Etape 2011

[Jaysus]

Right then…looks likme it’s the Alpe d'Huez!

I’m going to do the Etape this year and have a few questions to anyone who’s done it?

What company did you use and would you recommend them?

How soon do you need to enter?

What gearing would you recommend on your rear cassette? I've a 12/25 - should I get something bigger? Never done any very long Alpine type climbs

Any other tips?

 

[Cycle Gran Canaria]

Etape du Tour Training Camp Jan

Hi there, I worked on the Etape du Tour last year and together with Sport Tours International we have organised 2 training camps for each of the routes.


Newsflash: The 2 routes for the Etape du Tour are as follows:

Route 1 Modane Alpe Duez Etape de Tour July 11th
Route 2 Issoire Saint Flour Etape de Tour July 17th


Cycle Gran Canaria with Sports Tours International have for your preparation, an Etape de Tour Training Camp for each date, covering nutrition & energy drink mix advice, bike preparation, clothing,feedzone advice, culminating after a week of training in a replica ride of the route.

An Etape de Tour entry is guaranteed with each camp. Dates TBC are in the middle weeks of January & Febuary 2011 on Gran Canaria.

Contact me at Cycle Gran Canaria or Sports Tours International to get on the list.

Thanks

Raymond

 

[Race Radio]

Right then…looks likme it’s the Alpe d'Huez!

I’m going to do the Etape this year and have a few questions to anyone who’s done it?

What company did you use and would you recommend them?

How soon do you need to enter?

What gearing would you recommend on your rear cassette? I've a 12/25 - should I get something bigger? Never done any very long Alpine type climbs

Any other tips?

my 1st recommendation would be to do the Marmotte instead. The Etape is a overpriced, logistically challenging, and not as well organized as some of the premiere GF's or Cyclo's.

Gears depends on the person. It is likely that you do not live in a area with long 8% climbs. I usually do 4-5 of these rides a year and train in a harder gear then I race in and for a profile like this I would use a 34x25 or 39x29. with Campy 11 you can use a regular cage DR with a 25 or 29.

The extra gears inches are important no just for getting you up the steep ramps but also to save your legs for the Alp. The Telegraph and Galibier are not too steep but they are super long with little relief between them By the time you get to the Alp you will be happy to have a 29.

As for companies to use, they are all overpriced. If you go for entry only do it fast. The tour companies use a little bait and switch. They will advertise an entry only spot for 100 Euros.....but there are only a limited number of this. I had to pay 300 Euros I think.

 

[Road Red]

I've done the last two Etape's, both with RonanPensec Travel.

I agree with the earlier post, all packages are overpriced. Generally the level of service is not great (do a search on Bikeradar forum to see comments on certain UK companies). However, for a first timer it does take a lot of the hassle out of the whole day.

One thing you will find is that the French companies, Pensec, Cyclomundo etc are some way cheaper than the UK ones and offer almost exactly the same service. I have found Pensec ok over the last two years, just dont set your expectations levels too high as regards quality of hotels etc.

I wont be doing the Etape this year, it is over priced and with two events they have taken some of the glamour away. However, it is a great event and everyone should do one.

Enjoy

 

[roadrash]

my 1st recommendation would be to do the Marmotte instead.

Jeez. Can't you Marmotte lovers give it a rest. The guy asked for help with the etape. The Marmotte is a great event, but it seems to attract people who think that the etape is below them.

The etape is also a great event. It might not be the cheapest or the hardest ride, but those who enter are usually doing it to experience a real TDF stage, and to enjoy the company of other like-minded riders. For most of us it is an experience we will never forget. When you watch the pro's tackle the stage one week later you'll know what it's like!

Sporting Tours are the biggest UK operator and they usually take 1000+ entrants. Their packages aren't cheap, but they do all the organising for you, and that's precisely what you need first time around. They'll have been taking bookings before the route was known, but you should still get in.

For my 2nd etape I bought a 'ride only' place (from Sporting Tours) and that saved me money, but I'd still use a tour operator first time around.

Get a light bike, with a triple or a compact chainset, and train hard. I'd also recommend Sporting Tours preparation weekends in Skipton; they'll teach you everything. I think their training weekend packages include a place in the etape.

Aim to do at least one hilly 60-80 mile ride per weekend. It also helps to get a Turbo trainer and do regular sessions (in climbing mode) for 1.5hrs.

Good Luck.

 

[Race Radio]

Jeez. Can't you Marmotte lovers give it a rest. The guy asked for help with the etape. The Marmotte is a great event, but it seems to attract people who think that the etape is below them.

The reason I suggest the Marmotte is next years Etape is essentially the Marmotte minus the Glandon. It seems silly to pay all that ride a shortened Marmotte with lame feedzones

If he wants to do a great event I would suggest the Maratona.

 

[Tim_sleepless]

Does anyone have any idea how much entry via the lottery is going to cost... I can't seem to find any mention on the website.

 

[GGB_Andrew]

Entry via the lottery is around 40 euros?

You need to buy the correct edition of Velo Magazine (I haven't seen it for sale in the UK but think it is the jan or feb edition), send the completed form (one per entry) with cheque and French address to the organisers.

Four of us tried to enter the 2010 Etape this way and one got an entry!

 

[lanternrouge]

Entry via the lottery is around 40 euros?

You need to buy the correct edition of Velo Magazine (I haven't seen it for sale in the UK but think it is the jan or feb edition), send the completed form (one per entry) with cheque and French address to the organisers.

Four of us tried to enter the 2010 Etape this way and one got an entry!

I thought that magazine entry no longer applied this year and it's now first come first serve?

 

[Tim_sleepless]

I thought that magazine entry no longer applied this year and it's now first come first serve?

There's a lottery still, but on-line

 

[rgmerk]

Fit a compact crank and a climbing cassette

If you haven't done any alpine climbs before, unless you're a cat 3 racer or better I'd recommend you fit a compact crank and a 27 tooth cassette.

You may not use it, but it's very reassuring to know it's there.

And remember to a) pace yourself, b) take advantage of bunches, and c) eat and drink appropriately!

 

[GGB_Andrew]

@Lantern Rouge - you're right...i've had a look at the website and the magazine entry system has been binned (about time!)

However, according to my substandard french, i don't think it is a lottery. It appears that if you manage to get one of the first 3000 places you pay Euro 75 and if you get the final 3000 online places you pay Euros 95.

Never, heard of a sportive offering this sort of pricing structure!

 

[lanternrouge]

@Lantern Rouge - you're right...i've had a look at the website and the magazine entry system has been binned (about time!)

However, according to my substandard french, i don't think it is a lottery. It appears that if you manage to get one of the first 3000 places you pay Euro 75 and if you get the final 3000 online places you pay Euros 95.

Never, heard of a sportive offering this sort of pricing structure!

Quite. All the more reason for la marmotte!

 

[Ergovideo]

We filmed both Etape du Tour routes for 2011

Massif Central - has a few pics from the roads there as of last week with the autumn colours.
http://www.ergovideo.com/Etape2011/

The Alpine Etape is a ready made popular DVD for a high end VR trainer, there is a little YouTube clip of these climbs here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjot0JCohJI&hd=1

Both very different rides, I think the Alpine one is obviously a fair bit easier with 40km to recover after getting over the Galiber & 10km downhill from the start, the only challenge is to get over the Galibier as you will be recovered by d'Huez. The road to St Flour is really tough right from the start your onto rough surfaced false flats, then steady climbs that get steeper & steeper. I think the St Flour Etape will be worth doing if your a serious cyclist, farmland/Mountain countryside there probably the best in France.