You’re reading about a past BikeStyle Tours trip to the Tour de France. You can also view photos from this trip, see preliminary details of our 2008 trips, and register to receive full details of the 2008 Tour de France when they are released.
15th EDITION OF L’ÉTAPE DU TOUR
FOIX / LOUDENVIELLE
MONDAY 16th OF JULY 2007
Bikestyle Tours is the Official Australian and New Zealand agent for the 2007 l’Étape du Tour.
As Official Agents we have GUARANTEED places
Bikestyle Tours Guided Trip:
Cost: USD* $2053
Dates: Friday 13 July 2007 to Tuesday 17 July 2007
Start-Finish: Toulouse
Accommodation: 2 and 3 Star Hotels on Half Board (Close to start and finish)
Group Size: Maximum 40 people (3 Staff)
Deposit: USD* $938
Please read below for full details
Entry Only
ENTRY ONLY (No strings attached)
Cost: USD* $366
If you would like to reserve your l’Étape entry go to our Reserve a Trip page.
Accommodation only
TRIP DETAILS:
Duration: 3 Nights per person on twin share basis
Dates: Saturday 14 July 2007 to Tuesday 17 July 2007
Accommodation: 2 Star Hotel on Half Board Basis (per person on twin share basis)
Location: Tarascon (only 17kms from start)
Cost: USD* $516 (Single Supplement USD* $141 extra)
Reserve your accommodation now
If self-guided, you may need to hire a car (external link)
The 2007 l’Étape du Tour will once again be an occasion for close to 8500 keen amateurs to compete with the best.
For this next edition, the big date will be on Monday the 16th of July 2007. It’ll concern one of the toughest stages of the 2007 Tour de France: FOIX / LOUDENVIELLE.
After the Alps, it’ll indeed be the turn of the Ariège, Haute Garonne and Hautes Pyrénées areas to welcome the 15th edition of the biggest cyclo-sporting event of France. Foix, prefecture of the Ariege area, will be the place from where the competitors will take off to reach, after a 202 km course, the city of Loudenvielle, a favoured site for cyclotourism, climbing and hiking.
This stage will be rich and intense on a course designed for the elite of World cycling. The most eager amateurs will all be present to try and handle the biggest difficulties and no less than 5 tough climbs on the day: the Col de Port (1 249 m), the Col de Portet d’Aspet (1 069m), the Col de Menté (1 349 m), the Col du Port de Balès (1 755m), the Col de Peyresourde (1 569 m).
Like for the previous years, the “Village Accueil” (welcome village) will be open on Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th of July in FOIX in order to welcome all the competitors. Each one will be able to get his bib number and all the necessary information on the race.
If you have any further enquiries please email me at lawrie@bikestyletours.com
Note: To enter l’Étape du Tour you require a medical certificate from a doctor.
It should be to the effect that you are fit to take part in a cycling competition.
No certificate - no entry!
What is l’Étape du Tour?
L’Étape du Tour (French for ’stage of the Tour’) is an organised mass participation cyclosportive event that allows amateur cyclists to race over the same route as a Tour de France stage. First held in 1993, and organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation, ASO (in conjunction with Vélo Magazine), it takes place each July, normally on a Tour rest day.
L’Etape du Tour is normally held over mountain roads in either the Pyrenees or French Alps, up climbs such as the Col du Galibier, Col d’Aubisque, Mont Ventoux or the Col du Tourmalet. Around 8,500 riders participate - many travelling from other countries in order to compete - and the event takes place on roads closed by the police to other traffic, with refreshment stops and medical support provided along the route.
So as you can see it is not for the faint hearted. It is usually selected because of its difficulty!
We would like to stress that this is not an event to be taken lightly. Proper preparation is required for the event including regular training and a number of long rides similar in distance to the actual event.
In 2006 of the 7,548 starters, only 5,477 finished within the time limit.
Want to know more?
Read the article Riding the l’Étape du Tour by Mark Sharon on the Cyclingnews Website
Visit the l’Etape du Tour Website: http://www.letapedutour.com
Guided Trip Details
Duration: 5 days (4 Nights)
Dates: Friday 13 July 2007 to Tuesday 17 July 2007
Start-Finish: Toulouse
Accommodation: 2 and 3 Star Hotels on Half Board (Close to start and finish)
Group Size: Maximum 40 people (3 Staff)
Cost: USD* $2053
Deposit: USD* $938 - Reserve a trip now
Detailed Itinerary for Guided Trip
Friday 13 July 2007.
There will be someone to meet you at the Toulouse Airport in the morning.
We will leave Toulouse around midday so we can get to our 2 star hotel at Tarascon just 16km from Foix in time to assemble your bikes and go for a ride later in the afternoon.
We expect some of you will have arrived a few days earlier and may want to meet us at our hotel in Tarascon.
If you have arrived early and require extra accommodation in the area we can help you there also. We can offer you hotels that are near the important climbs on the course so you can take a good look at them.
The first job will be to assemble your bike and Bikestyle Tours staff will be available to assist if you have any problems. We will organise a ride in the afternoon and then there should be time to rest up before the welcome dinner in the evening.
Our accommdation is on a half board basis, that is breakfast and evening meal.
Saturday 14 July 2007.
This morning we will leave the hotel by bike and go to Foix where we will sign on and collect our race pack and have a look at the huge Expo they have set up there.
After you have signed on and had a look around the Host Village in Foix we will return to the hotel by bike.
Our van will be there to take your race packs back to the hotel. We will oranise a ride for those who want to do some extra on the way home.
Sunday 15 July 2007.
Today you are free to do as you wish. Everyone prepares for a race in their own way so we will leave you to choose what you want to do however we will be offering a few things for you to do if you wish!
1. A ride along the first part of the course.
2. We will also be offering a ride to the Start Village in Foix.
There is a Pasta Party offered in your entry however we have decided that it would be best to have dinner at the hotel tonight. The Pasta Party is at 5.30pm and it would mean a latish evening and you’ll have to be up early tomorrow so we thought you would prefer an early night.
Monday 16 July 2007.
Today is the day you’ve been waiting for! The start is 7.00am so we will be up bright and early for breakfast and head off to the start. It won’t be long and you’ll be on your way, full of enthusiasm as you head up the valley with 8000 other cyclists. Soon after you’ll be wondering what you were thinking when you signed on for this trip and that’s how it will go through the day. Your enthusiasm will be going up and down with the mountains until you finally arrive at Loudienvielle.
The bus will drop you off at Foix and leave straight away for Loudienvielle so we can be ready for your arrival. Our accommodation is 12km from the finish and we will transport people by van as they arrive.
Tonight we will celebrate your success with a dinner and a few drinks.
Tuesday 17 July 2007.
Today the trip ends and you depart Toulouse. We will be arranging transport to the Airport.
This morning you will need to pack your bike ready to leave.
Tired but happy we hope you have enjoyed the experience and that we see you again.
What’s Included:
- Guaranteed Race Entry
- Airport or train pick-ups and returns.
- All breakfasts and evening meals are included.
- Quality Hotel accommodation. Prices are based on double/twin occupancy. Single travellers will be assigned a similar roommate.
- Expert advice (including rides)
- Transport to and from the event each day.
- Cycling guides for organised rides.
- Maps and ride descriptions.
- Mechanical Assistance.
- Tourist information on the places we will visit.
- General information on travelling in France with lots of helpful tips.
- Before the trip we provide access to a secure website containing comprehensive information to help in your preparation for the trip. We also have a forum where you can chat with people who will be travelling with you on the trips.
Features of our Client Area include information on:
- Itinerary
- Travelling In France
- Traveller’s Check List
- Preparing for Your Trip
- Travel Insurance Information
- Bikestyle Forum
- General Tourist Info
- Maps
- Mountain Profiles
- Hotel Info
You’re reading about a past BikeStyle Tours trip to the Tour de France. You can also view photos from this trip, see preliminary details of our 2008 trips, and register to receive full details of the 2008 Tour de France when they are released.
