Why does L'Etape get so little interest in the US?
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Why does L'Etape get so little interest in the US?
L'Etape de Tour is a cyclosportif run by the Tour de France organizers over the same course as a stage of the TDF. (Cyclosportive's, popular in Europe are like a cross between a regular bike race, and a century. It's timed, places, and medals are awarded, and there are cutoff times. Up front its pretty much a like a regular bike race, in the back its more like a fast century).
L'Etape de Tour, literally "A Stage of the Tour" is run just like a TDF stage, over the exact route of one of that year's stages, on a closed course, with neutral support, and the all the same details, such as the red kite at the 1km to go point. The organizers usually pick one of the harder mountain stages, and its typically run on the first rest day of the TDF. In 2007 it will be Stage 15 in the Pyranees and will include 4 categorized climbs and one HC climb.
IMHO, its the most fun you can have on a bike. L'Etape actually draws spectators, particularly in the small mountain towns. Riding through tiny French Villages in a large fast moving pack with the streets lined with spectators is the closest I'm going to come to riding in the TDF, and gives you just a tiny glimpse of what riding in the TDF would be like. Also when the race come through the following week, youll know exactly how slow you are in relation to the Peleton.
L'Etape draws approximately 8500 riders, from all over the world. Yet few Americans, even including avid cyclists that follow the TDF, know that L'Etape exists.
I would strongly encourage anyone to do it. Particularly, if you're going to the TDF anyway. https://www.letapedutour.com/2006/us/index_2007.htm
L'Etape de Tour, literally "A Stage of the Tour" is run just like a TDF stage, over the exact route of one of that year's stages, on a closed course, with neutral support, and the all the same details, such as the red kite at the 1km to go point. The organizers usually pick one of the harder mountain stages, and its typically run on the first rest day of the TDF. In 2007 it will be Stage 15 in the Pyranees and will include 4 categorized climbs and one HC climb.
IMHO, its the most fun you can have on a bike. L'Etape actually draws spectators, particularly in the small mountain towns. Riding through tiny French Villages in a large fast moving pack with the streets lined with spectators is the closest I'm going to come to riding in the TDF, and gives you just a tiny glimpse of what riding in the TDF would be like. Also when the race come through the following week, youll know exactly how slow you are in relation to the Peleton.
L'Etape draws approximately 8500 riders, from all over the world. Yet few Americans, even including avid cyclists that follow the TDF, know that L'Etape exists.
I would strongly encourage anyone to do it. Particularly, if you're going to the TDF anyway. https://www.letapedutour.com/2006/us/index_2007.htm
Last edited by merlinextraligh; 10-31-06 at 01:25 PM.
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I've heard of it and definitely plan to do it one of these years.
One concern that I have when entering events like this is getting to start in the front so I don't have to pass 8,000 slower riders. Do you know if there is any seeding by category?
One concern that I have when entering events like this is getting to start in the front so I don't have to pass 8,000 slower riders. Do you know if there is any seeding by category?
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i know they do this for other races as well. i think either the tour of flanders or paris-roubaix (or both) allows regulars to race on the course.
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For most American cyclists, it's a major expense to do a cycling tour in Europe. I think the only way to officially get into L'Etape is to go through a tour group, right? I'm wondering if the numbers of Americans in L'Etape has increased in recent years.
Perhaps some enterprising organizer in the US will do a similar "Etape" for the Tour of California or Georgia?
There are plenty of challenge rides all across the US, as well. It's a dream to ride a Tour stage, but some of us can be contented with local rides. For me, it's stuff like the Horribly Hilly Hundreds. It's not Europe, but is a heck of a lot cheaper.
Not sure that answers your question on the popularity of L'Etape or other European challenge rides like La Marmotte or the Dolomiti. Access, time, and funding. I think these are major factors.
Perhaps some enterprising organizer in the US will do a similar "Etape" for the Tour of California or Georgia?
There are plenty of challenge rides all across the US, as well. It's a dream to ride a Tour stage, but some of us can be contented with local rides. For me, it's stuff like the Horribly Hilly Hundreds. It's not Europe, but is a heck of a lot cheaper.
Not sure that answers your question on the popularity of L'Etape or other European challenge rides like La Marmotte or the Dolomiti. Access, time, and funding. I think these are major factors.
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Originally Posted by Pizza Man
I've heard of it and definitely plan to do it one of these years.
One concern that I have when entering events like this is getting to start in the front so I don't have to pass 8,000 slower riders. Do you know if there is any seeding by category?
One concern that I have when entering events like this is getting to start in the front so I don't have to pass 8,000 slower riders. Do you know if there is any seeding by category?
They break it up into groups of 1000 (I was in the bin with 6000 through 7000). They send you off in waves, and your time doesn't start until your chip crosses the start line, so its not quite as bad as it sounds.
I did it in 2005. The crowd wasn't really a problem at the start. However when we go to the first climb, there was a section of a bout 1km at 13% on what was essentially a one lane road. The accordian effect from that brought things almost to a stop. (i.e. pedal hard to jump into a gap, track stand for a second, pedal into the next opening, repeat) but after that it opened up pretty well.
Starting towrd the back, I ended up passing about 4000 people, so it actually was motivational to be catching and passing people all day.
Last edited by merlinextraligh; 10-31-06 at 01:22 PM.
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Originally Posted by CyLowe97
Perhaps some enterprising organizer in the US will do a similar "Etape" for the Tour of California or Georgia?
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Originally Posted by CyLowe97
.
Access, time, and funding. I think these are major factors.
Access, time, and funding. I think these are major factors.
Originally Posted by CyLowe97
.
Perhaps some enterprising organizer in the US will do a similar "Etape" for the Tour of California or Georgia?
Perhaps some enterprising organizer in the US will do a similar "Etape" for the Tour of California or Georgia?
And in the last 2 years Six Gap has gone to transponders to track time, which I think has a tendency to turn a recreational century into something more like a cyclosportif. (now you can argue whether that's good or bad.)
Last edited by merlinextraligh; 10-31-06 at 01:24 PM.
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well, i would argue that they have all the people they can realistically handle. 8500 cyclists?! do they really need to increase marketing to americans with that level of participation already?
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Originally Posted by Gomez308
Sounds like another L'Etape shillmeister to me.
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
Guilty as charged.
I just think its really cool, and would like others to know about it. I only learned of it from talking to other riders on a bike tour.
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Originally Posted by timmhaan
well, i would argue that they have all the people they can realistically handle. 8500 cyclists?! do they really need to increase marketing to americans with that level of participation already?
It sells out as is. But I think the organizers make more money off their "official Travel partners" that you pretty much have to use to get a slot from the U.S. i'm pretty sure outfits like Custom Getaways are paying the Tour for the privilege of being official partners and getting entry slots.
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A coworker of mine from 4 years ago got invited to do that race. He was in his early 50's and rode ALL THE TIME.(still does) Former Masters champion.
He comes flying through my neighborhood and I've run across him on the roads. Wear your helmet, Miro!
The only cycling race that gets attention in this country is the TdF so it's not surprising there's little excitement here for this one. I think my wife would rather watch golf than cycling so I record everything off OLN/VS. and watch it when she's gone.
He comes flying through my neighborhood and I've run across him on the roads. Wear your helmet, Miro!
The only cycling race that gets attention in this country is the TdF so it's not surprising there's little excitement here for this one. I think my wife would rather watch golf than cycling so I record everything off OLN/VS. and watch it when she's gone.
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