(I knew it was you)
ya, Le Grand Tour routine is exactly the same.
Only difference is there are no "outfitters" groups, the only different options for participating are a small number of spots available using small local hotels, and for a bunch of years, a "set up a tent for you" option, so organizers set up a separate batch of tents with numbers on them and folks who find it too much of a hardship to put up and take down a tent just go to their numbered tent when they arrive in that nights "village" set up for each day---usually beside a high school or large park or whatever, large enough to set up a giant kitchen tent, spots for hundreds and hundreds of tents, and all the other infrastructure.
Le Grand Tour has been going for about 30 years now I think.
very good food, thats the big draw, they stress that and I can attest its all quite good, lunches also at the designated lunch spots we stop at.
and a lot of the fun, friendly French Quebecois love of life, joie du vie, attitude from most people.
average age is pretty old geezers like most of us, 40, 50s , average is I think in the 50s.