Etape 2009

damage36

Just registered online with roman pensec travel. They seem to have taken my money and sent me an email to confirm as such. When should I expect to get actual confirmation of my place?

PS. I went for entry only, might turn it into a whole big holiday and ride down to the start over a few days.

kaiserpc

Anyone know what the total height climbed is for this route?

BMCCbry

I've now got an entry-only place. Woop woop!

Ken Night

Kléber wrote:

[

I don't understand the fixation amongst British riders for the Etape, !

........for atmosphere, build up, that its in France, among so many riders, there isn't anything like it. You can argue that there are many more worthwhile sportives to do, the notable ones each having a clear identity-the Marmotte for the route and the climbing, the Fred Whitton for sheer difficulty and the sting in the tail. The Etape, for the reasons Neidermeyer suggests

Part of the fixation is down to the fact that it is a super challenge, and therefore appeals to the predominantly 40+ male entrant, who can afford good kit, the travel etc. That there are so many British entrants, is down to word of mouth/forum, about the desireability of adding that to your palmares, about how hard it is

Kléber

I suppose I phrased it wrong, I do understand why it's popular. You explain that very well Ken.

My point was more why it's often seen as the only sportive abroad. Still, the very process of complicated entry and high fees only serves to make it more exclusive and mystical

Ken Night

Kléber wrote:

I.

My point was more why it's often seen as the only sportive abroad. Still,

the very process of complicated entry and high fees only serves to make it more exclusive and mystical

Both statements are true-but there is a significant Spill/spread out to other events, like the Amstel Gold, Nove Colli, Maratona, and the various Gran Fondos, and that can only be good for cycling-that there continues to be choice of good events

popette

blimey! seen the price of the sports tours package - £625 for the self drive option.
F***ing hell!
Waiting to see what the Cyclomundo are offering and starting to look for tents on ebay!
£1250 & travel for the two of us to enter is steep.

lochindaal

Just got my entry only place from Cyclomundo

Was beginning to get worried after pre registering that I hadn't got a place but they had missed me and a mate off when they sent the e-mails out. Phoned them today and got an e-mail straight away (for anyone thinking about blagging it we did have original e-mails confirming our pre registration)

Now the elation of being in is over the terror of the reality begins to kick in!

TheStone

What other european cyclosportives would you recommend? How do they compare to the Etape?
(including price)

I'm waiting to see if my group have entry only places for the Etape, otherwise I was thinking of suggesting one or two other sportives in France or Italy etc.

dombo6

niedermeyer wrote:

Kléber wrote:

niedermeyer wrote:

Just for the record, ASO charge the operators 125€ per entry. At current FX £100. Of the £140 charged by the operator, VAT is £21. Credit card charge - £2. So £17 profit for dealing with admin, post, chasing dozy bug9ers who can't sign a form, get their doc to sign a form, get their license renewed, etc etc etc. Hardly profiteering.

Thanks, that's quite interesting. So ASO charge the tour companies double what they charge locals and they get the Tour companies to do all the admin and work too. The Etape is becoming big business.

It's not even a big challenge, this year's edition was easier than past riders and 2009 looks moderate to hard too. In the past it was a killer ride, I have a suspicion it's being made easier to keep the numbers up.

I don't understand the fixation amongst British riders for the Etape, for the money people spend on a weekend of coach travel and roach motels, they could have three weekends away to do the Maratona Dolomites, the Marmotte and the Ariegeoise. :idea:

Of course it's big business, in the same way as the London and New York marathons are big business - it is the cyclosportive still for lots of people, especially those who are not really "into" cyclosportives. I wouldn't turn my nose up at something which, although it attracts a fair few dilletantes, is also a gateway into the wonderful world of cycle sport for many. Besides, as an 'event' it really is without equal because of its associations with the TDF - you don't get the same local spectator turnout and atmosphere for other events. Plus, it's a completely different route every year on closed roads which is something you can't say about most cyclos.

One thing about cost - yes it's expensive, but a basic package is about the same as one might spend on a reasonable set of wheels (which will probably be 'upgraded' and consigned to the winter bike after a couple of years). It's all relative!

Thank you niedermeyer, for a brilliant justification I can give Mrs Dombo6!

Kléber

It might cost the same as some wheels but for the same money, you could probably book yourself a chauffeured limo and stay in a chateau the night before.

TheStone, look at these in France: Ardechoise, Ariegeoise, Marmotte, Ventoux. In Italy, the Gran Fondo Campagnolo (being renamed GF Agu), the Maratona Dolomita and the Nove Colli.

bs147

There does seem to have been a price hike this year - I think I will have to look at the Marmotte instead. I can have a week out there (camping) for the same money as the cheapest 3 day currently being offered! I seem to recall that you can enter the Marmotte direct without having to go through an operator - can anyone confirm that please?

Kléber

Yes, just sign up at the SportCommunication website. You can even enter on the day.

bs147

Thanks, I think it will be La Marmotte for me! Ventoux is the main draw of the Etape but I guess it will be there for a while.....

Ken Night

bs147 wrote:

Thanks, I think it will be La Marmotte for me! Ventoux is the main draw of the Etape but I guess it will be there for a while.....

There are sportives on Ventoux earlier in the year

Another nice sportive not yet mentioned is the Dauphine at the end of May-round the Vercours, plenty of climbing, food stops like nowhere else, hardly any traffic and where there is, well marshalled, and including this

GeorgeShaw

Is that the Combe Laval? If so, it's part of the Vercors-Drome sportive in August as well.

Ken Night

GeorgeShaw wrote:

Is that the Combe Laval? If so, it's part of the Vercors-Drome sportive in August as well.

It is the Combe Laval-you can see the two riders, just.....It's a scary ride, but I was even more cautious driving it!

GeorgeShaw

Excellent. I'm planning to do the Vercors-Drome next year. I'll have to prepare some special bibshorts :shock: :oops:

popette

GeorgeShaw wrote:

Excellent. I'm planning to do the Vercors-Drome next year. I'll have to prepare some special bibshorts :shock: :oops:

I think I would have to get off and crawl - I hope we're not going to have anything like that in the Etape.

portuguese mike

Poppette, i agree with you about the those prices. Seem a bit of a p**s take - it's cositing me less to go skiing for a week in switzerland including flights for pete's sake.

I really think i might do the marmotte instead or just go to the alps for a week during the tour and do my own thing.

APIII

portuguese mike wrote:

Poppette, i agree with you about the those prices. Seem a bit of a p**s take - it's cositing me less to go skiing for a week in switzerland including flights for pete's sake.

I really think i might do the marmotte instead or just go to the alps for a week during the tour and do my own thing.

It surprised me too. I'm thinking of doing the Hubert Arbes sportive next year in the Pyrenees. This years route went over the Tourmalet, Col des Borderes and Col du Soulor http://www.la-hubert-arbes.fr.fm/. I've got the option of 4 nights half board in a luxury b/b with airport pickup and transfers to/from the event for £200. Entry for the event is only €25 and includes a bottle of wine when you sign on! I could do it every year for the next 3 years and still spend less than an Etape.

portuguese mike

APIII wrote:

portuguese mike wrote:

Poppette, i agree with you about the those prices. Seem a bit of a p**s take - it's cositing me less to go skiing for a week in switzerland including flights for pete's sake.

I really think i might do the marmotte instead or just go to the alps for a week during the tour and do my own thing.

It surprised me too. I'm thinking of doing the Hubert Arbes sportive next year in the Pyrenees. This years route went over the Tourmalet, Col des Borderes and Col du Soulor http://www.la-hubert-arbes.fr.fm/. I've got the option of 4 nights half board in a luxury b/b with airport pickup and transfers to/from the event for £200. Entry for the event is only €25 and includes a bottle of wine when you sign on! I could do it every year for the next 3 years and still spend less than an Etape.

When you say 'you' have the option is that a special deal or is it available to all?

APIII

http://www.chez-passet.com/cycling.htm

I may be doing Andrew and Vicky a disservice, but I stayed there in the spring on one of the weekend cycling packages for £200 and I'm assuming the weekend for the Hubert Arbes will be the same. Great place for a non cycling partner by the way.

daowned

Emm found a few quotes from a man by the name of Roland Barthes, hardcore stuff and it dont sound nice...

"The Ventoux is a god of Evil, to which sacrifices must be made. It never forgives weakness and extracts an unfair tribute of suffering."

"Physically, the Ventoux is dreadful. Bald, it's the spirit of Dry: Its climate (it is much more an essence of climate than a geographic place) makes it a damned terrain, a testing place for heroes, something like a higher hell."

Good luck! I’m glad its not me doing it I am still getting over the mental trauma of last years Etape

mrushton

read about Ferdy Kubler and his 'encounter' with the Ventoux in the TdF.

le_grimpeur

Lance3315 wrote:

8) Hi Guys,

I am looking foreword to taking part in my first Etape next year.Does anyone have any suggestions to a really good training program and possible nutrition advise?

Thanks

Whilst this maybe taking a retrograde step in replying to Lance3315, and although the points about going to France to ride one of the legendary cols is good advice, it does sidestep the issue of being able to afford doing it (and that the cost of doing the Etape could justify its own thread).

My original point is to say to Lance3315, is that by June you should have done 3 150km rides - and preferably containing some kind of long hill climbs. That is a minimum, and comes from the Etape organisers themselves. So your training, should be built around acieiving that over several months.

In terms of general nutrition, the obvious answer is about eating healthily, cutting out fatty foods, but there is no need to eliminate them, and there is plenty more specific advice if you do a search for 'nutrition' on the bike radar site. If the question relates to nutrition during the Etape, I found that doing 150k rides showed me that i needed to eat before I got hungry, which meant either eating bars, taking gels or eating apricots every 30 minutes.

Whilst I am here, I am struck (by my own words) about starting specific Etape 09 threads. As someone looking to make his own way, do others in a similar situation think that a separate thread is warranted?

popette

le_grimpeur wrote:

Lance3315 wrote:

8)

Whilst I am here, I am struck (by my own words) about starting specific Etape 09 threads. As someone looking to make his own way, do others in a similar situation think that a separate thread is warranted?

Go for it - the cost is ridiculous. At this moment, despite everything, I'm still not sure whether I will do it at all. If we were to go with Sports Tours, my husband and I would be paying in the region of £300 per night for a really sh"t hotel which just seems madness when you think what kind of hotel you can get over here (or anywhere) for that kind of money. I don't mind the cost of entry at all because I think it's a price definitely worth paying but the additional costs involved in that particular package, which doesn't include travel of course, seem prohibitively high . I wouldn't go for Sports Tours anyway as I feel some loyalty to Cyclomundo
Perhaps forum members might like to organise something together in order to keep the costs down?

Datameister

It's got to be said that the potential cost of going for an all-in package is astronomical.

We did the 08 Etape, but booked a gite through the internet (guessing where the start would be) as soon as the stage was announced (ie right now, people)

Of course, gites are always Saturday to Saturday, so we had to have 2 weeks, but even that was only 800 Euros (who needs a swimming pool when you have a bike?) and we only occupied it from midweek to midweek. At least with this years Etape being on a Monday, you could just do 1 week.

Couple that with a cheap overnight Eurotunnel (ferries would have been even cheaper) and the diesel to get there, and 5 of us Etapped for about £400 each all-in.

As far as I can see, if you want be able to afford anything else in 2009, the only way to do it is to go self-organised entry only in a group of 4 or more. I have to give it a miss this year.....humph!

BTW, I can also vouch for the excellence of french campsites, but remember to pack earplugs if you want to sleep ahead of midnight.......

sportbilly1976

hi all,

As a complete newbie, I have registere today with cyclemundo for an entry only place.

I am also looking at getting there under my own steam and possibly camping or staying in a local gite.

I have searched online for a hotel and the whole region seems to be booked up.

Coming from Manchester, I would gladly like to hook up with others if it is easier to travel down as a small group - certainly from a logistical aspect it would help to make sure everything was completed and all forms filled etc.

Chopster

On the subject of hotels being booked up, you will find that alot of the French entrants will have booked hotels not yet knowing if they have an entry in the etape. In past years I have managed to find hotels reasonably close to the start, within 20 miles, in the month of February after the french lottery has taken place.

I suggest, based on past experience, that you contact 2 or 3 hotels and ask them to put your name on a cancellation list. As a fall back book a campsite, I mentioned in a previous post that this isn't as bad as some fear, Provence in July is a nice place to be and campsites are on the whole very good.

I know it is a leap of faith for some but I would go for the entry only option now even if at this stage you do not have accommodation booked.