The Stage 1 riders will set off at 11.15 a.m. on Sunday morning after a "neutralised" cycle out of the city which is not actually part of the race proper. That happens for real at the Stephen Roche Monument in Dundrum.
It was in this south Dublin suburb that Roche grew up, winning fame as a young man in 1987 when he won the Tour. Dundrum village will be providing plenty of atmosphere for the official start of the race as the cyclists pass. The whole main street of Dundrum is a colourful array of flags and bunting and this is definitely one of the best spots to watch the race. The riders will take a sharp left at the top of the village and head towards Stillorgan on the Kilmacud Road so most points along here will be crowded with support from the surrounding area.
The race is expected to reach Bray by about noon and this is likely to be the next point of excitement. Once again the main street looks fantastic, especially the new road surface, and for another place with a strong cycling tradition, this will one of the great welcome spots for the race.
As the riders head down the N11 towards Wicklow and Arklow, the stunning backdrop of the Wicklow countryside will only add to the spectacle that the race already brings. The publicity cavalcade will pass at least an hour before the cyclists so the advice here is to get out early by the roadside to get the full atmosphere of the race.
Both Wicklow and Arklow will be providing plenty of music and entertainment to welcome the race.
Just after 1.30 p.m. the race will head out of Arklow and towards the heart of the Wicklow mountains. The village of Laragh at the foot of the hills as well as nearby Glendalough will be as pleasant a place as you can get to watch a cycling race so this is another ideal spot to head for.
As it passes over the Wicklow Gap the view will be stunning and any point along this stretch of road will be prime viewing location. Of course the pace of the race will also be slowing down as the riders battle with the gradient so it's a great opportunity to see their efforts up close.
The race will then head down towards Hollywood and Blessington at high speed so if you just want a passing glimpse this would be the place. The lakes around Blessington will again provide a beautiful backdrop as well as a great chance for a day out with a picnic.
By about 3.45 p.m. the race finally gets back towards the city and into the Phoenix Park for the finish. This is going to be quite a climax and the cyclists race an 8 km loop of the park before dashing up the finish straight just beyond the monument.
The Tour de France is famous for providing breath-taking finishes and hair-raising sprints so if you're looking for maximum excitement this is the place to be.