L'Etape Du Tour 2010
The etape du Tour 2010 will take place on 18th July from Pau to Col du Tourmalet - 174km of the finist biking challenge you could wish for . For more info on the route see www.letapedutour.com
It will be 100 yrs since the tour took to the high mountains for the first time. It was during that tour that Octave Lapize became the first Tour rider to scale the famous Col Du Tourmalet. He was on a single speed bike. I dont think there will be many trying it on a 12kg single speed bike in 2009. Perhaps there may be one. That the great thing about the etape you get to bike with people of immense character...see my reference below. Perhaps there will be a Octave Lapize in the race . I am sure there will be.
Many epic rides have taken place on this col since then, including many an etape rider. The route for the 2010 etape has to be one of the most exciting routes that the etape organisers have arranged for the riders in recent years.
Before we mention anymore about the 2010 race its nice to reflect on last two years , not forgetting those who rode the etape with us in 2006 and 2007 , two more great etape years.
In 2008 many of our own etape riders got to rider this col from the Bagneres side. If you visit the photo gallery below you can see many on the pre etape ride photos taken when we did on this col two days before the big ride in 2008.
The 2009 Etape Du Tour from Montelimar to Mt Ventoux was an epic day for all our etape du tour riders.
As always our riders put in a great performance. It was very pleasing for us to see so many achieve their dream of riding a stage of the Tour along with 9500 others.
Every year we have some great personal performances. Sometimes we have some husband and wife teams .This year it was the turn of a Father, Daughter , Son combination. All three finished. What next?. Who knows.
In 2008 we had thirteen ladies in our group with three finishing in first 10. One finished 2nd , another 3rd and another 10th .
Perhaps in 2010 we will have a first?.
In the etape du tour cyclists get an opportunity to appreciate how
elite the tour riders really are, something those who watch it from the roadside
or on TV can never full appreciate.
The etape du tour is an experience of a lifetime for any cyclist. For
me personally as well as the experience of riding this prestigious event
meeting a guy with only one leg on the first col of the 2007 race
was a moment I will always remember .. The thought that went through my
head as I passed him, patting him on the back (a gesture he acknowledged)
was.."What a privilege it was to be biking with a person of such
character" .Thus if I was to sum up what I like about this race is
that... the etape du tour is an event in which cyclists of great
character both male and female, of all ages get to bike together on a typical
Tour de France stage.....and most of all what a privilege to be able to be one
of them.
Long may we all have good enough health and spirit to do this and other
such events.
We would like to extend our best wishes to all those who will be travelling with us this year and previous years.
Many have been travelling with us since we first started taking groups to the etape in 2006.
I have had the pleasure of biking with most over the last few months and look forward to biking with you all again in both Ireland and in France.
If one wished to ride the 2010 edition then early booking is advisable.
We will be based in Argeles-Gazost for a full week of biking. From here one is within a few km of many of the famous climbs of the Pyrenees, including the Col du Tourmalet, col du Soulor, col d'Aubisque, Hautacam and Luz Ardiden. As you will see from the route profile Argeles Gazost is also on the route.
Places are filling up fast. For more info on packages available send an email to soleary@trail-seekers.com
TO SEE PHOTOS OF 2008 Etape CLICK HERE
Photo below is of some of those who have done the etape du tour with us.
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