L’Etape du Tour 2016
What an exciting time of year for cyclists!
Not only is it summer for the grizzled, cold Melbournites; it is the start of indoor ergo season for our northern hemisphere readers…woooot! (can I get a little woot-woot? No? Anyone?)
Oh, and also, the parcours 24th edition of L'Etape du Tour—Etape 2016— has been announced in conjunction with the 2016 TDF parcours.
I'll have a breakdown of the TDF soon including the annual Tour de France Spectators Guide including where to fly into, where to watch from and so on.Make sure you're on the mailing list to get it: velonomad.com/subscribe
For the video hipsters amongst you…
But let's have a quick look at the Etape course.
The Course: Megeve to Morzine
Etape 2016 profile
I love the area. The Megeve-Flumet-St Gervais de Bains area is so very gorgeous.
It's one of my favourite areas in the Alps.
The only thing I don't like is their undercooked hamburgers, despite asking for them bien, bien, tres bien cuis!
The course proper is hard, without being outrageous. There's only around 3500m of climbing which isn't an incredible amount but provides enough to be of interest. The day starts at 1050m which eliminates around 500-700m of climbing.
There's a downhill finish which is interesting as typically riders spend the final kilometers in a deep trough of pain as they scramble up a steep and seemingly relentless climb, often times with an unrelenting Gallic sun beating on their backs.
But, what's this? Something seems amiss with the 2016 Etape course.
What's glaring to me is the lack of a storied Alpine climb, like a Tourmalet or Arcalis (on the menu in the Pyrenees in 2015). On that, I feel a 2016 TDF Pyreneean stage might have been more epic, however it's understandable that they’ve chosen the Alps given they alternate between the two.
However, there's no escaping the fact that the chosen stage will be gloriously beautiful (weather permitting).
The climbs
I actually (and shockingly) have not climbed any of these except climbing into MOrzine Avoriaz. But I have driven up and down them a few times whilst touring the areas or transiting to Chamonix and the High Alpes.
They're certainly not easy but are not super-difficult. But, as I always say, they're only as hard as you make them. If it;s all too easy, drop down a cog and slam it.
But actually, some of these climbs are pretty tough. It might be an indication that I have lost the plot slightly when I consider 1600m climbs to be piddling little things.
The first two climbs are rather inconsequential as you start at a high altitude and stay there for half the day.
- Col des Aravis: only 500m of ascent.
- Col de la Colombiere: only 700m ascent (start at 900m) – the other side is longer and harder.
- Col de la Ramaz: 13.9km at 7.1%.
- Col de Joux Plane: 11.6km at 8.5% (yowsers).
Etape 2016 climbs
Registration
Registration is via selected tour operators or on the L'Etape/ASO website.
Race entry-only from the ASO is now sold out.
Entries this year have gone up an eyebrow-raising 33% from 75EU to 100EU.
I'll be honest with you Dear Reader: I feel as though the ASO are squeezing the punters here a bit.
In the past, the 75EU got you entry and a schwag bag including backpack, water bottle and cool tshirt.
However, it sounds like the 100EU gets you entry and that is it. You have to BUY the water bottle.
Why do I say that?
Well from next year, the ASO has introduced an eye-watering 1200EU package that makes note of the inclusion of a water bottle.
I have to say, I'd be shocked if the swag bag has been withdrawn from the base entry.
I'd be equally shocked if the 1200EU package didn't have a tshirt!
Anyway, what does the package get you:
- Transport from your point of arrival (train station or airport) to L’Etape du Tour village.
- Personalised race number distribution and a welcome gift. [Probably a God-awful French dried sausage or some-such.]
- Consultation with an osteopath before the event.
- Overnight accommodation from 9th to 10th July close to the start line, in a single room (3 or 4-star hotel), with a special “Tour de France” dinner.
- Overnight accommodation from 10th to 11th July in a single room (3 or 4-star hotel) close to the finish line.
- Consultation with an osteopath/massage after the event.
- Transport from your accommodation to your point of departure (train station or airport).
As I mentioned the 100EU race entry-only option is sold out, so get ready to pony up for a 1200EU package or contact a tour operator. The tour operators link on the Etape website is broken, so contact Mike at Breathe Bike about their Etape packages or Bruno at CycloMundo. Quote VeloNomad when you book and tell them Tim from VeloNomad sent you.
Logistics
If you want more detail on L'Etape 16, Jump on my Etape list.
We'll cover:
- WWTD What Would Tim Do
- Getting there
- What to do before/after
- Where to stay
- Logistics
- Training
- SIM cards
- And lots more.
My insights save people time and money, plus you'll be notified as soon as the 2016 Etape du Tour Survival Guide is ready (early Dec 15).
If you'd like to get access to my planning insights from years past, you can grab one of the previous guides: 2015 and 2014.
I charge a nominal couple of $ for them as the approaches in them are repeatable each year albeit with some changes for each year. Plus a lot of work has gone into them.
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Hi
I love the way you say the first two climbs are rather inconsequential
I take it you don’t live out here and have never ridden them!
G’day Kev, thanks for the email.
Have driven them, not ridden them, so you may be right.
Would it be fair to say, compared to the Tourmalet, Ventoux or Galibier, they are rather inconsequential?
Tim
Hi Tim,
I’ve descended Avoriaz through Flumet, ascended Colombier from Grand Bornan, ascended Ramaz, ascended Joux Plane, and descended into Morzine, albeit all on different days.
And, i have to say, i think you’re under estimating just how knackered folks will be when they hit Avoriaz. Ramaz + Joux Plane will knock the stuffing out of most people, me included (yes, I’m signed up :-), and my main fear is the crashes there will be on the road down into Morzine as exhausted riders overcook it on the pretty technical descent.
But, if at the end I think to myself, damn, I feel like riding back up to Avoriaz just to get some more miles in, I’ll be sure to drop you a “you were right and I was wrong” note before I head off! 🙂 🙂
cheers, m
Howdy Matt.
You’re probably right. Maybe I just am a bit cynical, or my sense of “hard is warped.” I did the Gold Coast Three Peaks (235k/4500m) with no training in about 9 hrs so anything less than something that epic and I think “meh”.
I also ride in the hills a lot, so my sense of “hard” might be a bit out.
This does a disservice the Etape somewhat, and especially (as I pointed out) the extreme prettiness of the area.
I agree, though, most people will find it hard, ESPECIALLY without doing proper Etape training.
Tim
Hi Tim
Love your emails. I have signed up for next year’s etape (my 3rd) with a bunch of mates and as a non typically built cyclist (200cm 100+kg) I can tell you there is no such thing as an “easy” etape. I live in London so am driving down to do the etape. Actually this etape will be covering quite a lot of old ground. Over the past 3 years since I started tackling the big climbs, I have been using Morzine as a bit of a training ground making a trip out there 2 weeks before my “main events” (Marmotte, Etape x 2, and Maratona). They have an event called the Morzine Haut Chablais Master (around 150km with 3000+m of climbing) which starts and finishes with an HC climb. I can tell you now that any rider who hits the Joux Plane at the end of this ride will get BRUTALISED! It is as relentless as it is steep. And with the heat that gets generated in that part of the world in July, there will be suffering aplenty. I admit that some of the other climbs in next years ride aren’t so challenging, but they are still climbs and will take a lot out of you before the end. Also the descent from Joux Plane is very technical with lots of tight and narrow hairpins. Be warned!
Hi Andrew
Thanks for this comment and for the kind words!
I seem to have stirred up a hornets nest re: Etape 16 and my comments about it being underwhelming!
I had to add a caveat to the post that my view of “hard” is somewhat skewed given the rides I do (that is: a 10-15% climb of 2km isn’t all that imposing in our area).
Tim
Obviously there is no such thing as an easy etape but this does seem one of the easier ones of recent times. Ive done the 2010 one which included the Tourmalet in searing heat, the 2011 version which was 130 miles in freezing rain and cold in the Massif Central and last years which included the seemingly interminable Glandon and the final climb to Toussuire which wasn’t easy either. Geraint Thomas would definitely agree.
Having read write ups about the Joux Plane being tough i went and rode it last week and was underwhelmed. It doesnt seem particularly steep in many places and the main thing is the shortness of it. Etapes normally have a 15km + climb. This at 10.6k isnt long at all. It comes at the end of the day so will be tough in that respect i guess depending on the weather.
I think in the past couple of years they have been making the etapes slightly easier – gone are the 100 mile plus ones as they dont want too many people failing to make the cut. It would be nice to see them choose a longer one next year and probably in the Pyrenees too as we’ve had 2 years in the Alps now.
Excellent insights Graham – thanks for the comments.
I too did the 2010 Tourmalet Etape (as well as Ventoux 2009 and 2011 Alps) and this is underwhelming. Much like the Australian one, actually.