Every year, cyclists of all abilities have the chance to be part of the Tour de France. In the "L'Etape du Tour" race for everyone, a stage of the "real" Tour de France is ridden - in the footsteps of the professional cyclists, so to speak.
L'Etape du Tour de France 2024: The route
The 32nd edition of the race will take place in 2024: On 7 July 2024, the race will start in Nice and climb a total of 4600 metres in altitude to the Col de la Couillole. The 138-kilometre route is a tough one. It is the original route that the professionals will take in the Tour de France - around two weeks later, on 20 July on the 20th stage - also have to cope with. This gives you a real racing bike feeling.
After a few kilometres in a northerly direction, the route leads to the Col de Braus and its famous hairpin bends, which offer a panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea on the horizon. After this 10-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 6.6 per cent, including some sections of more than 10 per cent, the riders descend to Sospe. Here, the Place Saint-Michel is reminiscent of the locations of great French films such as Le Masque de Fer (The Iron Mask) or Fanfan la Tulipe. But there is no time to rest here: the ascent to the Col de Turini follows. The 20.7 kilometre long mountain has an average gradient of 5.7 percent. The Tour de France has already travelled over this pass four times.
The peloton then heads into the Vésubie valley. The route then leads via Roquebillière and Saint-Martin-Vésubie to the Col de la Colmiane. This pass has a gradient of 7.1 per cent and has already been a stage finish at Paris-Nice three times. The riders have already covered almost 100 kilometres here. The route continues past the Mercantour National Park.
L'Etape du Tour 2024: The final section is not for the faint-hearted - or calves
The 15.7-kilometre climb with a gradient of 7.1 per cent at the Col de la Couillole at an altitude of 1678 m is also the final climb of the L'Etape du Tour 2024. The climb offers few opportunities to take a breather, but offers magnificent views, especially around the village of Roubion.
L'Etape du Tour 2024: Registration and prices
Registration for L'Etape du Tour 2024 has been open since 31 October 2023 at this link: https://www.timeto.com/en-GB/sports/cycling/letape-du-tour. Various packages can be booked, starting at 150 euros and going up to 1550 euros.
Maik Schröder
Editor
