Climbs in 2004 Etape

rmartin

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of the major climbs in next years Etape? Maybe you've ridden them in the past?

Col de Lestards Ascent of 7 km at a 4,7% gradient
Col de Néronne Ascent of 8,3 km at a 3,5% gradient
Col du Pas de Peyrol Ascent of 5,5 km at a 8% gradient
Plomb du Cantal Ascent of 8,2 km at a 6% gradient

These are average gradients, so there could be localised really steep bits - so does a moderately fit fattish guy need a double or a triple c/set? :-))

Spoke

i haven't ridden the climbs. i would suggest if in doubt go for a triple. i did last year at the last minute & i'm glad i did (i finished)

les woodland

Hi

I rode the Peyrol last summer and I was deeply glad of a triple. That was in just less than 40C, during the heatwave, and I was on my touring rather than skinny bike. And it was on the longer but shallower side, coming from the Aurillac side.
I wouldn't consider doing it in the Étape on anything but a triple. I was riding a 30 inner ring last time and a 13-27 cassette. I didn't need all those gears but I was a lot more at ease than those who didn't have them.
Tour riders will go up on two rings, of course, and certainly not a 27 sprocket. But then they also average 40kmh all round France, a speed I don't find that easy on the flat!
Don't hesitate: go for a triple and for a gear lower than you think you'll need. There's a 15 per cent section on the Peyrol from the Étape direction and it'd be a bummer to get that far and realise your pride forced you into a painful mistake!

happy days

les