Etape

[Maria David]

The official announcement of this and the Tour de France route will be later today.

There is a strong rumour that L'etape du tour will be the stage from Mourenx to Pau - 160km through the Pyrenees via cols de Marie Blanque, Aubisque and Soudet.

(Didn't we do this not long ago ?)

If it's true, logistically this could be a dream - the two towns are only 20km apart so it will be as near as you're gonna get to a circuitous route, which is not usually the case in L'etape.

[Tamar]

I've heard that entries are only through big sponsorship/organisation things next year - no individual entries. Is this true?

[siwickm]

Yes, that is true Tamar. See the etapedutour.com website for details of the tour companies.

Pretty crap all in all.

Cheers

Marek...

p.s. If I can get away I will probably do the Marmotte instead this year.

[Maria David]

They don't actually say they won't accept individual entries from abroad - they are saying it would be very difficult to get hold of the entry form which is only available in Velo magazine in France (and won't be distributed outside France quick enough for us to send back our forms promptly).

That's why they say we should go via various sports companies. Remember this advice is going out to people abroad anywhere - UK, USA, Australia, Japan etc.

So if you happen to be on French soil on the last Wednesday in January there's nothing to stop you getting hold of the mag and sending off your entry individually. Yeah, so they're probably trying to curb the number of outsiders doing it and want to cut down their admin costs etc but if you really wanna do it you can get there.

[Gavin]

marmotte sounds a better option.

[Maria David]

I am leaning towards doing the Marmotte because I've not done it before and I think it has more of a mystique about it than l'Etape, which is becoming a bit of factory. (French riders aren't always that impressed with it either !)

Also if you do the Etape you don't get to the see the pros pass through until 7 days later. If you do La Marmotte (which is on a Saturday) the pros pass through the following Tuesday/Wednesday, and will go over some of the climbs that are in La Marmotte - Galibier, Lautaret, Telegraph I think. Ample time to stake your vantage point for watching them ! Entering La marmotte is easier. Looking at the web site it seems you can even enter on the day. You would probably need to get your lodgings sorted in good time though, with the Alps still being so popular at that time of the year.

Will finalise my plans in the new year.

[Gavin]

I am thinking of booking a pitch at a campsite in bourg d'oisans for 2 weeks. Like you say that means you can stay for the tour when it comes over the mountains.

I think registration starts on 04/01/2004.

Cheers

G

[sylv]

I think you should try this one instead:

http://www.wysam333.ch/index_en.html

A 207 miles road race in Switzerland

[img]http://www.wysam333.ch/photos04/04m.jpg[/img]

[Tamar]

Fantastic! I want some of that. Anyone else doing it? Anyone know what the hills will be like compared to marmotte/etape? Hopefully less climbing if doing 207 miles. Ooooh blimey. Wonder how long it will take. Wonder if I can do it??! Do I really want to do it? Will hurt lots....longest I've been in saddle before was just under 10hrs for the Vaujany....but this looks way way way way harder than that. Wotcha think? Are you considering it Sylv or did you just post it for a laugh?

[sylv]

No, it's just I got an invite in the post yesterday, and had a look at the website today. I didn't know it existed before that. But I wouldn't be considering doing it. For epic events I prefer the ones where the riding time is fixed not the distance

Hey Tamar do you fancy doing the team cyclocross on 6th Feb (see my other post)?