The 108th edition of the Tour de France begins June 26 and ends in Paris on July 18. You can watch this incredible spectacle on NBC stations. Even if cycling is not your bag, if you love traveling (and especially if France is on your travel radar). watching the Tour is a great way to see many beautiful areas of the country. That is why my Mom used to watch it!

A great little video teaser about what to expect.

Fabulous Carcassonne is featured in this year’s tour. Carcassonne, a hilltop town in southern France’s Languedoc area, is famous for its medieval citadel, La Cité, with numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. I loved touring the castle on my last visit.

The tour will begin with 4 stages in the Brittany area. These men are waving a Brittany flag.

Many viewers of the Tour start planning their own visit to France after watching it on TV. I love all the enchanting small villages like Donne, pictured above, in the Dordogne region.

On a visit to Vail when the Twins were little, they saw the Tour de France on TV. They kept yelling “Go Papa” thinking I was on TV!

The first time riding as a spectator during the Tour de France was a huge thrill! This is up the steep Col de la Forclaz near Lac Annecy. This has been a Tour route many times over the years.

I traveled with my son-in-law Stan on my first Tour de France cycling tour in 2002. We are riding around beautiful Lac Annecy.

My son-in-law Ray and I road on Trek Travel’s “Classic Climbs.” We experienced many of the iconic steep mountain routes made famous by the Tour de France. This was a road high above beautiful Lac Annecy.

My Mom loved the wonderful scenery and historic buildings shown on TV! We talked on the phone about the favorite things she saw each day. This is the picturesque Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard near Lac Annecy above.

I took this picture while riding through the small town of St. Jean-De -Fos in Southwestern France. You see monuments in almost every small town memorializing those who died during World War 1.

Mom particularly loved the French aerial views of “farm art.” During the Tour many regions of rural France design intricate farm art, often with hundreds of people participating to advertise the unique aspects of their area, hoping the French TV helicopters show their creations.

I have summited Alpe d’Huez, cycling’s most famous mountain, on three different bike tours. Each time I tried to improve my time. My best time was 1 hour and 20 minutes in 2007, not fabulous, but I was proud just to accomplish it!

Featured in the Tour many times, there are 21 “lacets”, or bends in the ride to the summit. Cycling Alpe d’Huez is to conquer cycling’s most famous mountain.

Col du Galibier (2645m), one of the highest climbs of Tour de France. “Hors catégorie” (HC) is a French term used in stage bicycle races to designate a climb that is “beyond categorization.” I’ve summited on two different trips and find it the hardest day ever on the road. We start in the hot valley far below and each time it is nearly snowing at the top. Crazy weather!

At the Col du Galibier summit with son-in-law Ray.

There is something very special about cycling on small French roads.

I love the excitement of the racers and all the crazy fans!

A photo-op with the famous “Didi the Devil” years ago in Annecy Town. An interesting character, he showed up on the cycling routes during the TDF.

Years ago I was fortunate to ride in Paris a few hours before the Tour pro riders entered the city on the final day. It was so exciting and a day I’ll never forget!

I’m raising my bike in front of the Arc de Triumph on my last day of a week riding the routes of the Tour de France before the pro riders.

These are old images of my favorite rider in the Tour de France history, Gino Bartali. Many of the roads in the Alps were dirt! He won the race in 1938 and in 1948. He is remembered for much more than being a champion cyclist as he risked his life helping to save almost 800 Jews during the war. Click on the link highlighted in blue above to read about his amazing story.

Photos: Dick Gentry. #’s 6-11,13-18, 20-22. Not to be used without permission.