L'Étape du Tour 2013

L'Étape du Tour is perhaps the sportive that is best know to the general public in Europe, thanks no doubt to the fame of the Tour de France. Each year the organisers of the Tour allow amateur riders to ride one of the actual stages of the Tour (in 2010 and 2011 there were two Étapes but none of them totally sold out and it was decided to revert to one Étape in 2013) and for many riders this is a "must ride" once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In the 100th year of the Tour de France some have been disappointed that the 2013 Étape does not contain any iconic climbs and others have complained it is relatively easy at 130km with an estimated 3,500 metres of climbing. However that seems a bit harsh as it is a far from easy challenge and the average rider will not find it easy going, especially with the regular changes in gradients. The six climbs in the 2013 Etape are: Côte de Puget (5,4 km at average of 5.8%) Col de Leschaux (3,6 km at average of 6.2%) Côte de Aillons-le-Vieux (6km at average of 4%) Col des Prés (3,5 km at average of 6.5%) Col du Mont-Revard (16 km at average of 5.4%) Semnoz (11 km at average of 8.3%) The 2013 Étape is a circular route, starting in the town on Annency and ending on the summit of Annency Semnoz, from where it is a short downhill ride back into town. This makes logistics easier, an important consideration for any Étape. Entries are expected to sell out this year so potential riders should get registering as soon after 28 November as possible.