Etape du Tour 2015

at1withmyself

Registration complete

simonrooneyzaga

45 minute wait on the site, so registration almost (hopefully) complete!

Johnny Jukebox

Yay mine too.

Bit more expensive that I'd thought though at 100 yoyo....

del_boy13

Got mine as well. Waiting long enough

simonrooneyzaga

Booked!

simonrooneyzaga

where are people staying? looking into accommodation now.

simonrooneyzaga

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

where are people staying? looking into accommodation now.

After a swift 30 minutes hunting, I reckon finding accommodation for this is going to be more difficult than the actual event!!

del_boy13

So far

Booked flight and bike to Lyon for the 17th back on the 20th.

Hired car (may also sleep in car if accommodation is not found)

Accommodation ongoing but might have a plan B as a friend has an aunt who lives/owns a flat in the area he thinks

El Vino

We stayed here last time Etape was in this area , Hotel ibis budget Saint Jean de Maurienne, Route des Grands Prés, 73130 Sainte-Marie-de-Cuines, France

It was perfect, indoor bike storage, those odd french bunk beds where bottom bunk is a double. Right in the middle of some of the best tour climbs - Madeleine, Glandon etc. Walking distance from Train station (we got Train back to Geneva with bikes)

del_boy13

El Vino wrote: »

We stayed here last time Etape was in this area , Hotel ibis budget Saint Jean de Maurienne, Route des Grands Prés, 73130 Sainte-Marie-de-Cuines, France

It was perfect, indoor bike storage, those odd french bunk beds where bottom bunk is a double. Right in the middle of some of the best tour climbs - Madeleine, Glandon etc. Walking distance from Train station (we got Train back to Geneva with bikes)

So perfect that its booked up. Thanks for the name.

simonrooneyzaga

del_boy13 wrote: »

So perfect that its booked up. Thanks for the name.

I know L'Etape are running their own accom packages this year. I'd say between themselves and the tour operators they have everything booked up within 20k! That's the way it looks on the booking sites anyway.

We're going to go the campervan route and then follow the tour around the alps for a few days after.

del_boy13

Looked again today got a studio apartment about 25k away (30 mins drive according to Google). You really need to be careful booking as lots of the sites have nearby hotels as the crow flies which can be a couple of hours by car.

Tree Scape

I'm in, booked Seanie!

Curnode

Well Folks , Christmas has come and gone, so now the serious training plans must start to kick in ..........

Can you please advise of good upcoming sportives for Feb , March and April. These will be essential as interim targets to aim at with a view to developing the stamina and fitness levels required for later in the year.

AjSp9

Hammer and thongs till July!! Plenty climbing for the legs!! Check out Cycling Ireland for a list of Sportives local to you!! Nice long steady rides will elevation thrown in every so often! It'll go along way come Etape time. Best of luck

Curnode wrote: »

Well Folks , Christmas has come and gone, so now the serious training plans must start to kick in ..........

Can you please advise of good upcoming sportives for Feb , March and April. These will be essential as interim targets to aim at with a view to developing the stamina and fitness levels required for later in the year.

Pinch Flat

Curnode wrote: »

Well Folks , Christmas has come and gone, so now the serious training plans must start to kick in ..........

Can you please advise of good upcoming sportives for Feb , March and April. These will be essential as interim targets to aim at with a view to developing the stamina and fitness levels required for later in the year.

Orwell randonee
Mount Leinster challenge
Mick Byrne 200

All the above are hard and will test the legs. Nowhere near the climbing youll encounter on the etape, but climb as many hills as often as you can between now and July:)

bazermc

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Orwell randonee
Mount Leinster challenge
Mick Byrne 200

All the above are hard and will test the legs. Nowhere near the climbing youll encounter on the etape, but climb as many hills as often as you can between now and July:)

+1

Also SERC 3 peaks challenge, starts in Arklow usually around March time I think

at1withmyself

Entries are now open for the Etape Mumhan in Kerry, good tough route with plenty of climbing. Route looks to be the same as last year:

http://register.sportstiming.ie/ps/event/EtapeRasMumhan1

http://www.etaperasmumhan.com/

Make a weekend out of it and take in the Caha Pass and the Priests Leap on the Friday or Sunday for some extra 'torture'

Bre-head

Hi

I wonder could anyone suggest where I might look to book/buy entry to the 2015 l'etape at this late stage? Obviously missed registration by a country mile but looking into it for my husband (40th bday ambition). Have seen entries on some tour operator sites for around €200 but wondering if anywhere cheaper to look.. Or people sell their registrations if doesn't work out for whatever reason? Any advice really appreciated, thanks!

2 Wheels Good

Bre-head wrote: »

Hi

I wonder could anyone suggest where I might look to book/buy entry to the 2015 l'etape at this late stage? Obviously missed registration by a country mile but looking into it for my husband (40th bday ambition). Have seen entries on some tour operator sites for around €200 but wondering if anywhere cheaper to look.. Or people sell their registrations if doesn't work out for whatever reason? Any advice really appreciated, thanks!

Unless you did a package through the Etape themselves for the accommodation which you'll need anyway or talk to one of the Irish travel agents and see if they can do anything for you. Trailseekers might be able to advise, I think they're booked out themselves but may know some options.

Tree Scape

http://www.cyclinglocations.com/etape-du-tour-2015/

Has the route mapped out with details of the climbs....GULP

07Lapierre

https://www.facebook.com/CyclingWeekly/posts/10152697231287634

bazermc

Bring it on.

http://youtu.be/kDU69B5Iw3o

07Lapierre

bazermc wrote: »

Bring it on.

http://youtu.be/kDU69B5Iw3o

Great video and an epic climb...BUT remember, clever editing makes it look like he did most of the climb out of the saddle, which is probably not the case.

bazermc

07Lapierre wrote: »

Great video and an epic climb...BUT remember, clever editing makes it look like he did most of the climb out of the saddle, which is probably not the case.

Agree, he makes it look so easy.

Pinch Flat

That's the guts of a 2 hour climb for the ordinary joes (I.e. Me!).

My own strategy climbing the Glandon (and the remainder of the Etapes cols) was to try remain seated and limit the standing - it's uses up much more energy and should be reserved for emergencies (for example, where you might need to push up some of the steeper sections or when taking a tight switch back). Unless you're a pro cyclist - in which case, stand as much as you like....:pac:

bazermc

How is everybody getting training towards this, how many days to go, gulp dont tell me.

I am steadly increasing the mileage and getting in as much climbing done. Also did two hour spin climbing class last night, hopefully it will all help.

For the next few months am going to do;

Cycle 4 DSI lap de gaps
Micky Byrne
Wicklow 200.
Naas CC- Wicklow Peaks

Gearsofwars

I have 3 rental copies of Ride the Alps Video - Madeleine/Glandon/Croix de Fer/Mollard/Toussuire - Route Preview & Training Guide (L'Etape 2012) if anyone doing the etape this year, would like to view for free!!

terrydel

How would this compare to this year's Maratona Dles Dolomites?

del_boy13

@bazermc

Thats a nice little training plan there. I haven't looked to see how close it is but am steadily working towards it. Did the Orwell in the rain last week 2000m climbing and 120k. Was seriously thinking of wimping out but then realised that if the weather was a shocker in July I would be on my bike either way. Learnt a couple of things on that number 1 of which was that the carbon wheels don't like the rain and the swiss stop pads work but I one day of very heavy use really put a dent in them. Might need a backup set of winter training wheels bought in case of emergency.

Hoping to do the Evil in June not sure if I will be able to do it with the group on the planned day but if not will get out myself. If I can drag myself around that then I reckon I'll survive the Etape.

Only getting out to do 1 long ride a month so trying to make them count. I commute 45k round trip so using that for most of my training. Slowly dropping some weight lost 3 kgs since January and have another 3 to go. Have seen this help going up the hills and if I get to the target then I might treat myself to a new set of wheels.