so people traveled by train from the start to the finish. In Museum van Zuilen you will find an exhibition about Michel Stolker, the only Utrechter who ever rode the Tour de France.
Tour des Arts
Artist Daniel Roozendaal organizes Tour des Arts in Utrecht west. Beautiful murals of famous cyclists have been made. The largest painting can be found on Thomas à Kempisweg.
Festival Tournée de la Musique In the evening you can have a drink and enjoy various performances on the Domplein, Janskerkhof or 't Neude. More information.
What are you going to do this weekend at the start of the Tour de France?
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