Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

What is L’Etape du Tour?

L'Étape du Tour (French for 'stage of the Tour') is an organised mass participation cyclosportive event that allows amateur cyclists to race over the same route as a Tour de France stage. It was first held in 1993, and it takes place each July, normally on a Tour rest day. 

L'Étape du Tour is usually held over mountain roads in either the Pyrenees or French Alps, up climbs such as the Col du Galibier, Col d'Aubisque, Mont Ventoux or the Col du Tourmalet. Around 8,500 riders participate - many travelling from other countries to compete - and the event takes place on roads closed by the police to other traffic, with refreshment stops and medical support provided along the route.

For 2011, there will be two "Etapes". The first, on July 10, on the Modane - Alpe d'Huez stage covering 109 km, will be the shortest in history. This is the same stage the pros will ride in stage 19 on July 22. The second Etape for 2011 will actually be the longest in history, covering 208 km, from Issoire to Saint Flour in the massif central (south of Clermont Ferrand). The pros ride this stage on July 10 in stage 9 of the 2011 TdF. This is the one I will be riding on Sunday 17^th of  July.

 

The ride from Issoire to Saint Flour is going to be an epic ride through the Massif Centrale, 130 miles over French mountain roads is going to be nothing short of spectacular, yet extremely hard in the heat of France in July. It will be good to have some fear of this event and certainly to be respectful of it because it is harder than people give it credit for, (a fact testament to the broken bodies generally seen littering the road side at the back end of the race). This is not just any endurance race, you ride in fear of being swept up by the ‘broom wagon’ – or la voiture balai . The purpose of this vehicle is to follow the riders and "sweep up" those at the back of the field who can no longer continue (fallen to far back time-wise) or simply wish to retire from the race. Their numbers are unceremoniously removed and they are bundled into the back of a coach.

 There will be some spectacular climbs on this route, some of which are over 8 kilometres long, averaging over 6%. Some of them average over 8% for more than 5 kilometres. So looking at the profile relative to the gradients, it is going to be a tough, tough day, probably tougher than the Alpe d’Huez stage.

 

So if all of this makes it sound horrible…that is their intention, this stage will be one of the hardest days I (or anyone else) will ever spend on the bike, this is the truth and this truth will hopefully provide focus during training in the coming months……and hopefully it will also be by far one of the most rewarding days I will ever spend on the bike as well. So the better I prepare myself now, the more amazing the experience, which hopefully will outweigh the pain!

 

Why am I doing this?

Some 20 years ago I used to cycle regularly (mainly commuting and leisure rides), this kept me in shape and mostly satisfied my cycling needs. I often watched the Tour de France and dreamt of what it would be like to ride, but I knew deep down that the whole tour would be too much for me. Little did I know that around the same time someone came up with the idea of giving amateurs the opportunity to ride a single stage.  As time rolled on, my career and family life changed, and my bikes were all but forgotten, that is until last year, when I learnt that my older brother had just ridden the Etape for the second time. That was the spark that energised me to get back on my bike.

 

I had several challenges ahead of me, apart from the obvious day in July. Could I still ride well enough at 40 years old? Would I be able to fit in the training around my 12hr shifts for the RAC and family life? Would my knees take the strain given that they had been a cause of concern in the past? Well, a trip to a sports physio put my mind at rest over my knees…I had a muscle imbalance which needed correcting by a stretching and exercise program, but other than that I just had to build a training plan to fit in with my life and to build up gradually as if  I was starting from scratch.

 

I knew from the start that this would be a HUGE commitment and if I was going to put myself through all this pain, then someone should benefit from my efforts, ie charity….but who??

 

Just a few years ago, my father-in law, Ron, was  diagnosed with bowel cancer, and then last year my mother’s partner, Peter, was told he had liver cancer. Thankfully with the wonders of modern medicine, they have both received life-saving operations. Ron's life has returned to as near normal as possible and Peter's recovery is going exceptionally well, so with this in mind I would like to thank the Doctors and Scientists for all they have done in returning our loved ones to us and by supporting  Cancer Research in their battle against this mysterious killer.. Find out more about Cancer Research at Cancer Research UK

 

I would also like to support a lesser well known charity (even though they have been around for 160 years), the RMBI. The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution are one of the four main Masonic Charities and, in short, they provide care and support for older freemasons and their dependants, mainly in the form of residential and respite care. They currently have nearly 1000 residents with an average age of 86, in 17 homes across England and Wales, two-thirds of the residents being female. In recent years the homes have been increasing the number of specialist care places, particularly for those suffering with dementia. Our local Masonic Province are currently focusing their fundraising on this charity, aiming for a total of £1.5M by the middle of next year. Find out more about RMBI at Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI)

 

How can you help?

Obviously any charity would ask for whatever you can afford to give…. my only preference would be that you consider dividing whatever you decide to donate between the two charities; here is the link to my other page for the RMBI

 

http://www.justgiving.com/Lindsay-Taylor-Haynes0

So please dig deep and donate now.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.