Etape du Tour trip companies

I have a crazy amount of vacation time coming to me this summer, and I've been dutifully saving my pennies. It's adventure time.

I'm thinking of skipping Death Ride in 2010 and instead going to the annual Tour l'Etape. This is the thing where about 10,000 people ride/race one stage of the Tour de France a few days before the pros do. It is no joke, either, next year they've picked stage 17, from Pau to a mountaintop finish on Tourmelet. 108 miles, about 13500' climbing. However, there is one thing I'm worried about more than the ride itself: the logistics of getting around small villages in France with that many people must be a nightmare.

Does anyone have any recommendations for tour companies that will handle most of the transportation and lodging, maybe a shuttle to see a live stage or two, but for the most part do everything but eat and ride my bike for me?

-- gnat!

So jealous!!

Aren't there only a few specific companies who are allowed to coordinate travel/entries for L'etape?

In terms of tour companies for tours to watch/ride Tour stages, we did a Backroads epic tour a few years ago that was amazing. They shuttled us all over to see stages and ride passes. I suspect Trek's tours are also probably pretty good. You can always do what we did another year and rent an RV and camp on the side of the mountain hanging out with the locals.... :D

Wow! What a great trip. Hubby and I talk about doing that trip someday but it's just a dream right now. I'd love to know what you find out.