Tours Sud F1

Previous experience of F1 hotels suggests their locations can be elusive. Tours Sud is no exception. Their website positions the F1 on a motorway slip road. In fact it is on a completely different road, protected from the motorway by two, very high, wire-mesh fences.

Tours Sud F1 is about 7 km from the river, off a main arterial road (Avenue du Grand Sud) and close to an Auchan complex. However this road also appears to act as a feeder to the A10 motorway, with several entry and exit roads that would have to be crossed. Not very cycle friendly.

An alternative, more suburban, route is possible from the Pont du Lac at the southern edge of the city centre. This leaves Pont du Lac on a cycle track along Rue de l'Auberdière to a roundabout. Then first right on to a cycleway, protected by a no entry sign. Keeping left at every turn and through a gap between a stream (Le Petit Cher) and a lake (Lac de la Bergeonnerie) for about 200m, to Avenue Marcel Dassault. Right turn along cycle path for 100m and left at a roundabout to Rue des Deux Lions for about 500m. Left and then immediately right at T junctions to Rue due Tailhar for about 1 km. Left under a main road bridge (and beside a railway line) to a roundabout. First right up to the main road (cycle track) and over the railway and a minor road and then immediately right through a gap in the hedge (by a big roundabout sign) to drop down into a housing estate and right on Rue de Candé. Left to Rue d'Amboise. Left at roundabout to Rue de Chambord. Straight on at next roundabout to Rue de la Marchanderie. Continue straight on into Rue Guillaume Louis. Straight on at next roundabout. Just before next roundabout take cycle track on left, over first junction and on up hill alongside the main road, Rue Philippe Maupas. This goes over the motorway, on a narrow pavement, and then drops down to a pedestrian crossing - and into the F1 site. This alternative route is about 8 km from the river at Pont Wilson.

Incidentally, Tours also has a new tram system, so another chance to admire Alstom's centre conductor rail.