by Tim Marsh October 21, 2011 2

L’Etapes du Tour 2012: Etape Alpes and Etape Pyrenees!

Well, well! The 2012 Etapes du Tour have been announced, and what a doozy each one will be.

Many of you will have many questions, such as:

“Who can do Etape 2012?”

When is Etape du Tour 2012

Where is Etape du Tour 2012

How to enter Etape du Tour 2012

How to train for Etape 2012?

How to Register for Etape 2012?

Should I take my bike to Etape 2012?

What towns should I stay at?

Etapes du Tour 2012 information page

Firstly, check out the VeloNomad Etape du Tour 2012 information page – this page contains the key information and dates.

Which Etape 2012 to do?

Both Etapes in Etape 2012 look simply epic. If I was forced to choose, I'd do the Pyrenees Etape 2012. It's much longer (bang for buck) and has 2 HCs and two Cat 1s. Whilst Etape Alps has 3 HCs and a Cat 1, I'm still inclined toward the Pyrenees Etape as I love that part of the world.

However, if you can stretch the budget for both, do both!

Etape 2012 Acte 1 profile

Les Grands Cols

Etape 2012 Acte 2 profile

Looking out from the Aubisque (Eaux Bonnes side)

Cycling the Atlantic Pyrenees

Honestly, I can't think of anything more awesome than cycling the big mountains and small towns of the Pyrenees. I wrote a Guide to Cycling the Atlantic Pyrenees specifically for those interested in Cycling the Pyrenees.

That guide is definitely worth a look if you're decided on the Etape Pyrenees.

Heading up the Marie Blanque

Pierre St Martin - Hard!

Accommodation

Given the Tour will be closely following each Etape, accommodation is going to go FAST. If you want to do either Etape, and/or want to watch Le Tour, now is the time to be booking accommodation.

Watching the Tour

The Tour de France will be in the Alpes and the Pyrenees in the days following each Etape, so watching the Tour will be a cinch this time around.

Etape Alps is on July 8 and the Tour arrives in the Alps July 11, 12 and 13. This means you'll be able to see one and perhaps two Tour stages (July 11/12 for Stages 10/11) before you need to get to Pau for Etape registration on July 13.

The Pyrenees Tour de France stages will be better, as there are more of them, so you can do Etape Pyrenees, then wait for the Tour. This is what I'd be concentrating on.

Car versus Campervan

Reader Carl asks:

Campervan or accommodation, is one better, or cheaper than the other?
I'm about to release an ebook specifically on this. There are so many fors and againsts I couldn't include them all in an email.

As I replied to reader Carl, there is so much to consider in the car versus campervan question.

The Campervanning France guide covers all these questions – and more – and provides a complete breakdown of costs as well as planning, logistics and on-the-road considerations.

Check out the VeloNomad Campervanning France Guide here.

VeloNomad ebook Guide to Etape 2012

The comprehensive VeloNomad Guide to Etape 2012 ebook is available here. Last years Etape 2011 Les Deux Etapes was downloaded over 500 times so plenty of people found it useful.

In Le Etapes du Tour 2012, for each of the Etapes, I'll cover:

Le Etape du Tour 2012 – the basic facts

How to get there – the logistical considerations for each Le Etape du Tour 2012

Quick discussion on car hire and accommodation for Le Etape du Tour 2012

Where to stay for each Le Etape du Tour 2012

Google Maps showing suggested routes between destinations, which link to the maps.

Logistics on the day before, day of, and day after each Etape.

Taking your bike to Le Etape du Tour 2012.

Gearing your bike for Le Etape du Tour 2012.

Seeing Le Tour de France ®.

Key dates of Le Etape du Tour 2012.