L’Etape by Tour de France series is here to make you feel like a Tour de France rider when you take the start of one of our events.
That’s why we organize events in so many countries, to give you a chance to live the experience of riding the biggest cycling race in the world!
Let’s dive into this year’s Tour de France route from L’Etape’s point of view.
Stage 1
For the Tour de France riders, the first Yellow Jersey will be in play in the streets of Copenhagen. For you, it would me more of a warm-up before taking the start of your event. The start can sometimes be quite fast, don’t take the start without a little warm-up!
Stage 2
After fighting alone on their bike on day 1, it’s all back in a bunch. This second stage offers a stunning ride alongside the Danish coast with a couple climbs along the way. For the Tour de France riders, it should end as a bunch sprint, unless the wind decides otherwise.
If you keep the same flag colors but arrange them in a different way, you end up in Canada, where L’Etape Edmonton will take place. 150 km along the beautiful river valley west of the city towards Devon animated by sprints and QOM/KOM sections. This could be enough to drop your friends on the way back to Edmonton.
Click here for more information on L'Etape Canada.
Stage 3
Another day that should end in a bunch sprint for the Tour de France riders. Last day in Denmark on some undulating and tricky roads. If you choose to ride L’Etape Thailand, this is the kind of terrain that will welcome you. 145 km of flat roads punctuated by 3 climbs to make your legs burn as you ride up them.
L'Etape Thailand took place last May, but another one is scheduled in Phitsanulok at the end of this year.
Click here for more information on L'Etape Thailand.
Stage 4
Back in France for a not-so-flat stage that could be enough for a strong breakaway to fight with the peloton. 6 categorized climbs but many more will hurt the riders’ legs all along the day.
Seems like a nice day on the bike? Then you should probably take a look at L’Etape Czech Republic! The 2023 route has not been revealed yet, but you can expect a day full of short sharp climbs in the beautiful Czech countryside. We can already tell you that it should be 146 km long with 1800m of climbing. So, will you try to break away in one of the hardest climbs of the day?
Click here for more information on L'Etape Czech Republic.
Stage 5
A day that a lot of spectators are waiting for: it’s cobblestones day! Finishing near the famous “Trouée d’Arenberg”, mythical cobbled sector from Paris-Roubaix, this stage can definitely play a big role in this year’s Tour de France. It’s not where the Tour de France is won, but it can be where it’s lost. In 2014, Vincenzo Nibali built his Tour de France success on the cobble stage, where none of the GC favorites was able to match his bike handling skills.
Even if it’s not part of L’Etape by Tour de France series, check out Paris-Roubaix Challenge if you want to have a try at riding on cobbles.
Stage 6
This stage will definitely be a thrilling one to watch. The succession of climbs in the last kilometers can produce an unpredictable finish. Peter Sagan won the last stage that finished at the top of the Côte des Religieuses back in 2017. That day, he accidentally unclipped during the sprint but still managed to win the stage.
L’Etape Indonesia offers a similar route with a few short, but steep, climbs along the way. Here, you’d have to drop your opponents a lot further away from the finish if you wish to use your climbing legs for the better. The KOM Challenge is quite a nasty one, with almost 3 km at 9%!
With more than 1500m of climbing in 125 km, you’re in for a stage even harder than the pros, but with a gorgeous landscape for the whole day. The island of Lombok has so much to offer!
Click here for more information on L'Etape Indonesia.
Stage 7
The Planche des Belles Filles is on the menu for the 6th time in 10 years already! The last time we went up there was in 2020, when Tadej Pogacar won the Tour de France over Primoz Roglic in dramatic fashion. This year, the “Super” Planche des Belles Filles will be the mountain to conquer. The last kilometer being extra steep on gravel roads, it is a tough challenge for anyone who would want to enjoy the view.
But before reaching the bottom of this last climb, the riders will have to ride through a couple climbs first, and that’s what makes this stage similar to L’Etape Slovakia.
Slovakia is definitely not a flat country, and the 4 climbs of this event are here to prove it. You’ll have to get over 3 of them before seeing the last one leading you to Kamzik. As for the Super Planche des Belles Filles, you better save some energy for this last one, because with its slopes of over 13% it could really be a really pain to drag your bike to the top.
Click here for more information on L'Etape Slovakia.
Stage 8
This stage leading the peloton to Lausanne could well be the first one to be won by a breakaway in this year’s Tour de France. The final kick to the Olympic Stadium of Lausanne will play a big part in the scenario of the stage.
If you travel to Slovenia, where champions grow on trees, you’ll get the same sensation when fighting for the win in the last uphill slopes to Kranj. But before that, it means that you’d have overcome the 2000m of elevation that precede over the 145 km course.
With its rather short climbs, L’Etape Slovenia is a perfect event to ride if you’re more of a puncheur than a real cimber.
Click here for more information on L'Etape Slovenia.
Stage 9
With big KOM points to score, this stage will attract a lot of riders in the breakaway. It’s one of these days on the Tour de France where climbs don’t seem too difficult but if the riders decide to push hard on the pedals, it can make for a really tiring day in the saddle.
A hard and tiring day is what you should expect from L’Etape Granada, the longest event of L’Etape series. With 176 km and over 2600m of climbing, this event in the south of Spain is definitely one for the braves. Like the Pas de Morgins in the Tour de France stage, the Puerto Los Guajares will create some gaps and only a select group of riders will then be able to fight for the win.
If you like a tough challenge and heat, this event fits you perfectly.
Click here for more information on L'Etape Granada.
