FFI - Pez Pitray TDF 2023

In 2023 the Tour de France will pay a visit to the southwest wine region of France with a stage finish in the city of Bordeaux and a start nearby in Libourne. We know one person who is excited about it. Allan Reeves is looking to combine his family's nearby castle & Le Tour for a week of cycling, wine and chateau living. It is not every day that you get the chance to feel like royalty and see The Tour.

I asked Allan for his reaction when he saw the route for the TDF?

"In 2021 the final time trial of the Tour de France finished in the town of Saint Emilion, all of 8kms from the chateau. But because of Covid it wasn’t possible to organize a trip. I thought, "Damn, there goes the once in 10 year possibility of inviting clients for a special pairing of the Tour and Chateau Pitray." So yeah, I was surprised and delighted by the good luck that the Tour is coming to my backyard again next year. Unbelievable! And not just for 1 stage, but 2. Jackpot!"

Why come to Chateau Pitray?

"In my opinion you come for an exclusive and personal bike adventure, for something that differentiates itself from the more commercial type tours. It's a chance to step back in time, connect to some history. Some say “Come for the chateau, but stay for the wine and food,” others say “Come for the TDF, but stay for the cycling.” Bottom line, each one of these elements is reason enough to come. So, combine all that with the hospitality of a local family, who will welcome you like old friends, and you have something truly special, a slice of heaven. If that appeals to you then you should entertain a week stay at Chateau Pitray."

Before we lick our chops about attending the Tour de France (Stages 7 and 8), tell us a little something about the chateau and its surroundings.

"Chateau de Pitray is located in the Bordeaux wine country and was built in 1868 (it took 3 years 1865-68), a classic grand 19th century French Chateau with a focus on luxury and style. Long gone are the medieval architectural traits of older castles built as forts to defend against hostile invaders. Sure there are towers, but these are stately and decorative with marble staircases inside. The rooms on the ground floor boast 20-foot ceilings, the walls are lined with oak paneling, and every room has a marble fireplace and hardwood floors. Rest assured that since it was built the chateau has been upgraded to incorporate today’s modern conveniences. My grandfather added a swimming pool, scaled to match the chateau’s proportions – that’s a very large pool - and an elevator in one of the towers in between the spiraling staircase. It has its own winery and vineyards. The estate’s 200 acres are divided evenly between vineyards, woods, and fields."

So what about the local cycling fun?

"I think that the crucial element to a good cycling trip is a local connection, and that's where my family and I deliver. Beyond the borders of the estate are the rolling hills, farmlands, forests, and vineyards of Bordeaux, dotted with medieval villages and Roman history. There’s an endless network of small country roads that lead off in every direction, offering a varied mix of flats, rollers, short climbs, and brisk descents. A cycling paradise. The sheer density of the road options is not the only allure, it’s also the beauty of the landscapes and the absence of auto traffic on well-maintained roads. I've been exploring these roads for 20+ years (your local connection) so you'll definitely ride the backroads, local style, and see a lot of cool stuff."

And now let’s go see the 2023 Tour!

"We have an extraordinary opportunity to see the tour twice. The first is the finish of Stage 7 in Bordeaux. After a morning ride we’ll head into Bordeaux dressed as “civilians" to join the crowds and excitement. The details of the racecourse haven't been released, but in all likelihood the finish should be by the waterfront at the center and old part of town, a beautiful area that has been renovated to prioritize pedestrians and attractions. And for Stage 8 we’ll have a different experience because we'll ride from the chateau to intersect with the course and catch the race in mid action (and then ride back). As I said the key to having a great experience is the local knowledge to navigate the particulars that keep you in the action, and to avoid making the mistakes that tourists would do when on their own.”

What about the food and wine when you get back to the Chateau Pitray?

"Ha! You'll eat and drink like Kings and Queens. Henri de Bornier from the 19th century once wrote that "Every man has two countries, his own and then France." I think what he said does have a certain poetic truth as France is a country that has many wonderful attributes, not the least of which, an understatement, is the food and wine. French cuisine is exquisite, the best dishes, the best pates, the best breads, the best cheeses, the best wines, the best vegetables, the best salads, the best desserts, the best fruits, and on and on. Why is it so good over there? Let’s just call is savoir faire. It defines and preoccupies French culture. Now imagine yourself inside the Chateau Pitray in an elegant dining room relishing such wonderful food and good cheer, talking about the day's excitement cycling through empty backroads and attending the Tour de France. Wake up, this is for real. You did ride to the course today, and you are enjoying a glass of Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe with that camembert cheese. Between meals at the chateau and out at restaurants we'll have a variety of excellent dining experiences."

Who should come on this trip?

One obvious criteria is someone who has dreamed of seeing the Tour live. And the other is someone who likes to ride their bike because everyday we'll ride. From the standpoint of cycling fitness I suggest the capacity to ride 30 to 50 miles and be comfortable with rolling hills. The longest climbs in the area are 2kms, so it's not big mountain country, but it's not flat either.And lastly someone who wants to go to France and would love to relax in a chateau, eating good food and drinking good wine.

France From Inside