Cyclists who really want to test their abilities against the pros can tackle the L'Etape du Tour, which will route them over 4 climbs on their way to a finish atop Mount Ventoux.
L'Etape du Tour, celebrating its 17th year, is a “recreational” bicycle ride that usually follows the most difficult stage of that year's Tour de France.
In 2009 that's the stage that ends on Mount Ventoux. The L'Etape cyclists will make the 107-mile bike ride on July 20, about five days before it becomes the penultimate stage of the Tour de France.
Provence
The action takes place in the heart of Provence, where the town of Montélimar will host the visiting cyclists on July 18 and 19.
This is the second time that Mont Ventoux has been included in the L'Etape. Citizen cyclists planned to ride to the summit in 2000, but organizers shut down the course after it was swept by hail and temperatures dropped to near freezing.
Of course, Mont Ventoux is open for bicycling most anytime. Many will ride to the summit or its flanks to witness the race when the peloton arrives on July 25.
But L'Etape enables the cyclists to follow the entire route of Stage 20.
Registration
In spite of this ride's difficulties, it's expected to be very popular. Registration is available in the French magazine “Velo,” but must be returned by mail in four or five days.
Organizers recommend visitors from outside of France to book an entry through authorized travel agencies that are listed on the L'Etape registration.
In the US, those travel agencies are:
Australia
Canada:
Ireland
UK
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