Social Riding L’Etape du Tour 2019

From novice to euphoric finisher and how to just get by with an unbalanced work life routine…

I wasn’t a cycling fanatic. Cycling was not my #1 passion. Hell, in the old adage of “how many bikes do you need = n+1”, well I only had one bike, so I was obviously a complete novice. Yet I’d signed myself up for the 2019 L’Etape du Tour – 135km and 4563m of ascent! What was I thinking?  

Really, what was I thinking? 

After being the essential support crew for Pete and friends in previous years, I was thinking it was about time I got a piece of the action. I’d seen the post-race ecstatic jubilation on the faces of those who had finished. I’d been carried along the wave of post-race dissection: every climb, every turn, every feeding station, the spectators, the water fountains, the grinding gears, the screeching breaks, the sweat, the cramps, the “there for the grace of god…”.

I wanted some of that.

I was under no illusion that this would be a breeze. This event was for the elite, for those that for whom cycling is either a way of life, or for those who had the discipline to put in the time and effort required to train.  I was neither. I work long hours, in an office, usually away from home.  That is my way of life. But my #1 passion is the mountains, and with years of mountaineering experience, where shear grit and determination get you through, I knew I had it in me to do it.  Maybe not in style, but I would do it.

And the Etape is the event to make it happen.  I cannot praise enough the organisation and the support.  From the pre-event preparation: the regular emails, the L’Etape App complete with training plan (which obviously I didn’t make time to follow!), the Etape village, and the free camper van parking; to the race day support: the wave organisation, the encouragement from the Etape Champion riders, the wonderful volunteers, and the enthusiasm right up to the very end as the last rider came through to claim their finisher’s medal.

And this year was made even more special, by being accepted as a Social Rider.  What an honour, to be able to share the experience and to meet fellow riders from Australia, Thailand, California, UK, and Brazil to learn from their experiences, their training plans, their race day plans, and to make new friends.

And my lasting memories of the day?

• The butterflies in my tummy and nervous chatter as we wait for our start wave to depart.
• The smell of freshly laundered kit as we leave Albertville behind.
• The relief when I finally start to over-take people instead of constantly being over-taken.
• The joy of reaching the first summit, the Cormet de Roselend (1968m), with a little time to spare before the Broom for a snack.
• The awesome descent down to Bourg Saint Maurice, reaching my top speed of 72kmp. Yes, this is what it’s all about!
• The dizziness down the switchbacks from Notre Dame du Pre (Cote du Longefoy, 1189m), thankful for my disc brakes.
• The support of fellow riders as we battle our way up to Val Thorens, “keep going Laetitia, you can do it”.
• The anguish I see as riders crumple on the road side with heat exhaustion.
• The determination that I will not be one of them, that I will make it.
• The final 500m of brutal ascent, the Flame Rouge, to that glorious yellow carpet and the finishing line (2365m). The very same finish line that the Tour de France’s professional riders would cross in just six days time deciding the champion of the 2019 Tour.
• The encouragement of the spectators willing me on, “You’ve got it, you can do it, not far to go, you’re amazing”.
• The punching of the air as I cross the line, with not much punch more of an OMG I did it, I can’t believe it.
• The immediate thought of sign me up for the next one, that was amazing, I must do more training next time!!

Series - l'Etape du Tour 2019

1. L’Etape du Tour 2019
2. A Break in the Training
3. Steady Away
4. l’Etape Course 2019
5. Social Riding L’Etape du Tour 2019
6. L’Etape Social Riding to Nîmes