The famous race was born in 1903 with its first edition. At this time, the race was shorter with only six stages in the main cities of France. It was “the biggest race ever organised”.  This 97th edition is organized by ASO, Amaury Sport Organisation. In fact, the race was not held every year since 1903 due to the war periods (from 1915 to 1918 and from 1940 to 1946). The race is famous for its yellow race worn by the leader of the race. But it did not exist in 1903. It has only been created after the First World War in 1919. The race also offers also famous jerseys: a green jersey for the best sprinters (created in 1953), a white jersey for the best young cyclist (created in 1970) and finally the white and red dots jersey for the best climber. Cyclists from all over other world play in this race which offers a variety of races in only one race: team race, against the clock, mountain race and plain race.

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If the Tour de France is obviously a huge sport event, it has become also a cultural and historical event. In fact, with the important media exposure, it is a great occasion to discover France, from cities to small villages. The race is also extremely popular in France with the activities that take place before, during and after the race. At the beginning, teams were representing their countries. Since 1930, the companies represent the team that have to cover large expenses such as materials, hotels accommodations. The race has also an important cost. That is why the advertising caravan has been created. It is one of the best moments for the audience. The caravan goes one hour to two hours before the race. Here, the advertisers distribute publicity materials such as caps, shirts or key rings. Of course, the media exposure with the apparition of the television gave a new dimension to the race. People can follow the Tour de France and discover different regions of France. This 2010 edition will go through various towns such as Avoriaz, Revel and Paris.

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Located in the Alps, a mountain race will take place in Avoriaz. At an altitude of 1800m, this ski resort has the advantage to be located in the middle of the “Portes du Soleil” which is a domain of 14 slopes in France and Swiss. Extremely attractive since the sixties, the resort is also known as the capital of snowboarding. If you enjoy spending time in the French Alps, you can buy an amazing new build in Avoriaz with 2 to 4 bedroom apartments available. But there are also various apartments and chalets near the station such in Morzine or Tignes.

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After this demanding step, the cyclists will go to the south region of Midi Pyrenees. It will be the occasion to discover Revel, in the Haute-Garonne department. This village of approximately 8,000 inhabitants is located at 50 km of Toulouse. Revel is also known for its craftsmen and the excellence of its engravers, tapestry-makers or cabinetmakers. Located at the foot of the Black Mountain, Revel is a fortified town created in 1342 by Philippe V de Valois and the region is amazing. You can find many properties for sale in the surroundings of Limoux.

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Like each year during 35 years, the finish line of the Tour de France will be crossed on the Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris. This step will be the smallest of this 2010 edition with only 102.5 km. It is the occasion to celebrate the bicycle in the French capital. This year, the third birthday of the “Velib” (public bicycle rental in Paris) will be celebrated with 600 km of bicycle paths and 71 million of rides available throughout the city. If you are dreaming of your own apartment in Paris or in the surroundings, take a look at those apartments in Paris.

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The Eurostar is arguably one of the best inventions of the 20th century – it is without a doubt the best and easiest way to hop between London and Paris. It is sleek. It is comfortable. It is fast. It is entirely carbon neutral. It is very, very stylish. And, from the 19th December 2009 and the 17th April 2010, it can whisk you from St. Pancras International or Ashford International to the ski resorts of Moutiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-St-Maurice at a seriously speedy 186 miles per hour. If booked early enough, prices are competitive – a Standard class return journey begins at £149, while a Leisure Select ticket, including meals, drinks and extra comfortable seating, starts at £229 return. One of the many advantages of using the Eurostar Snow Train service is that it deposits you on the doorstep of your resort – it is merely a case of hopping on the train in London or Kent, settling back to enjoy the stunning scenery, then hopping off the train at the other end, ready and raring to hit the slopes. Either opt for the day train, which departs from St. Pancras at 10am and arrives at its last stop in Bourg-St. Maurice in time for dinner around 8 hours later, or the overnight train which leaves at 8.30pm and arrives at 6.30am, allowing you time to grab breakfast before hitting the slopes. It is worth taking into consideration the fact that if you decide to travel on the night train in both directions, it will allow you to spend eight days on the slopes rather than the usual six. Those travelling with children needn’t worry about sharing the train with crowds of drunken revellers, either – Eurostar will be imposing limitations on the amount of alcohol passengers can bring onto the train with them, so a restful journey is assured. Snow Train passengers also benefit from an increased luggage allowance, allowing you to pack clothing and equipment for the whole family without resorting to wearing it.

Too often people dismiss the idea of purchasing a holiday home in a ski resort as being prohibitively expensive – this is, however, not necessarily the case. For avid skiers looking to invest in the French property market, there is plenty of affordable accommodation in the most popular Alpine resorts, conveniently located for the Snow Train service. Les Arcs is a stone’s throw away from the Snow Train’s last stop in Bourg-St. Maurice, and offers a range of properties to suit all budgets – and all skiing abilities. You can pick up a furnished studio apartment for four people in Les Arcs 1800 for as little as €50k (reference number 13570 on the Sextant Properties website), while a 46sqm furnished apartment with two bedrooms, balconies and views over the slopes will set you back around €225 (reference number 19216 on the Sextant Properties website). At prices like this, dreams of purchasing a cosy apartment in a winter wonderland undoubtedly have the potential to become a reality.

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