L'Étape du Tour

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L'Étape du Tour (French for 'stage of the 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 in order 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.^[1] Unfortunately, the weather on the day was very poor and visibility at the summit of the Tourmalet was down to 10m. ^[2]

The 2009 edition starts in Montélimar (Drôme) and covers 172km and 4 categorized climbs (côte de Citelle, col d'Ey, col de Fontaube, col de Notre-Dame des Abeilles) before finishing at the summit of the legendary Mont Ventoux.

[edit] See also

• Challenge riding
• Cyclosportive

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• ASO l'Étape du Tour site
• Velo Magazine Étape du Tour site
• CYCLEFILM - website L'Etape Analysis & Reconnaissance DVDs
• [1] - 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