L’Etape du Tour 2010: suggestions
Ok, so after last year's D-E-B-A-C-L-E – read more here – I thought I'd save you the hassle and lay my thoughts down for the 2010 edition. I am a hardcore logistics man and hate stuffing about, so trust me on this. If you are travelling with team support (wife, husband, girlfriend, whatever) then IGNORE ALL THE BELOW ADVICE about transfers.
Before I go on, do yourself a favour and grab my complete Guide to Cycling Through France. It is over 70 pages of thoroughly researched info and advice that covers all the details.
The Course
The course looks SICK. Harder than last year. No question, if you haven't already done L'Etape, and you're thinking about it, think no longer. DO IT.
The Etape is SERIOUS fun, and every hardcore cyclist ought to consider putting it onto their bucket list.
For me, I'm probably going to fly into Barcelona, and shack up in Pau for 10 days and just ride around the Pyrenees.
Sounds tough.
Logistics
Here's the rough route that I mapped from the profile. Got it? Rough route.
Anyway, here's how I see it.
You need to get your car to the finish line, or have someone waiting. This presents difficulties, if you are travelling without team support.
Unlike the 2009 edition, which took a circuitous route around the Geant de Provence, allowing us to park in Maulacene and ride backward along the course until we hit the pack, this is pretty much a straight line, which means you're going to need either team support (*cough, girlfriend/partner/wife/husband*), book as part of a tour, or, God forbid, use the official transfer.
The timing is again woeful from the organisers. Fancy putting it on the same day as a high mountains stage. Terrible.
Team Support
If you have team support, it's simply a case of them going to the end point the night before without you, or, leaving town the day of L'Etape.
If you take the latter option, ensure your team support is well clear of town before 5AM. This thing is serious business and gets rolling early.
Part of a Tour
This is going to cost you extra money, you can probably take the entry fee and double it, and this will cover you for accomodation and transfers etc. The preferred option if you don't have team support.
L'Etape official Transfer
Avoid. At all costs. I'm serious.
Links:
L'Etape Official Site
Le Tour Parcours
Profile. Awesome.
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