Posted on 11 June 2013
It won’t be skiers whizzing past the windows of homeowners in the French Alps soon but instead it’ll be the world’s leading cyclists descending mountain roads at breakneck speeds, when the mountain stages of the Tour de France arrive in the Savoie region come the middle of July.
An often overlooked perk of owning property in the French Alps is the excitement of the Tour de France passing close to your apartment or chalet. Owners can choose to be there to spectate themselves or take advantage of the increase in rental demand that occurs along the event’s route during the race and rent their place to cycling fans. This year there will particular interest in the Tour, which kicks off on 29th June, as despite last year’s British winner, Bradley Wiggins, having to pull out on account of injuries, fellow Brit Chris Froome has been tipped as a favourite to don the famous yellow jersey.
This year the mountain stages of the Tour will includes routes between Gap and Alpe d’Huez, reaching the top of Col de Sarenne at 1,989 metres at its highest point, and Bourg d’Oisans and Le Grand-Bornand, reaching the top of Col de la Madeleine at 2,000 metres at its highest point, as well as a stage ending in Annecy.
Two resorts that will close to the routes include Flaine and Samoëns. Properties in Flaine currently on the market include apartments at a new leaseback development in the Flaine Forêt area, available with 85 per cent mortgages. In Samoëns, straightforward freehold properties include a new development of 70 one, two and three bedroom apartments spread across nine chalets.