Etape Du Tour 2017

[Amateurish]

Anyone doing this next year?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ78UPfYbYA

[loudlashadjuster]

Looks tough!

[ALawson]

Nope waiting for Marmotte places to open in November.

[HardtopManual]

I did the Etape this year and thought it was a great event. Really good atmosphere with plenty of supporters out to cheer you on. Nice route too.

However, is it just me who thinks that the route for next year doesn't look particularly interesting?

[Kawasicki]

I also think it looks a little dull.

I might do the Marmotte Pyrenees.

Might.

My wife is understandably a little put out at the thought of me spending a considerable amount of time on the bike next year.

[ALawson]

Kawasicki said:

My wife is understandably a little put out at the thought of me spending a considerable amount of time on the bike next year.

Its the "training" for these big events which is the issue, a long weekend once in a blue moon seems to be accepted. Its trying to get 8-10hrs a week in on the bike she objects to (understandable when you are working 3 days a week with 2 under 6)!

[Kawasicki]

ALawson said:

Kawasicki said:

My wife is understandably a little put out at the thought of me spending a considerable amount of time on the bike next year.

Its the "training" for these big events which is the issue, a long weekend once in a blue moon seems to be accepted. Its trying to get 8-10hrs a week in on the bike she objects to (understandable when you are working 3 days a week with 2 under 6)!

I get focused on doing a good job on the training, I then end up fit, and training with other cyclists who spend an equally daft amount of time on their bikes...which then makes me think my behaviour is normal.

[SixPotBelly]

Kawasicki said:

I also think it looks a little dull.

The course doesn't look that exciting to me either, seems to stick to the valley road until the Izoard climb, though the logistics of getting back to the start would be much, much easier than norm. It'll be downhill all the way from the finish back to Briancon. Leaving the car in Avoriaz and getting the bus back to the start the day before was a PITA last year (and it didn't help that I wasn't staying at the start itself).

That was my only Etape, but I thought it was special because of the sheer scale of it. The way the locals got behind it and came out to cheer us on was great. Though the same scale made for some busy sections and the standard of some of the riding from fellow Brit MAMILs was questionable.

Kawasicki said:

I might do the Marmotte Pyrenees.

If you're looking for an alternate don't restrict yourself to France. An Italian Gran Fondo would be well worth considering.