Professional Cycling For the Fans - L'Etape du Tour: how???

So, for the third year in a row, it's now official: I didn't get a registration.

I've been on top of the velo magazine that has the registration. I'm in touch with the tour companies that have the guaranteed entries. I'm just missing it somehow.

SO, here's the question, for those of you who have made it:
How the hell does someone (in the USA) get a registration into L'etape du tour??

Is it really this hard, or am I doing something wrong?

This year l'Etape is going to have an epic ending at Alpe d'Huez. Don't miss it!

They have changed the system of first come first serve (for those who don't have reseved places) to a lottery draw. 7500 places in total and 2500 of them are for foreigners. There is no need to rush to get Velo magazine. Registration is begining January.

good news, thanks! i'll keep my eyes open.

I went with Custom Getaways lat year. They did a good job. From their webiste it looks like thy may still have space available. Even if you get waitlisted with a tour company, a lot of people cancel when it's time to pay cash. Last year you could have gotten a spot well into the spring (at a price). This year with Alpe de Huez, it will likely fil up faster.

what would one ride on a ride such as this?

I'd love to do this...maybe 07

what would one ride on a ride such as this?

I'd love to do this...maybe 07

Any good road racing bike. Ride what the TDF riders would ride. After all it's a stage of the TDF. The only differences are 1) size of your wallet. 2) support, while there's neutral support for etape, they don't fix flats, so it pretty much makes tublulars impractical, and 3) as to gearing, the pros are stronger. I'd ride a 53/39 upfront and 12/27 in the back. (the gears i used for etape last year) If you can't climb in the 39/27, it's questionable you'll be fast enough to stay ahead of the time cutoff.

The October 2005 issue of ProCycling magazine had a good article on riding L'Etape du Tour, although I don't recall any tips on registering. I'll check the article again though.

Another epic ride is "La Marmotte". It tackles the Croix de Fer, Telegraphe, Galibier... and then Alpe d'Huez - all in one day! Sounds like a main course of pain with a side order of suffering. I will do it in 2007.

Here's a link to the event web site: La Marmotte (http://www.LaMarmotte.nl)

And a link to an article about it in The Daily Peloton. (http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=4565)

Sorry to hijack the thread :) Now back to your regularly scheduled discussion of L'Etape du Tour! ~

I was watching the 2003 TDF and Phil liggett made a comment. He mentioned that the stage chosen for that particular year's L"Etape had 8000 registered riders but only 3000 completed the entire stage. The remaining 5000 abandoned or were swept up by the broomwagon because they did not make one of the many mandatory times checks.

The article in ProCycling gave me the impression that it is a hurried rush to make each of the time checks. One of the authors was sideswiped by a passing cyclist in the melee and crashed badly. With 8000 rushing cyclists, there was no medical attention and he had to jump back on the bike and ride with his injuries the remainder of the stage.

I was watching the 2003 TDF and Phil liggett made a comment. He mentioned that the stage chosen for that particular year's L"Etape had 8000 registered riders but only 3000 completed the entire stage. The remaining 5000 abandoned or were swept up by the broomwagon because they did not make one of the many mandatory times checks.

The article in ProCycling gave me the impression that it is a hurried rush to make each of the time checks. One of the authors was sideswiped by a passing cyclist in the melee and crashed badly. With 8000 rushing cyclists, there was no medical attention and he had to jump back on the bike and ride with his injuries the remainder of the stage.


It' not quite that bad. I think last year at least half finished. I'm a reasonably fit master's racer and I finished around 2 hours ahead of the cutoff. Our tour group was pretty strong, and I think 90% of our group finished. One guy in our group, a reasonably accomplished collegiate racer, who hadn't trained that seriously in last couple of years got swept on the Col de Aubisque, which surpised me. If you're a USCF licensed rider, or a strong fitness rider who can hang with your local fast group, you can do L'Etape with some endurance training.

Watch the diary of that guy on cycling.tv of l'etape. Its pretty cool about an hour total and covers his training from early january up till the race day and then his recap. Not something to rush and see but definitally watch if youve got an extra 45 mins-hour. Also its free!

Check out Cycling Plus magazine (Barnes and Noble carries it). Several ads for Etape tour companies out of Britain.