A Seasoned Photographer Shares Some Tour de France Vacation Ideas

Miami-primarily based photographer Alexander Aguiar traveled to France for the 2022 version of the Tour de France. He shares with us some of his favored photos, as perfectly as some travel strategies, and images dos and don’ts. Pro suggestion: Go with your mother (if your mom speaks French).

Bicycling: Was this your first time spectating the Tour de France?

Alexander Aguiar: In 2019, My mom and I went to the Tour de France. We had a ton of exciting, so there was an itch to go back again (I have an itch for a third time). It does not damage that my mom is French. It was helpful to lean on her for translations because I don’t discuss the language very perfectly. I have been to France other periods with my mom it’s also great to join with my family’s heritage.

Bicycling: Have you photographed other bicycle races or just the Tour?

Aguiar: The 2019 Tour was my 1st time photographing any sort of biking. I shot it on film, and I marginally regret not shooting it on a electronic camera… which motivated me to go back for a 2nd time. I don’t shoot the races also basically. I appreciate biking and find the Tour to be incredible, but I do not know all the riders competing, I really do not know all the groups, and I really don’t know all the stats or standings for each and every stage. Rather, I aim on embracing the celebration with an “outsider’s” level of perspective (although I really like my CAAD13, I really don’t look at myself a cycling purist).

Bicycling: When did you book your journey? Where’d you keep?

Aguiar: We resolved to go following the Tour’s route was unveiled in October 2021. Once we decided on the days/places, we booked as a result of AirBNB and sites like Hotels.com. On the other hand, it wasn’t vital to guide resorts as early as we did. We had concerns with cancellations and incorrect AirBNB listings. We ended up in a position to uncover similar-night rooms.

Guide your car and flights early. But for motels, I suggest pre-scheduling the to start with 2-3 nights of the journey and leave the rest up in the air. The primary bookings I produced weren’t as effortless as they could have been and added additional driving time on to presently lengthy days. Matters will perform out as long as you have a mobile phone that can research the world wide web and make cellphone phone calls.

Tale carries on

Bicycling: So you got all around by car, not by bicycle?

Aguiar: We rented a auto at Charles De Gaulle airport when we arrived, and I would advocate carrying out the very same. But it would make much more feeling to end the trip by having a educate back to Paris and leaving the car or truck at the closest rental facility. We saved about 5 hours of driving again to Paris by carrying out that, which feels like a big offer when you’ve been driving nonstop for 10 days.

Once in a while you can park your vehicle specifically on the road that the cyclists use for the race. If street closures are an challenge, pencil in a couple of miles of walking. There ended up several days where we logged 8-9 miles of going for walks, but I imagine we walked far more than the normal fan. Tour buses appear to be excellent if you want to have the logistical operate taken out of the equation. I can see this getting definitely precious to bigger families with youngsters.

Bicycling: What else would you do or not do, again?

Aguiar: I would like to go with my personal bike or rent a bicycle that would be a recreation-changer. Many supporters bring their very own bikes and trip the phases, which I experienced a higher appreciation for this 12 months. Aside from the great issue of sharing routes with the major cyclists in the environment, getting a bike also tends to make it a ton a lot easier to get from your automobile to a viewing location.

Images Lessons Aguiar Realized

Do’s

• Get pleasant with the locals. They’re practical with directions, viewing areas, and parking in cities. Supply them a portrait in trade.

• Convey a bicycle or rent 1 in France. A great deal of enthusiasts trip the routes before just about every stage formally starts, and they aid with getting to places when roadways are shut to cars or when parking is considerably.

• Stack up on baguettes, cheese, and meats for quick meals on the go. They’re cheap, and tasty.

• Get there early to locations. That way you can meet other admirers, wander all around towns, consider in the scenery, and get to assert your location in advance of factors get crowded.

Don’t’s

• Will not anticipate every little thing to go efficiently. Roadways will be shut unexpectedly, GPS and addresses could be incorrect. You just have to go with the flow.

• Do not skimp on international cell support. You’ll require it for Google Maps, unless of course you are effectively versed in using precise maps.

• You should not fail to remember coverage for your vehicle rental! My 1st TdF practical experience resulted in a dinged rental despite staying cautious with the car or truck. Roadways that are typically tranquil are active.

• Will not fail to remember to just take in some views and get time to web-site see away from the race.

• Really don’t get there devoid of a language translator. You can use Google, a good friend (or mom) who is familiar with French, or brush up on your individual French right before heading out

→ A lot more Scenes from the July 2022 Tour de France

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