Who Can Do Etape
Kasper S and many other readers have written in with the following question about Who Can Do Etape Du Tour.
Should I give it a go, or wait a few years?
Absolutely! Beginners can totally smash Etape, and I am going to tell you how.
Who is Etape For
There is a perception that Etape Du Tour is for accomplished cyclists only. That's fair enough given it's usually an epic undertaking, halfway around the world for many people, and incorporating climbs that most people would never tackle.
This perception that beginners can't Tackle Etape, however, cannot be further from the truth.
Etape is for everyone! Be you a rank amateur (absolute beginner), accomplished middle level rider or high end destroyer, the Etape will welcome you with welcome arms (then chew you up and spit you out).
Hell, you can even do it with your partner on a tandem!
Tandem on the Telegraphe, Etape Alps 2011
Training and Preparation
Whilst the Etape can certainly be done by beginners and mid level riders, I highly recommend you undertake some level of training to ensure you finish it!
VeloNomad has a Training Plan developed by a professional cycling coach. You won't die if you don't train properly, but training for Etape will certainly help you enjoy your dream trip. The VeloNomad training program has been specially designed by Mark Fenner for Etape participants and is proven to work (I use it myself).
Remember, you can still finish Etape without any sort of training, so the Training Guide isn't a do or die proposition, it will however, help you become fitter and stronger in the mountains.
If you're spending a lot of time and money to go to France for Etape, it makes sense to do some training to ensure you enjoy yourself and finish, and not blow up before you finish like the guy below – the Tourmalet 2010, 8km from the end, 35 degrees.
Blown Up – Tourmalet, Etape 2010
Need more information?
Check out my 2012 Etape Survival Guide!
Here's what you get!
In Etapes du Tour 2012, for each of the Acts in the 2012 Etape, I cover:
- Le Etape du Tour 2012 – the basic facts
- How to get there – the logistical considerations for each Le Etape du Tour 2012
- Airlines, Baggage and Baggage Allowances
- Quick discussion on car hire and accommodation for Le Etape du Tour 2012
- Where to stay for each Le Etape du Tour 2012 – towns for before and after each Act of Etape 2012
- Google Maps showing suggested routes between destinations and areas to stay, which link to the actual Google Maps.
- Logistics on the day before, day of, and day after of Le Etape du Tour 2012
- Taking your bike to Le Etape du Tour 2012 – pros and cons, what bike to take, what bike bag to take and packing your bike
- Gearing your bike for Le Etape du Tour 2012
- Seeing Le Tour before and after L'Etape
- Sample itineraries taking into account each Etape and the Tour de France, and examples of what I personally would do.
- Key dates of Le Etape du Tour 2011
Support VeloNomad
A significant amount of time and effort goes into these reviews, all with the aim of helping you. As lots of readers say, I give way too much information away for nothing, and it really does take a lot of time and effort (but I do love doing it!).
If you found the site useful, and you didn’t need a SIM card or ebook, I’d really appreciate it if you dropped something in the Paypal tip jar below. Or if you’re buying something online, use one of the affiliate links below the Paypal button.
Paypal tip jar (choose your own amount)
These affiliate links provide me a small commission (2-4%) on each sale and they don’t cost you a cent extra.
Kasper, I second Tim’s excellent advice that the Etape is indeed for everyone. However, it’s much more fun to finish well than just to survive, so training properly for it would be my recommendation. If you’re going to come all the way here to ride those mythic cols I’d say it’d be a good idea to come prepared.
I did this year’s Act One with just a season of training and did pretty well, considering. However, as Tim mentioned, you will see miles and miles of carnage on the last climb or two. Don’t be part of it! Bonne Route!
Spot on Gerry. It’s way better to be powering up the last climb, reeling people in, than suffering. Even last year I suffered, even after training (but going out a bit hard).
Kaspar, check the posts on Gearing for Etape too.