It may be of interest to share a decision, perhaps imprudent, to register (with Sportive Breaks) for the Etape du Tour in Nice on 5th July next year. If others have done the Etape in previous years, any advice would be welcome.
I had assumed that such a venture was out of reach for a club rider of my standard. What gave me the idea that perhaps I could, was doing the Chiltern 100 this July. That was 161km with 2,380m of climbing, which isn’t so much easier than this year’s Etape - 177km with 3,600m of climbing.
From previous rides in the Alps and Pyrenees, I know I can manage the climbs on the Nice Etape quite comfortably, at my own pace. What I’m less sure of is whether I can do them at the pace required to meet the 10-hour total and the intermediate time cut-offs. The Chiltern 100 took me 8¼ hours, so it may be tight.
However, I rode it on a wettish day and spent a leisurely 65 minutes on feed stops. Nice will probably be dryer, with smoother broader roads, more drafting opportunities and no motor traffic. Also, I will do more preparation and have a sharper focus.
Anyway, my wife wants to spend time in Nice and go walking in the Cevennes afterwards, so it won’t be a wasted journey even if I am swept up by the broom wagon!
@chriswilkes
It may be of interest to share a decision, perhaps imprudent, to register (with Sportive Breaks) for the Etape du Tour in Nice on 5th July next year. If others have done the Etape in previous years, any advice would be welcome.
I had assumed that such a venture was out of reach for a club rider of my standard. What gave me the idea that perhaps I could, was doing the Chiltern 100 this July. That was 161km with 2,380m of climbing, which isn’t so much easier than this year’s Etape - 177km with 3,600m of climbing.
From previous rides in the Alps and Pyrenees, I know I can manage the climbs on the Nice Etape quite comfortably, at my own pace. What I’m less sure of is whether I can do them at the pace required to meet the 10-hour total and the intermediate time cut-offs. The Chiltern 100 took me 8¼ hours, so it may be tight.
However, I rode it on a wettish day and spent a leisurely 65 minutes on feed stops. Nice will probably be dryer, with smoother broader roads, more drafting opportunities and no motor traffic. Also, I will do more preparation and have a sharper focus.
Anyway, my wife wants to spend time in Nice and go walking in the Cevennes afterwards, so it won’t be a wasted journey even if I am swept up by the broom wagon!