NEWSFLASH: Rumoured 2011 TDF Stages (with 2011 L’Etape thoughts)

A big thanks to reader Brad K for sending this in.

It looks like some 2011 TDF (and therefore L'Etape du Tour) information is starting to filter through. With just over a month until the official launch, rumours will be flying fast.

Steephill.tv has a post here about it.

Even if this is only half right, this is a WOW of a Tour. Looking at stages 16-20 (5 stages in a row of climbing), there is some epic climbing there, with the Izoard, Mont Cenis, Alpe D'Huez, Telegraphe+Galibier, Glandon and Tourmalet. Even Mont Genevre is no walk in the park.

It's pretty obvious to me what the 2011 L'Etape will most likely be. And if that's the case, accommodation will be very tight.

We won't know for sure until October, so stay tuned. As soon as we know officially, I'll be posting my thoughts on where to stay for L'Etape and the logistics around it, including how to get an entry-only to L'Etape, as well as recommending some tour companies to check out.

Just to let you all know, I'm currently writing an Etape-specific guide that will help you to not just finish, but do very well at L'Etape. If I am right about the 2011 Etape, it's going to be brutal, and I don't want those of you attempting it to have a horror day like I did in 2010.

I don't want you to just survive this thing, I want you to best it. Stay tuned for that, but if you want to get an advanced discount, sign up to the mailing list here.

Steephill.tv says:

2011 Route Rumours
August 14 update: Here's an early look at what the 2011 route may look like according to our France correspondant, Colin Flockton.

1- Sam 2/ Noirmoutiers – Mont des Alouettes
2- Dim 3/ C.L.M. aux Essarts
3- Lun 4/ Olonnes – Redon
4- Mar 5/ Lorient – Chateaulin
5- Mer 6/ L'Aber Vrach' – Saint-Brieuc
6- Jeu 7/ Dinan – Lisieux
7- Ven 8/ Alençon – Tours
8- Sam 9/ Tours – Limoges
9- Dim 10/ C.L.M. au lac de Vassivière
10- Lun 11/ Limoges – Saint Flour avec Néronne (2C), Pas de Peyrol (1C), Perthus (2C), Lioran (3C), Prat de Bouc (2C)
Mar 12/ repos au Lioran
11- Mer 13/ Aurillac – Lavaur
12- Jeu 14/ Toulouse – Luz-Ardiden avec Aspin (1C), Tourmalet (HC), Luz-Ardiden (HC)
13- Ven 15/ St Gaudens – Limoux avec Larrieu (3C), Port (2C), Montségur (2C), Saint-Benoit (3C)
14- Sam 16/ Carcassonne – Nimes
15- Dim 17/ Nimes – Dignes
Lun 18/ repos
16- Mar 19/ Dignes – Risoul avec Allos (1C), Vars (1C), Risoul (1C)
17- Mer 20/ Embrun – Pinerollo avec Izoard (HC), Montgenèvre (2C), Sestrière (1C), PraMartino (2C)
18- Jeu 21/ Pinerollo – Col du Lautaret avec Mont-Cenis (HC), Télégraphe (1C), Galibier (HC)
19- Ven 22/ Bourg d'Oisans – L'Alpe d'Huez avec Grand Cucheron (2C), Glandon (HC), L'Alpe d'Huez (HC)
20- Sam 23/ C.L.M. Grenoble – Chamrousse (HC)
21- Dim 24/ Provins – Paris