Etape Du Tour 2011

Etape Du Tour 2011, from Modane Val Frejus to Alpe D'Huez;

The Etape Du Tour is an actual Stage of the Tour de France by the same organisors, ASO, on closed roads, always a mountain stage in the Alpes or Pyrenees. A Mecca for cyclists, the experience of a lifetime, one of the most difficult challenges that most cyclists will ever undertake.

With a start number of 4222, it took 40-45 minutes to cross the start line with a total of 10,000 riders under fair, sunny skies, at a cool 13c 7.a.m in the morning. This is the French Alps, the Massive Centrale, and the climgs are MASSIVE.

3 beyond category climgs ahead, the Col du Telegraphe, the Col du Galibier, 2650 metres, with a final climb up the mythical Alpe D'Huez and it's famous 21 hairpin turns.

Once out of the starting gate, its a 15km downhill to St Michael du Maurienne & a sharp left to the Col du Telegraphe with 45 kms of climbing ahead...............................

The Galibier is a punishing climb, first ridden in the Tour de France over 100 years ago. It is relentless, with many false summits, and still, Alpe D'Huez lies ahead. It is a huge relief to summit, refuel & put on a windbreaker for the long downhill ahead.

The real fun part is the almost 50 km descent all the way to Borg d'Oisans for the start of the Alpe D'Huez climb.................

Did I say Alpe D'Huez? On any one day, one of these climbs is no problem for seasoned riders but put 3 together and you have a disaster for 3,400 cyclists. Why? Because in the heat of the afternoon, with the temperature hitting 38c, that many riders did not make it, one third of the 10,000 starters...................... It is surprising that this region gets 300 days of sunshine a year, and the longest ski run in Europe of 15k starts from the top of the Glacier above, and it was HOT.

I blew up 5k from the finish, severe cramp, screaming in pain, which took half an hour to shake off before crossing the line.

To give you an idea of the weather extremes here, there were 2 Etapes this year due to it's popularity, Acte 2, Issoire to Saint-Flour, here is what happened, just 6 days later - Serial sportive rider from Down Under and friend of La Fuga, Lew Targett describes his experiences on what promised to be a beautiful ride through the Massif Central but turned into a day of survival; 210 kms with 4000 metres of climbing, a big day out.

Acte 2 was between Issoire and St Flour in the Massif Central, Now, if your cup of tea is riding in driving rain, freezing temperatures, and a relentless headwind for 210 kms then this would be the race for you.

It became pretty obvious that things were not too good when by 30 kms cyclists were abandoning and turning around. It was so bad as to be unbelievable. Unbelievably bad, a particularly bad day for cyclists in light summer gear, it was terrible.

After awhile there were more people stopped/collapsed with hypothermia/turning around, than there were riders going forward. By the first food stop at Aranches, 70 kms, 4000 riders had abandoned. Only 140 kms to go. Five climbs, Puy Mary the biggest climb, with all the ice/hail in your face, almost made for an interesting descent in the rain and fog, at least you didn’t have to worry about the other riders , you couldn’t see them anyway.
Stopped at our own foodstop midway and bumped into a couple or riders I knew, they sure looked bad, kind of a blue white colour with this unusual shaking, I hope I didn’t look as bad as them. Two guys in the Van not going anywhere. Only 115 kms to go.

Out of the 8,500 riders that started, less than 200 finished.

Then, the following Tuesday before the Tour de France did the D'Huez Stage 19 on 22nd July, 140 people had to be rescued from the Galibier in a bllzzard!

So, enough said, see you there next year, and, oh, bring a jacket......................

Chris