France

The Etape du Tour is a mass participation cycle ride held over the exact route of one of the stages of the Tour de France.

The 2008 Etape du tour will take place on Sunday 6th July and will follow the route of the stage from Pau to the mountain finish at the ski station at Hautacam, taking in the mighty Col du Tourmalet.

Check out http://www.idlefamily.co.uk/home/home/Entries/2005/7/11_Etape_Du_Tour.html for a fellow bloggers experience

La Marmotte is a classic cyclo sportive event based in the French Alps. It is held over a classic Alpine route that rivals the L’Etape du Tour.

The 174km event starts in Bourg d’Oisans and climbs the Col de la Croix Fer, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier before returning to Bourg d’Oisans and finishes up the 21 hairpin bend climb to the ski station of L’Alpe d’Huez.

This would be an ideal weekend for those who didn’t manage to get in this years L’Etape du Tour, or have already done the Etape and fancy another Alpine mountain challenge.

La Morzine Vallee d’Aulps is organised by sports communication the same people who organise La Marmotte and Le Mont Ventoux. It is a classic cyclo sportive event based in the French Alps, and with two distances (149km & 91km) it would be suitable for those cyclists that are new to the Cyclo Sportive events.

The Paris – Roubaix cyclo is a classic cycling event which follows the exact route of the professional event (260km) including a lap of the famous Roubaix velodrome. There are also shorter events of 190km and 120km.

La Ventoux is a classic cyclo sportive event held in the Provence region of Southern France. It is held over a classic route that rivals the L’Etape du Tour.

There are a choice of 3 distances (170km Master event), (102km Senior event), (75km Decouverte event), all starting and finishing from the town of Beaumes de Venise.