French for Bicycle Escape, Velo Echappe International Cycling and Triathlon Tours offers cyclists and multi-sport athletes,luxurious cycling and triathlon vacations and bicycle tours to the 2006 Tour de France and the 2006 Etape du Tour.
 
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World's Finest Etape du Tour Cycling Vacation
2008 World's Finest Etape du Tour Cycling Vacation
Dates: July 3 - 7, 2008
Length: 4 days / 3 nights
Location: French Pyrenees
Level: Advanced Cyclists
Tour Starts: Pau, France
Tour Ends: Pau, France

Cost Per Person in a Double Room: $2,999.00 per cyclist
$2,599.00 per non-rider
$3,599.00 per cyclist in a Suite
$3,099 per non-rider in a Suite

Single Supplement ($US): $699.00

Welcome to our 2008 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 while also experiencing all the comfort and amenities of the Pyrenees' finest hotel, the luxurious 4-star Hotel Parc Beaumont in Pau!

From the time you arrive at the hotel, you will be in the center of all the weekend events for the Etape du Tour! The Etape Expo Village, featuring all of the Tour's sponsors, will be 5 minutes away. Also, if the Etape begins where the Tour traditionally does at the Palais des Congress in the Parc Beaumont, you will be right across the street! Thus, you won't have to worry about lengthy transfers or getting up before dawn to eat. Other highlights include nightly dinners in the Jeu de Paume Restaurant, post-Etape massage, pool, hamman, spa, and the Grand Prix Bar.

Finally, during the Etape, you'll ride on closed roads through picturesque French villages and over two of the Tour's greatest climbs, the "beyond category" Col du Tourmalet and the challenging "montee" to Hautacam, where you'll be cheered as though you were wearing the Yellow Jersey. In addition, you'll refuel at official feed zones as well as our 2 private 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!

To get an idea of what it is like to ride the L'Etape du Tour, we invite you to read the following stories from our VIP cycling guests who have joined us the past three years:

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 three 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%
  • 2007 - 99%

Here is what's included for this Etape du Tour Cycling Vacation Program:

  • Entry into the Etape du Tour.
  • Professional coaching and training program from Kent McNeill, a USA Certified Expert Cycling Coach and a 5-time Etape du Tour finisher.
  • 2 private Velo Echappe' aid stations along the Etape du Tour course on the day of the event!
  • Velo Echappe' supplied food / drinks at the finish.
  • Professional Velo Echappe cycling jersey, bibs, and socks.
  • Post-Etape massage.
  • All transfers.
  • 3 nights of hotel accommodations in the prestigious Hotel Parc Beaumont, the finest hotel in the entire Pyrenees Region.
  • All breakfasts and 3 evening group dinners with wine as outlined on the itinerary.
  • All gratuites, taxes, and fees for all hotels, meals, and porter services.
  • All daily transfers, luggage transfers, and on-road sag support in either our autobus or our Thule-equipped vans.
  • All daily transfers of bicycles both before and after the Etape du Tour.
  • All daily prepared routes with maps and cue sheets detailing each days route with each turn and its corresponding mileage. This is all outlined for you in advance.
  • Professional mechanics who will build your bike up for you, do the daily maintenance if needed, and repack your bicycle for you when the tour is finished.
  • Professional staff with a ratio of 1:6 so everyone gets the needed attention during the tour.
  • Daily supply of bottled water, fruit, cookies and other goodies to keep you fuelled on the road!
  • First aid and cell phone communications
  • Pre-departure packet detailing the entire vacation, our hotels, contact info, what to bring, how to prepare, how to pack your bike, and other essential info guaranteed to get you ready for the Etape du Tour!