Etape du tour 2013

[Brew]

Looks like stage 20 has been selected (only one act for 2013). I would consider myself a decent club rider and this definitely looks doable. What sort of time would you need to be looking at without fear of being picked up by the broom wagon??

[anonymous-user]

There is loads of good advice about etape tactics and broom wagon stories on bike radar and road.cc. I havent ridden it but most people seem to suggest the wagon travels at around 17-18kph average for the stage.

Stage 20 you say, well looking at the profile below

I'd say you want to be averaging at least 30kph for the first 35kms, to give you a good lead then prepare yourself for the climb up Revard. Rest on hte descent and maintain that 30kmh pace on hte flat before the last climb to Annecy which is a bit of a cheeky bugger, quite tempted myself but 2013 is already filling up....

[Mr Gear]

Do you know what the total ascent is? A rough sum from the graph appears to indicate about 2,500m

[Janosh]

Close to 3000m ascent

And from experience, you probably don't need to go as fast as suggested above.. 25-28kph on the flat is where I would ride and push a steady 34-28 gear on the climbs. You'll be fine!

[anonymous-user]

alerted SWMBO to the possibility that i might be entering this, didnt recieve an outright negative so considered that as permission...

[Raoul Duke]

pablo said:

quite tempted myself but 2013 is already filling up....

I don’t think that they’ve actually started taking direct reservations yet – the Etape web site says they start on the 28th November?
Unless you’re talking about the tour agency bookings, but Sports Tours usually have spaces available for a while after registration opens judging by the emails they send out most years – the catch being you have to participate in one of their training camps beforehand.
Myself, I am trying to convince a couple of mates to sign up, but on an entry only basis. It’s going to be one of the easiest years to do it independently as it’s a circular route.
If we agree to do it I’m expecting a rather frantic rush to bag a place, as once registration opens its not unlike securing Glastonbury tickets.

[anonymous-user]

Raoul Duke said:

pablo said:

quite tempted myself but 2013 is already filling up....

I don’t think that they’ve actually started taking direct reservations yet – the Etape web site says they start on the 28th November?
Unless you’re talking about the tour agency bookings, but Sports Tours usually have spaces available for a while after registration opens judging by the emails they send out most years – the catch being you have to participate in one of their training camps beforehand.
Myself, I am trying to convince a couple of mates to sign up, but on an entry only basis. It’s going to be one of the easiest years to do it independently as it’s a circular route.
If we agree to do it I’m expecting a rather frantic rush to bag a place, as once registration opens its not unlike securing Glastonbury tickets.

I meant the social calendar rather than the event itself!. i'll try an "race only" entry but not adverse to a package with someome like STI who can deal with all the faff and sort out hotels etc

[Jimbo.]

On the assumption it doesn't clash with the Marmotte, I'll try and be there

[andySC]

Annecy is a great place to ride but that route doesn't inspire me. I'd certainly (& may) do The Marmotte....other than the boring bit between Glandon & Telegraphe it's a much better route with iconic/must do climbs.

[Mr Gear]

I have just posted off my entry to the 2013 Etape.

Better do some training really.

[Janosh]

Jimbo. said:

On the assumption it doesn't clash with the Marmotte, I'll try and be there

La Marmotte is the day before.... You're a braver man than me if you're thinking about doing both!

[Mark_T]

Only 6 days to go! Good luck to all PHers making the trip to Annecy.

Mark.

Bib number 13294. right at the back!

[Mr Gear]

Mark_T said:

Only 6 days to go! Good luck to all PHers making the trip to Annecy.

Mark.

Bib number 13294. right at the back!

Yes indeed! I have actually switched to the Etape Cymru as I can't do the Etape Du Tour now. But I did ride the Semnoz last week anyway! Yes really.

I took a slightly different route to the official TDF route, but I still had to climb a lot of vertical meters, and the top, steepest section is the same route. Luckily, I was on a mountain bike, so never run out of gears on the steepest bit, but it was still a loooooong climb, and will feel even longer after the other uphill bits that come before it on the official Etape.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/332174183