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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 2012
L'Etape du Tour or "Stage of the Tour" Cycling Vacation!
To begin, our unsurpassed VIP program is based at the NICEST
hotel in Albertville, the 3-star Hotel Million, where you will be
based for three nights with a full breakfast and dinner program.
The owners at the hotel have a long history of taking care of cyclists
so you will be very well taken care of. In addition, you will be
supported by an experienced staff that has been taking care of cycling
guests for over 15 years and can offer the very best guidance, direction,
and care.
On the day of the Etape
du Tour, you are literally only minutes from the "Grand
Depart." Almost all of the other tour groups, even the
"Official Etape du Tour Companies," will be staying 40
- 90 minutes away. Not Velo Echappe. As a result, you don't have
to worry about any early morning transfers at 5:00 am or rushing
through breakfast or forgetting some essential item in your room.
You will be able to relax and ride to your start cage and be ready
to go with no stress. To aide in your preparations, Albertville's
finest pro bike shop is only a couple of blocks from the hotel!
From our hotel, you will
ride the hardest alpine mountain stage of the 2012 Tour de France
on closed roads through picturesque French villages and over some
of the Tour's greatest climbs in the French Alps such as the Col
de la Madeleine and the Col de la Croix de Fer 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
plus our 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 in La Toussuire, 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!
Along with all
of the adventure of riding the Etape du Tour, your vacation will
also include cycling up the famed 21-switchbacks of L'Alpe d'Huez
where you'll feel the presence of all the past cycling greats such
as Coppi, Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Lemond and Armstrong!
In addition to all of the world-class cycling, you will enjoy relaxing
each evening in the region's finest hotels where you will be able
to unwind in style and refuel for the next day's ride with specially-prepared
dinners handcrafted by the hotel's chefs. As past guests will tell
you, there is no greater place to be in July than on the legendary
roads of France where we guarantee, with this VIP Etape du Tour
and L'Alpe d'Huez Vacation, you'll create a new legend all your
own!
Read
the National Stories from past Velo Echappe' Etape du Tour VIP's:
Since we started hosting
trips to the Etape du Tour in 2005, 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 most challenging bike race on the planet with all of it's beauty
and severity...and when you finish, you will definitely have earned
a place in the history of the Tour!
For
the Record:
Over the past 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%
- 2011 - 99%
Our
VIP Etape du Tour and L'Alpe d'Huez Vacation Includes:
- Guaranteed 2012 Etape du Tour Entry. For your
entry, we suggest that you purchase them online
through ASO's website since they are less expensive.
If ASO runs out and you have to buy them through us, the cost
is 200 euro (the same price as the official Etape operators).
- 2 private feed zones on the day of the Etape along with the
three official feed zones.
- Accommodations in Velo Echappe' 3-star and 4-star selected properties.
- All transfers.
- All breakfasts and dinners every day. .
- All gratuities, taxes, and fees for all hotels, meals, and porter
services.
- Daily cycling on either selected routes detailing the best roads
of each region or on official race routes from the past and present
that are simply legendary!
- All daily transfers, luggage transfers, and on-road sag support
in either our autobus or our Thule-equipped vans.
- All daily transfers of bicycles in our custom-fitted bike truck
so your bike won't get scratched or damaged.
- 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.
- Professional Velo Echappe Cycling Jersey.
- Daily supply of bottled water, fruit, cookies and other goodies
to keep you fueled on the road!
- Cell phone communications
- Pre-Tour Information Packet that will be sent out to you in
advance detailing each day's program, hotel info, sponsor info,
what to bring, how to pack, etc. so you're fully prepared before
you leave home.
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