Etape 2008 - anyone planning to do it?

[Dombo]

Profile is here: http://www.letapedutour.com/2008/ETDT/p ... rcours.htm

Have put my name down. Anyone else planning to do it? Looks deceptively tough - steady climbing all the way to Tourmalet.

[Keith]

I fancy a go.

Anyone know the best way to get an entry (preferably without a "tour package")?

I've looked at the route and a sensible place to stay would seem to be in Lourdes. Get the train to the start in Pau, and it's mostly downhill from the finish in Hautacam. I've just made a (cancelable) reservation at the Ibis hotel in Lourdes for the 5th & 6th July.

[Keith]

Blimey!

One lot are offering to put me on their waiting-list and then state "we will offer entry-only places at the price of 190 euros per place."

[Dombo]

That's what I've got. Sounds a bit toppy but apparently we non-French types have no chance of getting the official €40 entry. I've got until 5th Nov to decide.

[Keith]

I've a friend living in Paris. May well ask her to submit a Velo Magazine entry form for me & Michelle. Surely that can't be 190 Euros?

[higg]

Entry only for E190, count yourself lucky. A friend of mine inquired about doing it a year or two ago and was told not only would he have to take a 4 or 5 day package but he would also have to go on one of that companies spring training camps. (It was Feb when he asked though).

Be careful, getting an entry from France is possible if a bit of pot luck also. It's first come, first served, and apparently that copy of Velo can sell out within hours. Somebody may be able to correct me but I also heard a rumour you need a doctor to sign/stamp the entry form.

If you get hacked off with all the tour company nonsense, you could also consider the Marmotte which is probably more of a challenge this year, honestly priced at about E50 and there's a group of Addiscombe heading there at a similar time.

Mind you that area of the Pyrennes is quite nice.

Decisions, decisions ??

[Maria David]

It's not that they won't accept entries from outside of France - the problem is the logistics of getting hold of the magazine on the last Wednesday of January and returning the entry form before the 4/5 day cut-off.

And yes, on the form you are meant to have a doctor complete and sign the medical declaration.

You could always get someone in France to to scan/pdf you the form from the magazine the day it is issued and get a doctor of some shape or form to sign the declaration for you.

Otherwise, there's the package option. It might be worth looking at some of the other package companies in other countries, eg Italy or Spain and buying an entry only (or entry + bus transfer) option. They may be cheaper than package companies in this country.
Finally, see if a magazine/newspaper will let you write an article about it and they can get you a complimentary journalist/press place.

I have to admit all this seems a lot of hassle for a course that's not that interesting (even if the Tourmalet climb is from the hard side) ! What about throwing in the hard side of col Soulor for good measure ! I would expect a few more cols than that for the money, time and effort I'd spent to get there !
Maybe things will be jazzed up if they impose a 7 hour cut-off, and/or the weather turns arctic at the top of Tourmalet (as it can sometimes do).

There are a few cyclosportives to do in the Pyrenees over the summer. It may be worth checking those out too. At least one of them will go over the Tourmalet and 2 or 3 other cols as well.

La Marmotte's the same weekend as L'etape, so I think that's where I'd rather get my col fix !


Maria
2wheelchick.blogspot.com

[huw williams]

Agree with Maria.

Marmotte is a better ride - much less stresful entry and we've already got provisional bookings for King of the Mountains hotel

Sign yourself up Keith

[Hal]

Its virtually flat, only one main climb

Yeah the etape is good once you get all the hastle of getting entered sorted, closed roads are very nice.

However like maria I would recomend the marmotte, much more hard core and less hastle to enter. Although I did have a few hastles with cars on some of the later sections, just too many cars and too many bikes.

Hal

[Marek]

Keith, do the Marmotte. I have yet to sort anything out yet, but will try and get a group together. This will be going over many of the cols of this years tour, think it is stage 17. You have the Galibier and Alpe D'Huez to contend with which are great climbs.

I am going to try and see if I can get a week in the area so that I can do some of the events leading up to the Marmotte. Need to clear it with the management. If your interested let me know and I will see if I can get something booked up in the next month or so.

Entry is cheap and easy, you can even sign in on the line for the Marmotte.

Cheers

Marek...