L'Etape du Tour

The 2013 Etape du Tour will take place in Annecy on 7 July 2013. Unlike the last few years, there will only be one Etape in 2013. On Sunday the 7th of July 2013 it is your opportunity to ride a stage of the 100th Tour de France from Annecy to Annecy Semnoz. This Etape will be ridden by the Pros two weeks later on Saturday the 20th of July.

Etape du Tour Travel Packages

Our Etape du Tour travel packages consist of:

• The option to buy a guaranteed entry to the 2013 Etape
• A choice of hotels in the Etape start town - Annecy
• Return airport transfers for you and your bike
• Bike storage at your hotel
• Assistance of Sports Tours reps and mechanics
• Access to our Etape training updates
• Years of Etape experience
• UK bike transport options (see below)
• Etape training camps (Available at extra cost)
• Payments are financially protected by ABTA

We will be offering a number of different Etape packages, together with an optional entry into the Etape du Tour 2013. By taking a packaged tour to the Etape du Tour, you will benefit from our wealth of logistical experience in taking people to this special event.

In addition, we are offering the option to take part in Gran Fondo La Marmotte on the Saturday 6 July which is the day before the Etape. Why not do 2 of cycling's ultimate events in one weekend!

Plus, we have a special offer with our training camps. Book a place on one our camps at Albir Gardens or Skipton for Spring 2013 and you can book an Etape 'entry only' place for £160. Availability is limited, so you must book quickly to guarantee your place.

Etape du tour bike transport option

We are also offering a UK Bike transport service, where we take your bike from the UK down to France for the Etape. This has the advantage of:

• Guaranteed delivery of your bike, as opposed to leaving it in the hands of the airlines
• No dragging around of your bike at the airport
• Convenient drop off/ collection points around the UK at Edinburgh, Stockton on Tees, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Slough and London Orpington.
• Up to a week to drop off your bike to the collection points, with up to a week to collect your bike after the return to the UK.

Your bike needs to be in a bike box or in a bike bag. The cost of this service is £90 return which is cheaper than the cost of flying with your bike and paying the transfer cost at the other end too.

Please note that you will be required to bring a medical certificate with you to registration, stating there are no known reasons why you should not take part in the event.

Either ask your own doctor to complete a form or visit www.sportsmedicalcertificates.co.uk where you can enter your details for online medical certification. You must present the completed form along with your passport at the Etape registration village in order to receive your number to compete. Sports Tours International can accept no responsibility for failure to comply with this instruction, and no refunds will be given.

Etape du Tour Frequently asked Questions

L'Etape du Tour 2013 - Annecy to Le Semnoz 130km

The Etape du Tour 2013 will take place in the Alps on Sunday the 7th July 2013. Replicating Stage 20 of the 2013 Tour de France, it will start from the Alpine city of Annecy and finish at the nearby town of Le Semnoz.

It's a classic Alpine stage, taking in the climbs of the Cote du Puget(796m), Col de Leschaux(944m), Col des Pres(1142m), Mont Revard(1463m) and the final climb up to Le Semnoz(1655m). At 130km it is an attractive proposition for both the experienced cyclo sportive rider and the Etape du Tour novice.

Very Important Please be aware that the Etape du Tour is a serious cyclo sportive. It is ridden at a strong pace and if you are not quick enough, you will be swept up by the Broom Wagon on one of the climbs or even earlier, so it is important to do a lot of training in the months preceeding the event. You should be able to ride on the flat at a pace of 25/27kph (minimum) and be able to climb in the mountains at over 12/15 kph, even for the steepest sections, and your stamina really must be good enough to last the full distance. If not, you will fail to finish, which is not what you, we or the event organisers want. So, you must get yourself a good training plan or, better still, join one of our cycling training camps or spend some time training at Club La Santa in Lanzarote.

Keep an eye on our website where, from January, we will publish our Etape training plan to give you a hand.

For more information about the event itself, visit our Etape du Tour frequently asked questions section.