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Steve finished 71st in the 2009 Etape du Tour, so was one of the top 1% of finishers. He is also a qualified cycling coach with British Cycling so, together with his inside knowledge of the Pyrenees (see his comments about the climbs and route below), is really the perfect person to take you over the course for 2010. The route is tough, with three cols that Steve knows really well - the Marie Blanque, Soulor and Tourmalet. To help with your preparation for the Etape, Steve has created a five-day training package, which includes plenty of climbing and descending plus a recce over the Etape climbs. 

Etape Training package:

Day one: You and your bike will be collected from either Tarbes-Lourdes, Pau or Toulouse airport and transferred to Allant Holidays’ base in Galan, a small village in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Steve Hall, a British Cycling-qualified coach will be there to meet you, brief you on your stay and, of course, help put your bike together. There should be time for a short local cycle on this first day. Before dinner, Steve will explain some climbing and descending techniques.

Day two, Steve will put you through your paces over some local, undulating climbs around Galan. He will explain how to get the most out of your body and your bike when tackling steep gradients and also how to deal with fast, tight descents. After a day on the bike, Steve will this evening run through some tips on nutrition and hydration.

Day three, Steve will take you on a loop starting in Bagneres, riding up the valley to warm the legs towards Lourdes then south to Argeles-Gazost. At this point, you are joining on to the end of the Etape route, cycling down to Luz St Sauveur before climbing the infamous col du Tourmalet. You will then descend down the other side of the col, spinning off your legs and completing the loop in Bagneres. In all this loop is about 100km. If required, Steve will this evening give a brief session on bike maintenance and repair.

Day four: Steve will today take you on another circular route, this time covering the two other major climbs in the Etape, the Col de Marie Blanque and Col du Soulor. The distance covered will be around 120km, again ensuring good endurance training combined with climbing and descending.

Day five: return to the airport of your choice (or continue your stay with us).

All evening meals, lunches, breakfasts,  four nights' accommodation plus return transfers to the airport are included for 450€ per person (based on two people sharing a room).

Read Steve's Top Tips for preparing beforehand and getting round the Etape course

The Etape du Tour route 2010

The road from Pau will be fast with just a few smallish climbs to help string everyone out. The first climb of the day is the Col de Marie-Blanque. This is a tough climb. Although it is not long, it has a real sting in the tail. I'm sure I have seen a sign near the top saying 15%! Once at the top, there is a plateau, so there is no real descent for quite a distance. When you do go downhill some of the bends and road surfaces are not the best but I would imagine that by July they will have been re-surfaced.

The next climb is the Col du Soulor. This is a long steady climb through some lovely forest at the start then rather more exposed road near the summit, (not that you'll be particularly looking at the scenery). On the other side, is a great little descent: the 7km of the Soulor is not overly technical and the road is nice and wide, so it should be good with closed roads. 

Once at the foot of the climb the road carries on with a slight decline all the way down the valley to Argeles-Gazost. Then it's along the valley road, south towards Luz St Sauveur. This is slightly uphill but in a good bunch you shouldn't notice it. Well the last climb of the day is indeed a beast of an ascent. The figures don't really do it justice. This monster is relentless and the final few kilometres feel far harder that the listed 8.5 and 9%. If you are able to focus and look around during the climb there are some stunning views towards the top of the climb.

We wish everybody taking part in the 2010 Etape du Tour the very best of luck...

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