Details of next year's Etape du Tour have been revealed at today's launch of the 2019 Tour de France route in Paris. The 2019 Etape will follow the route of stage 20 of the Tour, starting in Albertville with a 135km course finishing with a climb to Val Thorens.

The 2019 Etape du Tour will follow a 131km route finishing at Val Thorens.
The 2019 Etape du Tour will follow a 131km route finishing at Val Thorens.

The Etape returns to the Alps for 2019. At 2365m above sea level, Val Thorens is the third-highest stage finish in Tour history and the 2019 Etape looks set to be a tough one, with some 4600m of climbing.

Three major climbs feature in the parcours. First up is an ascent of the Cormet de Roselend (1760m), which riders will crest at around the 40km mark. A long descent follows before the second climb of the day, the Cote de Longefoy.

But it's the finale that will prove the real test: the 33km climb to Val Thorens has a few short sections of flat and even downhill to offer welcome respite, but in the heat of the early afternoon it will seem a long way up to the Etape's highest ever finish line.

Logistics look a little trickier than in recent editions, with the start in Albertville situated some 60km from the finish. That's a long transfer (or bike ride) back from Val Thorens if you choose to base yourself near the start.

On the plus side, it means that accommodation may be easier to come by as entrants opt for hotel options at the start, finish or even midway points.

Here's a closer look at that final 33km climb to Val Thorens. It's a ski resort that Sportive.com publisher Joe knows well, having once nearly come a cropper in a gully on the local slopes. But come next July, it's the ascent that will test the legs of the 15,000 participants:

Bring an energy gel or two...
Bring an energy gel or two...

The 2019 Etape du Tour will take place on Sunday 21st July.

Entries will open at noon CET on Monday 29 October. An early bird price of €115 will apply until 4th November, after which the price will rise to €135. For more details and to enter, visit www.letapedutour.com.

Check out our full analysis of the 2019 Etape du Tour route.

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