2016 Etape du Tour - Megeve to Morzine - October recce

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1 2016 Etape du Tour - Megeve to Morzine - October recce 2016 Etape du Tour - Megeve to Morzine Sports Tours International are official travel partners fo the 2016 Tour de France and the 2016 Etape du Tour. We are pleased to offer travel packages with lots of options to our customers. We welcome all nationalities Spectators are welcome on our free spectator trip on Etape du Tour day You will know in advance where you will stay as we advertise hotel names The option to buy a guaranteed entry to the 2016 Etape du Tour at only 100 Hotel and support packages to suit all budgets A choice of residences in Megeve, the ideal place to stay as it is the location of the event EXPO, registration and the start Self drive in Sallanches, St Gervais, Praz sur Arly, Combloux and Morzine Transfer back from the finish (Megeve only) Early breakfasts on Etape du Tour day Dedicated feed station for Sports Tours International customers Airport transfers for you and your bike from Geneva airport which has by far the best choice of flights (Megeve only) We provide transfers from Geneva airport to connect with all direct flight options from the UK and Ireland Shuttle back from Morzine to your hotel in Sallanches, Praz sur Arly, Combloux and St Gervais on Saturday afternoon for self drivers to park your car at the finish. (Self drivers only) Transfer to the start (Sallanches and Morzine only) Secure bike storage at your hotel or residence Assistance of Sports Tours reps and mechanics including a race briefing Etape du Tour goodie bag Etape du Tour training plan every month from January 2016 A Sports Tours International cycling jersey Payments are financially protected by ABTA Experienced Cyclo-Sportive rider and Sports Tours International cycling guide Ed Nicoll rode the route of the 2016 Etape du Tour at the end of October straight after the route was announced on October 20th. We thought we'd get our recce in before the snow comes.

2 Ed has done the Time Megevé Mt Blanc sportive on 3 occasions, 2 x Raid Alpine, Route des Grandes Alps, 3 x Cent Cols Alps, Passports des Soleil, MTB Worlds at Les Gets, which are all around this area so Ed is quite familiar with the riding in this region. Read more about Ed Nicoll here. Ed's day riding the 2016 Etape du Tour I stayed in Combloux at 11km from Megeve overnight. Hotel staff said that within a few hours of the Tour & Etape being announced on Tuesday, that all hotels in Megeve, Combloux and St Gervais were booked out for July within a few hours. After an early breakfast I started to ride the route at 8am. Temp Etape du Tour GPX file* *Please note that this is the route as we think it will be and it is not the confirmed route. The confirmed route will be announced at a later date. The start will be at The Palais Sport & Congress in Megeve. This is a big sports complex with indoor ice rink, swimming pool etc. There is a large carpark for the expo and the registration. In July there is usually a huge international equestrian Grand Prix event on the same site. This is why the Etape date was moved from its usual date which would have been the 17th of July so the week after. When we stayed in Megeve during the Raid Alpine, the road to the hotel was used for coach/hgv/horse box access to the carpark. Near to the start at only 5 minutes there is an area to park the Sports Tours International coaches for those customers who are staying in Morzine and Sallanches. All customers staying in St Gervais and Combloux can easily ride to the start. to the start the Intermarché carpark at Demi-Quartier could be used for coaches so they can turn round & deposit riders. This is only a 5 mins ride to the start. The first 10km of the ride is downhill to Flumet, direction Albertville. There was tunnel work on the route up to the Col de Aravis so I couldn t get through & so had to return back to Megevé & drive around to Scionzier and pick up the course from there. As I know the Col des Aravis and Colombiere very well from riding them previously, there are some notes on this climbs below.

3 Col des Aravis From the small village of Flumet the climb up to the summit fo the Col des Aravis is about 12 kilometers long. In these 12 kilometres you will gain just 600 metres of altitude. Flumet sits at about 900m of altitude. The first section from Flumet to La Giettaz is relatively flat. It is after this small village that the real climbing starts. No more trees to protect you from the sun. At the top you will descend so make sure that you protect yourself from the potentially chilly wind on the way down. The descent will bring you to the ski resort of La Clusaz and then le Grand Bornand in the Haute Savoie department. Col de la Colombiere Another favourite climb of both the Route des Grandes Alpes and the Tour de France is the Col de la Colombiere which sits at 1618 metres of altitude. The climb is just under 12km long with just short of 700 metres of altitude gained in this climb. This emans the average of this climb is 6% but there are sections of 12%. This Col links Le Grand Bornand to the Vallee de l'arve. It is said that the climb up to the summit fo the Colombiere is 'easier' from the Gran Bornand side than from the other side. As you are already at more than 900 metres of altitude in Le Grand Bornand, 'just' 700 metres of climbing need to be done from there. The last kilometres do have sections of up to 9%. Col de la Ramaz The ride over to Mieussy past the Pont de Diable is relatively straight forward before the third major climb of the day which is the Col de Ramaz. An average of 8% and part of the Raid Alpine. This was also closed! However I rode up anyway & managed to get through the road works after speaking to the workmen. The descent takes you through the ski village of Le Praz de Lys. There will probably be a feed zone here. There is easy access from there to Morzine D902. From Praz de Lys there is a long descent to Taninges.

4 Col de Joux Plane The Col de Joux Plane is 12km and mainly south facing so it will probably be exposed and hot as there is very little shade. The summit sits at 1700m. There is a plateau by the lake with another 2km undulating section before a very fast narrow, alpine descent into Morzine. Morzine Morzine is very popular in summer with Down Hill MTB s. Big MTB social scene! The finish is probably around by the Tourist Office, square. Local bike shops in Morzine and es Gets are very MTB orientated. There is a good road bike shop Culture Velo in Sallanches by the Ibis Budget. Next year s Etape will be equally challenging as 2015 in both terms of distance & elevation. Riders need to be well prepared.

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