L'etape advise please

hi,
i have completed the etape last year, we entered through the magazine for 45 euros. this year i have prepaid £100 for a guarantedd place. i am not going to do the tour package though it costs too much. I plan to saty in france for a wekk and do the etape and Galibier 2 days later when the TOur hits there. as far as just turning up, if you are prepared to start, say a couple of miles down the road, there would be no problem just joining in i suppose. You could simply say your number must have fallen off if you are stopped. as you also have a transponder attached to your ankle, you would have to say this too had gone. i can't remeber anywhere last year that would not have been insurpassable. there was on place where we narrowed to get our times taken but we were still 4 riders abrest and so it would still be possible to sneak in. let me know how you get on, i might try it in 2006 and save £100. This years is a rip-off, they are just cahing in on the obvious large demand form last year.

good luck

Hi Shimmy,

Thanks for replying to me – I appreciate you taking the time and thanks for your advice.
The Etape is something I’ve been wanting to do ever since I first heard about it and purchased a really nice light racing bike this year.
I’ve been following the Tour for years now on TV and love the mountain stages. My original plan was to go to France (the Alps) and climb some of the famous climbs there (Alpe D’Huez, Mont Ventoux and the Galibier in particular) – I was hoping that the Etape 2005 was going to be in the Alps but unfortunately not. Initially I was a little disappointed as I’d always seen the Pyrenees as ‘inferior’ to the Alps but having just watched a video of this years Tour and seeing the pros climbing the Tournmalet and Plateau De Beille I reckon the climbs will still be amazing. I’m counting down the days till next July and planning my training and schedule of which mountains I want to do in addition to the Etape, - the Tourmalet definitely. As I’m planning on staying in France for a week I don’t think its going to practical to travel over to the Alps either before or after doing the Etape so I’m going to stay in the Pyrenees and hopefully ‘do’ the Alps next year.

I think being realistic I’m not going to be able to individually enter for the Etape, and I’m not paying an extortionate amount on a package deal which as you say people are just cashing in on the popularity of the event.
I think your advice of starting a few miles down the road is probably what I’m going to do on the day of the Etape. I can imagine that starting with 7 or 8 thousand other riders would be a nightmare (although they are released in small groups) especially if you are towards the back.

There was a couple of things which confused me in your reply, - paying £100 for a guaranteed place on the Etape, does this mean that you are refunded the difference between the entry fee and your £100 ? and does this mean an individual entry with no other bindings to a tour operator ? i.e. you can just turn up with your entry form. All the web sites I’ve seen say that there are no individual entries.
Also when you say your planning on staying in France for a week and doing the Etape and Galibier 2 days later when the Tour arrives there, as I understand it the Galibier is in the Alps and the Etape is in the south western edge of the Pyrenees so travelling between the two places would take a fair amount of time – I was wondering what your planned schedule was for the week ?
I note that the date of the Etape is 11 July but the pros don’t do the stage until 8 days later on 19th July.

Anyway thanks again for advice, hope to hear back from you.

Cheers

Julesy

Hi again,

in answer to some of your questions. I too was hoping for the Ventoux this year, i did the etape last year after only starting training in January, i used to have a road bike when i was young but the furthest i went on it was 20 miles. I was hoping for a real big challenge this year. i have heard some reports about the Aubisque and it is not as easy as i first thought. However i really want to do the Galibier and also to see a mountain top finish. Hence the mad dash across, here's the plan, we hope to do the 500 miles in one day and cycle up the Galibier, very optimistic i know considering our legs will be a bit stiff. But if the pro's can do it i am gonna bloody well try !! :eek:
08/07/2005 Travel to France(ferry) Overnight central France ?
09/07/2005 Overnight Pau Hotel or camping
10/07/2005 Overnight Pau Hotel or camping
11/07/2005 Etape - Pau hotel or camping
12/07/2005 Travel to Briancon 500 miles
13/07/2005 Briancon ride up Galibier to see stage finish -camping
14/07/2005 See stage set off drive back to ferry
15/07/2005 Home

last year we applied through the Velo magazine and so had to wait until April to find out if we got in. This made doing the trip ourselves very hard. My friend did not get into the event which helped with logisitcs as he dropped me off at the start line and drove to St Flour. Unfortunatley we had to stay at a campsite as all the hotels had long since been booked ! I have written an account on one of the other forums page, if you do a search for it. This year we had hoped to get a cheap hotel as sleeping in a tent was far from ideal preparation. However even though we tried to book a hotel on the day the route was announced (28th October), they were all booked. I originally got a reservation only to be told 2 days later it was withdrawn as the hotel was booked up. I guess the big tour companies bullied us out by block booking the hotels ! We have paid £100 to Graham Baxter's tours for a place only, he was the only company to offer this all the rest you had to take a package !! I know he had 100 of these places if you want to try him. there is no refund, it costs £100 for a place only ! A big difference between 45 Euros, there was obvouisly agreement between Le Velo and the compnaies to rip us all off ! I think in total it cost us around £300 each to do last year but that was only for 5 days, it will cost a bit more this time, but will hopefully be worth it.

Let me know how you get on.

could you guys tell me what the etape is? it sounds like fun, i might be interested in doing it next year. thanx

Just type 'Letape' into a seach engine (Yahoo) and it will give you all the links to it. Good Luck !!

I'm going to do my first next year (hopefully)

Hello Shimmy,
Cheers again for the advice – all very helpful.

I shant be troubling Mr Baxter for an entry to the Etape as being ripped off to the tune of £70 (£100 – 45 Euros) is not my idea of fun !!!!! I must be in the wrong business – I’d love to know how he can reasonably justify the difference. OK it guarantees entry but £70 for that, no way Jose !!! I shall start a few miles up the road to avoid the queues – not really in the spirit of the event but I think its just got too popular to reasonably enter.

I’ve got a feeling that the Col de Marie-Blanc is going to be a real evil climb – not as long as the Aubisque but I reckon there will be some very steep sections on it. Check this site out for details of all the big climbs in Europe.

http://ciclismo.sitiasp.it/motore.aspx?sid=8e6032786ef54d38b5e66350fee4408e&quanti=20&ID=0&da=az&come=af&lingua=eng&commenti=False

Strange link but it does work. Not sure how accurate some of the figures are but certainly gives you an idea.

Your itinerary involves a lot of driving, not only after the Etape to Briancon but also getting to Pau and also getting back to England. I’m not sure I’d fancy driving 500 miles the day after cycling over 100miles – good luck !
I take it you know that stage 11 doesn’t finish up the Galibier ? I know it’s the last climb of the stage but it’s a shame it doesn’t finish up there.

My rough plan at the mo is to fly to the south of France with bike (Toulouse – not sure whether you can fly to Pau directly I’ll have to check) then hire a camper van (which will sort out the hassle of not being able to find a hotel – I guessed they’d be all pretty much booked up well in advance) I know a camper van is going to be expensive but I don’t fancy camping outside. Also my car wouldn’t be up for that much driving (or me !), a hire car wont have enough room either.

I have to really be flying back on 14th July as that’s the start of The British Open golf (my other great passion – and I really have to be sat at home glued to the TV !!!!!! I know from previous painful experience that the French TV stations are not into golf at all – surprising when Jean Van de Velde should of won the Open in 99 at Carnoustie.
I note that the “Queen Stage” of next years tour lies on the same day as the final round of the Open – I think my video recorder will be busy that day !!

This is going to mean getting a flight out on 7th – I’ve not planned my riding schedule yet (going to buy a good map of France tomorrow !) but if the Etape is on the 11th then I wont be doing much cycling on 10th or 12th !!! I definitely want to ride up the Tourmalet and Aspin, so that might be on the 13th just before heading home ? I was hoping to fit in as much climbing as possible over the more well known mountains but I really don’t want to be too shattered before the Etape. I think my main cycling days apart from the Etape will have to be 8th, 9th and 13th.

If your looking for some good ‘warm’ up practise ahead of the Etape I can definitely recommend doing the ‘Dragon Tour’ ride in Bridgend – I did the route in September this year and it was the hardest bike ride I’ve ever done. Next years ride is on 19th June. Check out the link for details.

http://www.breakaway-cycling.co.uk/Dragon%20Ride.htm

Thanks again for all your valuable advice and good luck in the Etape and the Galibier (doesn’t seem like anyone else is interested in replying !)

Julesy

those sites look good i might give it a try next year

check out these

http://www.wheelers.org/

last year we done the Spud Riley and the Polka Dot Challenge
Lots of hills probably as hard as the etape really
they should be on again next year

also check out
Ron Cutler's website - the complete guide to the L'Etape with training tips

http://www.etape.org.uk/

julesy said:

Hello Shimmy,
Cheers again for the advice – all very helpful.

I shant be troubling Mr Baxter for an entry to the Etape as being ripped off to the tune of £70 (£100 – 45 Euros) is not my idea of fun !!!!! I must be in the wrong business – I’d love to know how he can reasonably justify the difference. OK it guarantees entry but £70 for that, no way Jose !!! I shall start a few miles up the road to avoid the queues – not really in the spirit of the event but I think its just got too popular to reasonably enter.

I’ve got a feeling that the Col de Marie-Blanc is going to be a real evil climb – not as long as the Aubisque but I reckon there will be some very steep sections on it. Check this site out for details of all the big climbs in Europe.

ciclismo.sitiasp.itmotore.aspxOpen ↗

Strange link but it does work. Not sure how accurate some of the figures are but certainly gives you an idea.

Your itinerary involves a lot of driving, not only after the Etape to Briancon but also getting to Pau and also getting back to England. I’m not sure I’d fancy driving 500 miles the day after cycling over 100miles – good luck !
I take it you know that stage 11 doesn’t finish up the Galibier ? I know it’s the last climb of the stage but it’s a shame it doesn’t finish up there.

My rough plan at the mo is to fly to the south of France with bike (Toulouse – not sure whether you can fly to Pau directly I’ll have to check) then hire a camper van (which will sort out the hassle of not being able to find a hotel – I guessed they’d be all pretty much booked up well in advance) I know a camper van is going to be expensive but I don’t fancy camping outside. Also my car wouldn’t be up for that much driving (or me !), a hire car wont have enough room either.

I have to really be flying back on 14th July as that’s the start of The British Open golf (my other great passion – and I really have to be sat at home glued to the TV !!!!!! I know from previous painful experience that the French TV stations are not into golf at all – surprising when Jean Van de Velde should of won the Open in 99 at Carnoustie.
I note that the “Queen Stage” of next years tour lies on the same day as the final round of the Open – I think my video recorder will be busy that day !!

This is going to mean getting a flight out on 7th – I’ve not planned my riding schedule yet (going to buy a good map of France tomorrow !) but if the Etape is on the 11th then I wont be doing much cycling on 10th or 12th !!! I definitely want to ride up the Tourmalet and Aspin, so that might be on the 13th just before heading home ? I was hoping to fit in as much climbing as possible over the more well known mountains but I really don’t want to be too shattered before the Etape. I think my main cycling days apart from the Etape will have to be 8th, 9th and 13th.

If your looking for some good ‘warm’ up practise ahead of the Etape I can definitely recommend doing the ‘Dragon Tour’ ride in Bridgend – I did the route in September this year and it was the hardest bike ride I’ve ever done. Next years ride is on 19th June. Check out the link for details.

breakaway-cycling.co.ukDragon%20Ride.htmOpen ↗

Thanks again for all your valuable advice and good luck in the Etape and the Galibier (doesn’t seem like anyone else is interested in replying !)

Julesy

hi there i live in france and did a few etapes, lasy year was the best 240km 8hrs.54mins .. @ 59 YEARS OF AGE. dont get caught up in all the mumbo jumbo. go to the tour de france officiall site, click on le etape site. click on the english flag and voila. you can download a entry form, fill it in, GET A MEDICAL CERT to say you are alive from your doctor, send it back with your credit details, and bingo,, wait 3 months you will recieve a letter with your details, NO NUMBER . log onto le etape site put in your name and see if your number is there, keep doing this for up to a month, they are very slow. BUT it will come up.

you must book some kind of BB NOW, find the area where it is starting DEP 65 france and BOOK A ROOM. you may have to sit at the computer for days to get a place,, if you FIND a room BOOK IT sod the expence. Last year every available ROOM within 100kms of LIMOGE were taken Baxter and his bandits BOOK everything up, thats why they rip you OFF there are no rooms.....do not just turn up you will have to sleep in the railway station ( DONE IT I KNOW)

DO NOT JUMP IN AFTER THE STRART,, it is an organised event, if you fall off and do yourself a mischief re tony doyle you will be in for a BIG HOSPITAL BILL, you will have no insurance even if you take out from the uk.. REMEMBER, tell all the bar room lawyers in the PUB it is a RACE>>>>

the guy ABOVE who said you can say you lost your frame number, sticky TdF jersey number, and you transponder is a [censored] head. this event is run by the guys who run the TdF,, they KNOW ALL the idiotic excuses.

hope the above is interesting, pop in any questions, not mumbo jumbo and i will answer them for you, i can even get accomm down here on the med for you,, if you feel like mixing it with a few fast men....🙂

bikeriderfrance.

bikeriderfrance said:

hi there i live in france and did a few etapes, lasy year was the best 240km 8hrs.54mins .. @ 59 YEARS OF AGE. dont get caught up in all the mumbo jumbo. go to the tour de france officiall site, click on le etape site. click on the english flag and voila. you can download a entry form, fill it in, GET A MEDICAL CERT to say you are alive from your doctor, send it back with your credit details, and bingo,, wait 3 months you will recieve a letter with your details, NO NUMBER . log onto le etape site put in your name and see if your number is there, keep doing this for up to a month, they are very slow. BUT it will come up.

you must book some kind of BB NOW, find the area where it is starting DEP 65 france and BOOK A ROOM. you may have to sit at the computer for days to get a place,, if you FIND a room BOOK IT sod the expence. Last year every available ROOM within 100kms of LIMOGE were taken Baxter and his bandits BOOK everything up, thats why they rip you OFF there are no rooms.....do not just turn up you will have to sleep in the railway station ( DONE IT I KNOW)

DO NOT JUMP IN AFTER THE STRART,, it is an organised event, if you fall off and do yourself a mischief re tony doyle you will be in for a BIG HOSPITAL BILL, you will have no insurance even if you take out from the uk.. REMEMBER, tell all the bar room lawyers in the PUB it is a RACE>>>>

the guy ABOVE who said you can say you lost your frame number, sticky TdF jersey number, and you transponder is a [censored] head. this event is run by the guys who run the TdF,, they KNOW ALL the idiotic excuses.

hope the above is interesting, pop in any questions, not mumbo jumbo and i will answer them for you, i can even get accomm down here on the med for you,, if you feel like mixing it with a few fast men....🙂

bikeriderfrance.

BRF : you know that I did it as well in 2004.
But looking at 2005 - it seems that the ASO/TDF people want places booked
through agents for those of us who live outside France.
(That seems to be the case for 2005).

Julesy : I did it for the first time in 2004 and it was a great event.
You need to get as many miles in as possible between now and when the Etape begins.
I did 3120 miles between 17th March 2004 and 6th July 2004 : I had hoped to hit 4,000 before starting the Etape.

The climbs in 2004 Etape were pretty tough in places : Puy Mary hit 17%
gradient in places.
People were pushing their bikes up the mountains.
It was a long day in the saddle - thankfully the temperature was only around 15 degress Celsius.

Agree about the accomodation - we ended up having to stay in a place called St.Matthieu - 75kms from Limoges.
I got my registration for the 2004 as an individual and myself and friends organised the accomodation ourselves as well.

not doing it in 2005 - too many manhours trying to confirm registration and getting accomadation etc, medical certs etc.
Have done it once and that's enough for me.

right let's get one thing straight, i was asked for advice by someone who wanted to join in without an entry. I gave that i am not saying that this is right i am just suggesting how it may be done. also please check - as the only way to get in this year form the uk is pay a lot of money - FACT. I have paid £100, which i dont think is right as the people of France will still be able to apply as normal. There is also a limit to the number of entry only places, Baxter's only have 100, the rest are tied to tour's. We get no mention of where the extra money goes but i can guess ! I loved the event last year and can't wait to do it this time, and they have a monopoly situation so i guess we can't do anything about it...that too is a FACT i'm afriad.

Anyway i dont enjoy slanging matches but i am no [censored], well i wasn't the last time i looked........

So good luck everyone for next year i hope to pass you on the Aubisque, i am in serious training this time.............. 🙂

julesy said:

I’m planning on riding the etape next year (2005) – I know the route is not published until 28 October – I have already seen some web sites saying that “theres no chance of individual entries for l’etape” – the only way is to book a scheduled package deal with one of them.
As I’m planning on spending a couple of weeks in France and riding some of the famous climbs (Alpe D’Huez, Mont Ventoux and the Col Du Galibier) in addition to the etape I don’t want to go down the package tour route.
My question then is, is there any other way of entering the etape without going through a tour operator ? Also is there any reason why if all entries are full I cant just turn up on the day and ride the etape without having pre-entered. I know there will be around 7000 riders competing but it seems a con to me that the only way to guarantee your place is to pay through a travel agent.
Any helpful suggestions would be much appreciated.

Hi there
my name is pete
i live on the german Belgium border. i have done the etape for the last 4 years. it is a great experience. ifyou want more info then please give me a call on 0049 2161 5639839. will tell you a lot more. I can also get a velo magazine posted to you with the entry form in for a price of £20. But like you say there is nothing stopping you turning up and joining in. be early though. i normaly turn up at 0500 and get at the front. so there is no waiting for 7000 other cyclists. i will be doing it again this year. i and the family hire a camper van for 10 days. if you are going let us know and we might meet up. i am sure there is room for a small one. although there is segregation of 1000 cyclists at a time. they all start atthe same time. the transponder gives you a true time of when you cross the start and finish line. you also get the over all time from when the race started. like last year i crossed the line after 10 hours and 6 mins. but my time was 9 hour 45 mins. if you or anyone else requires info please get in touch i will be happy to chatfor a few hours.