The big miles have been piling up for weeks. Rain or shine, the future participants have been grinding away with one target firmly in their sights: overcoming one of the top cyclosportive events in Europe. Some have turned it into an annual pilgrimage, while others look forward to their baptism of fire, but they are all buzzing with anticipation. On 6 July, they will line up on the roads of the Alpes-Maritimes between Nice and the Col de la Couillole for the start of the 32nd edition of L’Étape du Tour de France. Two weeks before the Tour de France peloton contests stage 20, the penultimate stage of the Grande Boucle, the 14,000 cyclists expected to take the start will roll out of Nice for a 138 km journey through the jaw-dropping landscapes of the Alpes-Maritimes hinterland. A one-of-a-kind day lies ahead, with the joy of riding on these roads entirely closed to traffic under maximum safety conditions —the Tour de France experience for everyone, under the same conditions as the stars of the peloton, which will be racing over the same roads two weeks later.
It will be a brutal affair, with an altitude gain of 4,600 metres. The hairpin bends of the category 2 col de Braus will provide the first challenge of the day, a 10 km ascent at an average gradient of 6.6%. A plunging descent to Sospel will then take the riders to the slopes of the category 1 col de Turini (20.7 km at an average gradient of 5.7%), which has made four appearances in the Tour de France since 1948, when Louison Bobet was the first rider to go over the top.
Next up is the Vésubie Valley, the route winding through Roquebillière and Saint-Martin-Vésubie before tackling the category 1 col de la Colmiane (7.5 km at an average gradient of 7.1%), where the Slovenian Primož Roglič claimed a Paris–Nice stage in 2021. Some will probably feel the lactic acid pooling in their legs by this point, but the beauty of the villages in the Mercantour National Park, with their old dark red stone houses, will reward the field for its previous efforts… and provide the energy it needs to reach the finish after one final climb. A 15.7 km grind at an average gradient of 7.1% awaits on the category 1 col de la Couillole, first snaking through the gorges before opening up to stunning panoramas as the pack inches forward on the road to deliverance, joy and that long-awaited finisher’s medal.
Loyal partners deliver ever more services
True to L’Étape du Tour de France, the partners will offer a wide range of services to all the participants. Shimano will be on hand with their expert mechanical assistance, with fixed technical support stations set up along the entire course.
Two new partners, Kärcher and Maurten, are joining the event. Kärcher will run a cleaning station at the finish to get bicycles gleaming again using their mobile cleaning solution. As an official supplier to the event, the sports nutrition brand Maurten (gels, powders and energy drinks for athletes) has put together a nutrition guide to support all the participants in the final days of their preparation, up to the big day and post-event recovery. Maurten is also marketing a pre-order race pack on its website dialled for the gruelling course of the 2024 L’Étape du Tour de France.
Hutchinson relaunches the “HerOwnStory” operation
Fourteen women will be on the start line of the 2024 L’Étape du Tour de France, wearing Hutchinson colours to highlight the diversity and inspiring stories of women for whom cycling has played a transformative role. Created in 2022 with the aim of promoting cycling for women, Hutchinson’s #HerOwnStory operation aims to recruit an all-female amateur team, prepare them “like the pros” and support them throughout the year so they can take on the challenge of this iconic cyclosportive event in style. The operation also sets the scene for a frank and open conversation about the obstacles they face, encouraging women to come together, claim the space they deserve, and share their stories worldwide to raise awareness and achieve parity in the sport.
Tips from Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France
“L’Étape du Tour de France holds a special place in our hearts because it brings the Tour de France experience to all amateurs. The 138 km course stretching from Nice to the col de la Couillole will be packed with sensational emotions —and a massive effort— for pro riders and L’Étape du Tour participants alike. Watch out: although the distance seems reasonable compared to previous editions of L’Étape du Tour, pacing is going to be crucial. The 4,600 metres of altitude gain and the ascent of the four mountain passes on the programme require good preparation. The gorgeous landscapes will reward the riders for all their efforts. Good luck, everyone, in the final weeks of training.”
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