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 "It's
the maddeningly best kept secret in cycling. You and I - with our
absolutely average VO2 maxes and recreational-rider-watt-per-pound
power ratios - can race the Tour de France. Just one stage, but
that's like an astronaut lamenting that he has walked on the moon
only a single time....It kicked my ass..and I loved it!"
- Bill Strickland, Executive Editor, Bicycling Magazine
and Author of "Tour de Lance." 2005 Velo
Echappe' Guest and Etape du Tour Finisher
Welcome to our 2011
L'Etape du Tour or "Stage of the Tour" cycling vacation
where you can live the dream of being a professional cyclist in
the Tour de France for one day! During the Etape, you'll
ride on closed roads through picturesque French villages and over
some of the Tour's greatest climbs where you'll be cheered as though
you were wearing the Yellow Jersey. In addition to all the world-class
cycling, you'll refuel at official feed zones while Mavic provides
the on-road support. Finally, you'll feel the elation at the "Arrivee"
when you cross the finish line, knowing that you have lived the
ultimate cycling dream of having been a part of the Tour's great
history as a cyclist....and not a spectator!
Etape
du Tour Early Registration for 2011:
The official route
for the 2011 Etape du Tour will be announced on October 19, 2010.
For those individuals and groups who would like to register in advance
so as to secure their 2011 spaces, please follow these simple directions:
- Please fill out our online Reservation
Form , check "2011 Etape du Tour" for your trip and then click
"Submit."
- We will confirm your space within 24 hours along with deposit
payment information.
- All guests, both riding and non-riding, are required to pay
a $1,000.00 deposit if they wish to secure their space.
"2 week Free Look
Period" - Upon the finalization of our Etape vacation in
late October, all guests who pre-registered will have a "2 week
free look" period where they can consider the Etape du Tour program
and decide if this is the trip they want. Since they pre-registered,
they will have first choice. If, for any reason, they want to cancel
during this "2 week free look" period, we will refund their entire
$1,000.00 deposit immediately with no questions asked. Thus, there
is no risk of losing money. Following the completion of our "2 week
free look" period, normal cancellation
policies go back into place. This has been our program
for the past 14 years with our France Pro Tour and Etape du Tour
vacations and it's worked out well for everyone involved.
What's
Included for on our Velo Echappe' Etape du Tour Program:
- 4-5 nights of hotel accommodations in either 3-star or 4-star
hotels.
- Guaranteed Etape du Tour Entry.
- All transfers to-and-from airport.
- All transfers on the day of the Etape du Tour.
- 2 private feed zones in addition to the three official
feed zones along the course.
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Post-Etape food, drinks, and snacks.
- On-site professional mechanics who help build your bike up for
you and do the daily maintenance.
- Registration Assistance.
- Velo Echappe' Full Zip Jersey and Bibs Kit.
- Mileage based training program.
- Pre-Etape logistics package with detailed route descriptions,
pre-Etape ride info, scouting report, packing list, etc.
What's not included:
- Airfare to / from France
- Lunches
- Drinks with meals and other hotel incidentals (phone, laundry,
room service, etc.)
Read
the National Stories from past Velo Echappe' Etape du Tour VIP's:
Since we started hosting
the Etape du Tour event five year's ago, no one else in the business
has received as much international press as Velo Echappe'. We're
very grateful for this and we would like to share the personal accounts
below from past VIP guests who have successfully made the pilgrimage
to the Etape. It will give you a good idea of what's in store.
After reading these first-hand
accounts, you will realize that the Etape du Tour is nothing
like a Century ride near your home. This is one day inside the biggest
and baddest bike race on the planet with all of it's beauty and
severity...and when you finish, you will have a new legend to call
your own!
For
the Record:
Over the past four years,
here is the percent of our guests who have finished the Etape
du Tour by following our training program and trip schedules:
- 2005 - 100%
- 2006 - 25% (main reason for low completion
rate was due to official feed zones running out of water early
on when the temperature exceeded 95 degrees in the Alps)
- 2007 - 99%
- 2008 - 99%
- 2009 - 82%
- 2010 - 98%
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