As preparations and media coverage for the Tour de France hot up in the professional world, hundreds of amateur cyclists are preparing for their own tour challenge, the 237km Etape du Tour from Limoges to St. Flour.
The race takes in the 1589m Col du Pas de Peyrol with it’s final 2km of Puy de Marie at 17%. Andy Waterman has already been and ridden the course and his verdict? It’s a “real killer”. You can see a profile of the challenging course on this page.
Among those preparing are several of our own RCUK members, all of whom have varying degrees of experience and different expectations of the race. Here’s who they are, what they’re riding and how they’ve been preparing for the big day.
Profile: Maurice has won three British titles raced on the Belgian 6-day circuit between 1977 and 1984. He retired from competitive cycling in 1984 after a serious racing accident.
In 1987 he took over De Ver cycles and is now both an RCUK member and advertiser on the site. His career achievements include: British Junior Sprint Champion 1973, British Senior 20km Champion 1974, British Team Commonwealth Games 1974, British 4km Team Persuit Champion 1975, 4th, European Championships (Madison ) 1980.
Training: Maurice has been putting in the miles including a London-Oxford-London ride with him and 2 mates last Sunday in 8 and a half hours including a stop for tea!
Good luck to all fellow Etapers and especially the i-team squad.
Profile: Adrian hails from Chorlton in Manchester, he’s 6’3′ and 78kgs “too big for mountains, too skinny for sprints”.
Dura Ace seat post, Flight Evolution 3 carbon saddle.
Past record: Etape 2003, 7hours 50 mins – silver; Polakdot challenge grandfondo 2004, 6 hours exactly.
March, 10 days in Majorca doing 1,000 kms after which I had a six week lay off; I’ve done 1,400kms getting back on the bike.
climbing – Cat and Fiddle etc. I’m doing rides up to 160km max at the moment and if the week goes to plan (like it ever does!) then I should have done this: 3 weekday evening rides of 50 to 60km, interval sessions most lunch times and a 100 and a 160km at the weekend.
training have been a test in will power, everything seemed harder and slower than ever. But it seems to have come together with a good time in the Polkadot chalenge.
Training: “Of course my training hasn’t been quite as planned – best intentions and all that. It was going quite well until I went to the States on business for ten days and spent a few days with my sister who led me astray. In short I did ‘a bit of an Ullrich’ – picture is of me ‘carbo-loading’ in the Outback Steakhouse.
“Up ‘til now the hardest thing I’ve done was the Wight Diamond Challenge at the end of May: 7hrs/5hrs mountain bike orienteering. I came 4th in my class which was OK and it gave me a good chance to try out hydration and eating strategies. It wasn’t 150 miles, but it did include some reasonable climbing and some serious puncture repair practice – two flats!
Aim: The main point of going is to have fun and – well basically to enjoy the day. So this year the triple chainset is definitely coming.
Training: “Hows it going? Not as planned! Combination of not getting confirmation of my place till late and seeing a sports physio for an injury, sustained late last year and left untreated till March, has left me short – race and mileage wise.
Training: “Approx 10 hours per week, starting in December last year. Mixture of some gym work, long training runs, some surrey league RRs and evening events and a few MTB enduro and XC races. A big thanks to my wife Anne for all her support during this time.
If you’re doing the Etape and want to add your profile then mail us, with ‘Etape du Tour’ in the subject line.
Don’t forget to attach your photo!