Etape - How hard?

[dojo]

I know its a stupid question and the answer is "very"

But I find myself in the situation where I will be on my family holiday with my bike in the very area L'Etape is taking place this year.
I'm thinking of getting a ticket... I just wonder if I will be well out of depth.

I know somewhat what i'd be for, I have over 3000km in the legs this year with over 33,000m of climbing, admittedly a fair few of them were on Zwift.

What are the cut off times/what would my average speed need to be to get to the check points?

Thanks in advance

[z4RRSchris]

you'll be fine.

[Jacobyte]

An average club rider (i.e. below a Cat 4 racer) would have no real trouble doing it with compact gearing, e.g. 34x30.

Challenging yes, but doable, and of course that's the point. Keep on top of nutrition and hydration and you'll love it.

[towser44]

Sold out already for 2023 isn't it according to the website?

https://www.timeto.com/en-GB/sports/cycling/letape...

[djone101]

My only advice based on my experience (2017 admittedly) would be to be economical with the truth about your projected time.

I was honest that I was going to be fairly slow so got put in the last group right in front of the broom wagon.
I skipped the first feed stop to make up a bit of time - got to the 100km feed stop and it was like a war zone after the battle. I was told that it was closing in 10 minutes and the broom wagon was looming again. We'd gone over a couple of categorised climbs by this point and I'd averaged 24kph but was really not enjoying it so I pulled the plug.

I had a lovely week riding around the Alps doing some famous climbs including Izoard, Colombiere etc but found that doing it on my own schedule was what I preferred doing. I learned that maybe Sportives weren't for me.

[velocgee]

OP,

Agree with poster re. you should be fine.

Also agree with poster about being cute as to your estimated time to try and not end up starting at the back. Oh, and unless you have your own food supplies do not miss a feed station - last thing you want is to blow-up on a Cat. Climb.

[MarcelM6]

If you've done 3000km in 4.5 months I'd say you'll be fine!

Does depend a bit on the course that year, when I did it the biggest challenge was the heat. Climbing alpine mountains in 35 degrees was extremely hard work.

I suspect your biggest challenge will be getting an entry

[okgo]

A lot depends on your base fitness I guess. What’s your level?

The route doesn’t look that tough this year but it is very south with Eze. I did the length of the alps last summer on less miles than you and the heat fked me more than anything else! And having a double but we won’t talk about that.

[Gweeds]

The mental side is often underestimated. I’ve ridden 4 and on every one people with lots of turbo miles haven’t thought about climbing actual 20k climbs in sometimes severe heat.

The hardest one I did was Marie-Blanque, Soulour and finish at the summit of the Tourmalet and the heat was brutal that day.

Edited by Gweeds on Thursday 11th May 23:01

[dojo]

I paid for a 3rd party ticket!! I've done the entry! Fingers crossed.
I'm defo going to be a bit economical/optimistic on the time prediction and hopefully allow time to slide back a bit.
I've done a few Cat climbs before but not lots in a day! and agree the heat will be the killer.
Excited now the entry is done!

[wattsm666]

Heat is the absolute killer, especially in the later start times. Last year over 43c on the climbs, the sun heats the rock up and it is like an oven.

[okgo]

Never trust your Garmin’s, though. They’re like cock extensions for cyclists claiming extreme conditions (in either direction).

[drd63]

I’m doing the ride as well this year. First time and helpful comments about estimated ride time but where and when do you submit this?

[dojo]

I put my info in on endurancecui.active.com

What time are you hoping to complete it in??

[drd63]

That’s the big question, I did a sportive a couple of weeks ago, 160km, 2000m ascent in 6:15. But, and it’s a big but I really don’t know what toll another 2000m of climbing is going to take. Maybe aim for 8 or 8 and a half hours?

[drd63]

Sorry, meant to say thanks for that tip, I’ll have a look.

[dojo]

Prob a similar pace to me.
I've put 6-7 hours on my estimated time.
I'll DM you my Strava and maybe we will bump into each other??

• Edit**

I think I found you on Strava (just down the road from me IRL) given you a random follow!

Edited by dojo on Friday 19th May 09:26

[Mark83]

Swept up by the red Skoda of death on my first etape (2015) having started right at the very back. The heat was an absolute killer, high 30s. I sat in a stream at one point. There were people scattered at the road side up the Glandon and being helicoptered off at the top. I saw one chap sat roadside vomiting and another being treat by medics with a drip in his arm. There were a couple of hundred of us timed out at the summit and bused to the finish. My mate, super strong rider, was broken. He had the red Skoda on his wheel up the last climb. I watched him sat in silence eat 40 McNuggets and a Big Mac meal, only then did he start telling me about his traumatic day. The weather will play a huge part in your day.

My next two etapes (2016 & 2017) were completed with relative ease thanks to earlier start times and cooler (well, more normal) weather.

Feed stations are carnage, were rubbish and food covered by wasps. Cheese and crackers... WTF. Second and third etapes, my pockets were bulging at the start with Clif bars and gels as I tried to only use the feed stations for fluids. Things may have improved now?

It's a great event to experience, especially with closed roads. Soak it up and enjoy watching the pros race your stage with a new found respect for their pace and ability.

Allez!