Taking the p**s on the Etape

Road Red

Just to show how rampant commercialism is taking over the Etape.

La Fuga are charging an extra £200 to guarantee a start number in the top 1,200!

Methinks the Golden Goose will soon be dead.

ugo.santalucia

They milk the cow as long as they can.

A lot of people are prepared to spend ridicolous amounts of money to be able to say "I was there".
It's a bit like paying 1000 pounds for a football ticket... it's crazy but it happens.

My feeling is that if you love your cycling, there are less glamorous events, which are a lot better and often very very cheap (and where you don't have to enter a VIP queue or a draw to be part of it).

These overpriced events are for posers, very fit posers, but still posers!

Kléber

It's up to you if you think it's worth it. Some think nothing of paying £100 for a bottle of wine or £5000 on a holiday. If so, £200 on a front place is bargain. Especially since a full package with La Fuga won't be cheap.

But as ugo says, you can find events that are as good as the Etape but far more user friendly and offering much greater value for money. See the Marmotte or Maratona Dolomites for example.

ugo.santalucia

Kléber wrote:

It's up to you if you think it's worth it. Some think nothing of paying £100 for a bottle of wine or £5000 on a holiday. If so, £200 on a front place is bargain. Especially since a full package with La Fuga won't be cheap.

But as ugo says, you can find events that are as good as the Etape but far more user friendly and offering much greater value for money. See the Marmotte or Maratona Dolomites for example.

To be honest, I think also the Marmotte and the Maratona are overpriced and you have to enter queues (or draws) to be able to get in. I am talking about other less glamorous events in the alps as well as in the Pyrenees.
Dauphine' Challenge and others...
If you have a vintage bike, I always recommend the Eroica in tuscany, probably the best event on two wheels in the world.
Many people praise the Quebrantahuesos and the RVV.

Toomanybikes

Well,

I am coming over for the Etape.

Riding on roads I wanted to ride on 30 years ago, but now can.

If I am coming from the west coast of North America I am going to make sure that I have a reason to come, so I purchased a entrance from one of the tour operators.

It is the most expensive event event I will ever have entered, in fact it is likely the most expensive I ever will enter.

It is also a lifetime trip, so I tell myself it is worth it from that perspective.

ugo.santalucia

Toomanybikes wrote:

Well,

I am coming over for the Etape.

Riding on roads I wanted to ride on 30 years ago, but now can.

If I am coming from the west coast of North America I am going to make sure that I have a reason to come, so I purchased a entrance from one of the tour operators.

It is the most expensive event event I will ever have entered, in fact it is likely the most expensive I ever will enter.

It is also a lifetime trip, so I tell myself it is worth it from that perspective.

I suppose if you come from the other side of the world, it makes sense to do it in style...

I come from the Alps and that's probably why I don't understand what's the fuss is all about

Toomanybikes

I have the Rocky Mountains a half days drive away and can ride there pretty much anytime.

This is just "something different" and riding the mountains of "mystery" and "wonder" associated with the great races.

At the heart, they are just mountains, but I expect to have fun nonetheless.

And yea, if I'm coming from over here, I need certainty as I need to book flights and hotels, etc.

APIII

As Kleber says Fuga charge an arm and a eg for there trips, so for their clients an extra £200 is probably no big deal.

I agree with the other comments about the smaller sportives too. One of the best I did last year was the Pyrenneene. Only about 1500 entrants, but it was superb, and good value (think it was about €30 including a free jersey). It may sound snobby, but it was nice not to be surrounded by british club jerseys

ugo.santalucia

Toomanybikes wrote:

I have the Rocky Mountains a half days drive away and can ride there pretty much anytime.

This is just "something different" and riding the mountains of "mystery" and "wonder" associated with the great races.

At the heart, they are just mountains, but I expect to have fun nonetheless.

And yea, if I'm coming from over here, I need certainty as I need to book flights and hotels, etc.

I like the Canadian concept of distances... half a day drive away is pretty close...

I remember a road trip I did in California a few years back and I regretted not having my bike with me when we climbed the long winding road up to the Sequoia Park...

I have the feeling, as they now move the Tour of California to May and they can in principle ride up the big mountains, this could become a classic... just imagine a stage in Yosemite...

FransJacques

After a few etapes with one (2008) being a 74xx number I feel the extra cash might be worth it, if I'm going to do the Etape again.

I tend to finish in the top 10-15% of the finishers on time so the ability to sit in with a fast group on the flats and get in/out of the feeds quickly really enhances the experience. I always try to shut off the competitive aspect of it, which works for the first 5 mins, but then I think "screw it, I've spent 100s of hours on my bike this season, I've spent £1000 for the experience, i don't ride UK sportives in a chilled out way, why schlepp all the way down to the Alpes/Pyrenees/Provence and go for a simple toddle and wave at the roadside spectators. I'm here to push my self"

That's when I get frustrated at the chubby white hairly legs in front of me on the leftside of the road on the climb (note: i don't shave either, but I do wear a helmet).

In 2008 my buddies paid up dearly for some 1xxx bibs via Cyclefit and GPM 10. Guys I was blowing away in training camps and on ride finished 10-20 mins ahead of me. Speaking later I realized where they were able to do this.

In 2009 I got a "beardy-Ron" entry in the 4xxx which was better but I crave a 1xxx bib. After 11 years/7 etapes I think it's time to pony up the dosh and go for broke, I personally need the challenge to rev my engine on the equivalent of the second row of the grid.

Hope you can see this perspective of it.

Road Red

I wouldn't criticise anyone what what they spend on the Etape and I can understand the benefit of a low number. I just think the tour companies are being greedy and very opportunistic.

I am doing the Etape for the second time this year, having thoroughly enjoyed last year's event. I know it is very expensive but I am happy to fork out for the experience. I also know that there are cheaper events available over similar routes and maybe in time I will go for those but for the moment the lure of the Etape is winning me over.

It's up to each individual to decide what is and isn't value for money. The organisers will continue to charge as long as the demand is there. I just hadn't come accross the premium for low numbers before.