L'Étape du Tour
Encyclopedia
L'Étape du Tour is an organised mass participation cyclosportive
event that allows amateur cyclists to race over the same route as a Tour de France
stage. First held in 1993, and now organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation
(ASO), in conjunction with Vélo Magazine, it takes place each July, normally on a Tour rest day.
L'Étape du Tour is normally held over mountain roads in either the Pyrenees
or French Alps
, up climbs such as the Col du Galibier
, Col d'Aubisque
, Mont Ventoux
or the Col du Tourmalet
. Around 8,500 riders participate - many travelling from other countries to compete - and the event takes place on roads closed by the police to other traffic, with refreshment stops and medical support provided along the route.
In 2008, the 167 km stage 10 from Pau to Hautacam
, including a passage over the 2114 m./6935 ft. Col du Tourmalet
was selected for L'Étape du Tour with Laurent Four coming home in the fastest time of 5 hours 38 minutes. Unfortunately, the weather on the day was very poor and visibility at the summit of the Tourmalet was down to 10m.
The 2009 edition started in Montélimar (Drôme) and covered 172 km and 4 smaller climbs (côte de Citelle, col d'Ey, col de Fontaube, col de Notre-Dame des Abeilles) before finishing at the summit of Mont Ventoux
: it was won by the French road race champion, Dimitri Champion
.
The 2010 event started in Pau and finished at the col du Tourmalet on 18 July 2010. Nearly 7000 cyclists completed the event, thanks to weather far better than the pros had several days later.
For 2011, ASO organised two "Etapes". The first, on July 11, on the Modane - Alpe d'Huez
stage covering 109km, was the shortest in history. This is the same stage the pros rode in Stage 19 on July 22. The second Etape for 2011, on July 17, was actually the longest in history, covering 208km, from Issoire to Saint Flour in the massif central (south of Clermont Ferrand). The pros rode this stage on July 10 in Stage 9 of the 2011 TdF.
In 2012 there are again two events. The first from Albertville
to La Toussuire on the 8th of July, following the 140km route of stage 11 of the Tour de France and including the Col de la Madeleine
and the Col de la Croix de Fer
, finishing at La Toussuire, part of the Les Sybelles
ski area. The second event on the 14th July follows the route of stage 16 from Pau
to Bagnères-de-Luchon
, crossing the Col d'Aubisque
, Col du Tourmalet
, Col d'Aspin
, and Col de Peyresourde
for a total distance of 197km .
Cyclosportive
A cyclosportive, or often simply sportive, is a short to long distance, organised, mass-participation cycling event, typically held annually....
event that allows amateur cyclists to race over the same route as a Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
stage. First held in 1993, and now organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation
Amaury Sport Organisation
The Amaury Sport Organisation is part of the French media group, EPA . It organises sporting events including the Tour de France and Paris–Nice professional cycle road races, and the Dakar Rally...
(ASO), in conjunction with Vélo Magazine, it takes place each July, normally on a Tour rest day.
L'Étape du Tour is normally held over mountain roads in either the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
or French Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, up climbs such as the Col du Galibier
Col du Galibier
Col du Galibier is a mountain pass in the southern region of the French Dauphiné Alps near Grenoble. It is the ninth highest paved road in the Alps and the sixth highest mountain pass. It is often the highest point of the Tour de France....
, Col d'Aubisque
Col d'Aubisque
The Col d'Aubisque is a mountain pass in the Pyrenees 30 km south of Tarbes and Pau in the department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques , in the Aquitaine region of France....
, Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux is a mountain in the Provence region of southern France, located some 20 km northeast of Carpentras, Vaucluse. On the north side, the mountain borders the Drôme département. It is the largest mountain in the region and has been nicknamed the "Giant of Provence", or "The Bald...
or the Col du Tourmalet
Col du Tourmalet
Col du Tourmalet is the highest road in the central Pyrenees in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in France. Sainte-Marie-de-Campan is at the foot on the eastern side and the ski station La Mongie two-thirds of the way up. Luz-Saint-Sauveur is at the bottom of the western side.Tourmalet is also a...
. Around 8,500 riders participate - many travelling from other countries to compete - and the event takes place on roads closed by the police to other traffic, with refreshment stops and medical support provided along the route.
In 2008, the 167 km stage 10 from Pau to Hautacam
Hautacam
Hautacam is a ski resort in the Pyrenees. It is situated in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, in the Midi-Pyrénées region. The winter sports station lies at a height of 1560 meters...
, including a passage over the 2114 m./6935 ft. Col du Tourmalet
Col du Tourmalet
Col du Tourmalet is the highest road in the central Pyrenees in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in France. Sainte-Marie-de-Campan is at the foot on the eastern side and the ski station La Mongie two-thirds of the way up. Luz-Saint-Sauveur is at the bottom of the western side.Tourmalet is also a...
was selected for L'Étape du Tour with Laurent Four coming home in the fastest time of 5 hours 38 minutes. Unfortunately, the weather on the day was very poor and visibility at the summit of the Tourmalet was down to 10m.
The 2009 edition started in Montélimar (Drôme) and covered 172 km and 4 smaller climbs (côte de Citelle, col d'Ey, col de Fontaube, col de Notre-Dame des Abeilles) before finishing at the summit of Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux is a mountain in the Provence region of southern France, located some 20 km northeast of Carpentras, Vaucluse. On the north side, the mountain borders the Drôme département. It is the largest mountain in the region and has been nicknamed the "Giant of Provence", or "The Bald...
: it was won by the French road race champion, Dimitri Champion
Dimitri Champion
Dimitri Champion is a French professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . In 2009 he won the French National Road Race Championship.- Palmares :2009*...
.
The 2010 event started in Pau and finished at the col du Tourmalet on 18 July 2010. Nearly 7000 cyclists completed the event, thanks to weather far better than the pros had several days later.
For 2011, ASO organised two "Etapes". The first, on July 11, on the Modane - Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez
L'Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort at . It is a mountain pasture in the Central French Alps, in the commune of Huez, in the Isère département in the Rhône-Alpes region.-Tour de France:L'Alpe d'Huez is one of the main mountains in the Tour de France...
stage covering 109km, was the shortest in history. This is the same stage the pros rode in Stage 19 on July 22. The second Etape for 2011, on July 17, was actually the longest in history, covering 208km, from Issoire to Saint Flour in the massif central (south of Clermont Ferrand). The pros rode this stage on July 10 in Stage 9 of the 2011 TdF.
In 2012 there are again two events. The first from Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...
to La Toussuire on the 8th of July, following the 140km route of stage 11 of the Tour de France and including the Col de la Madeleine
Col de la Madeleine
Col de la Madeleine is a high mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Savoie in France.It connects La Chambre in Maurienne with Aigueblanche and Feissons-sur-Isère in Tarentaise. The southern approach from La Chambre is 19.3 km with an average grade of 8 percent. The northern approach...
and the Col de la Croix de Fer
Col de la Croix de Fer
Col de la Croix de Fer is a high mountain pass in the French Alps linking Le Bourg-d'Oisans and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.-Details of climb:...
, finishing at La Toussuire, part of the Les Sybelles
Les sybelles
Les Sybelles is a French linked ski area, located in the Savoie department in the Alps. It is one of the largest skiable domains in France. The resort has become very known because of Jean-Pierre Vidal, winner of the gold medal in slalom at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and originating...
ski area. The second event on the 14th July follows the route of stage 16 from Pau
Pau
Pau is a commune on the northern edge of the Pyrenees, capital of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département in France. It was also the capital of the Béarn region. It forms the communauté d'agglomération of Pau-Pyrénées with 13 neighbouring communes to carry out local tasks together. The Université de...
to Bagnères-de-Luchon
Bagnères-de-Luchon
Bagnères-de-Luchon , also referred to as Luchon, is a spa town and a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Geography:...
, crossing the Col d'Aubisque
Col d'Aubisque
The Col d'Aubisque is a mountain pass in the Pyrenees 30 km south of Tarbes and Pau in the department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques , in the Aquitaine region of France....
, Col du Tourmalet
Col du Tourmalet
Col du Tourmalet is the highest road in the central Pyrenees in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in France. Sainte-Marie-de-Campan is at the foot on the eastern side and the ski station La Mongie two-thirds of the way up. Luz-Saint-Sauveur is at the bottom of the western side.Tourmalet is also a...
, Col d'Aspin
Col d'Aspin
Col d'Aspin is a high mountain pass in the Pyrenees in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in France.It connects Sainte-Marie-de-Campan and Arreau.-Tour de France:...
, and Col de Peyresourde
Col de Peyresourde
The Col de Peyresourde is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees on the border of the department of Haute-Garonne and Hautes-Pyrénées in France. It is situated on the D618 road between Bagnères de Luchon and Arreau.-Details of climb:...
for a total distance of 197km .
External links
- ASO l'Étape du Tour site
- Velo Magazine Étape du Tour site
- CYCLEFILM - website L'Etape Analysis & Reconnaissance DVDs
- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article2690582.ece - Sunday Times article about riding and suffering during the 2007 Etape
- atomicecho.com/etape - a blog about training for and riding the Etape du Tour
- Very detailed article on 2007 Étape
- L'Etape du Tour for Charity The charity which helps raise funds for children and young adults to enter the paralympics
- L'Etape du Tour Recon - Vimeo Channel Preview Videos and Trailers
- Tour de France Tips http://tourdefrancetips.com - a site about planning a trip to L'Etape
- ShredQuest.com http://shredquest.com - a site about doing L'Etape