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2016 Etape modified route profile.jpgRoute modified for 2016 L’Etape du Tour
Organisers have modified the route for this weekend’s L’Etape du Tour. The Col de la Ramaz has been cut from the event due to concerns about falling rocks.
The descent of the Col de la Ramaz has been affected by falling rocks for several weeks and while motor traffic is currently permitted, automatic traffic lights are activated whenever rocks fall.
While organisers had hoped that the original route could still have been used, they and local authorities have concluded that the passage of 15,000 cyclists over several hours represents an additional risk.
Tour de Celeb star training for L’Etape du Tour treated by medics
The new route – 122km long and with 2,873m of elevation gain – can be seen below. Start times have not been altered.
A decision has not yet been taken on whether the route will also be adjusted for stage 20 of the Tour de France.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- David9694 2 sec ago
business as usual for drivers as regards people with disabilities:...
- Rome73 36 min 35 sec ago
'Meanwhile, the council says that the anti-cycle lane opponents’ suggested alternative route – through a nearby parkland – would mean a greater...
- Pub bike 2 hours 7 min ago
The owners of the private car park made reasonable attempts to contact Lime and ask them to remove the bikes that were fly-tipped on their property...
- Pub bike 2 hours 12 min ago
Could be for cyclists with congenitally long arms.
- mark1a 7 hours 54 min ago
I'll put you down as a no then.
- chrisonabike 10 hours 15 min ago
May need insurance, tax and a licence. No problem with the lights though.
- chrisonabike 13 hours 20 min ago
Well if you *can* interview the original riders at all surely they worked, at least?...
- David9694 13 hours 50 min ago
Live: Car plunges over wall and lands on beach rocks...
- brooksby 19 hours 3 min ago
And finally: I wonder how many of the "more than 3,000" signatures on that petition are actually locals, who live or work there (and are not just...
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20 comments
as suggested elsewhere... if you're missing a mountain(?) then continue through the finish line and straight up Avoriaz https://www.strava.com/segments/720259
Ramaz is now out of the Tour de France.
I guess ASO could just magic up a new col out of thin air for you lot moaning. There are only so many roads and so many cols. Maybe some of you will be relieved by the time you get to the Joux Plane that you've had some easyish flat miles
I think an Etape or other Alpine sportive should be the biggy of the year, the one you have to train for - it adds to the sense of occasion. The Etape is now less of a challenge than last month's Dartmoor Classic.
From what I have read, the organisers are willing to give you plenty of sterling back in compensation, unfortuately the current conversion means you'll receive about one euro...
It's just bragging rights.
Yep, that's the only reason I'm doing it. Nothing to do with the closed roads and riding a supported route with thousands of others. Nah, as soon as I cross the line I'm going to be straight on the phone to all of my pals, most of whom couldn't give a hoot about cycling, to tell them all about it.
Don't forget Strava.
People's rides would likely be uploaded to Strava regardless of whether they ride as part of the Etape or not so I'm not entirely sure what your argument is here.
As far as I'm concerned, if people want to spend their money to ride the Etape then they're perfectly entitled to. Furthermore, if the route is changed 6 days before for an obstruction that has been present for a number of weeks, it also seems reasonable for the same people to be slightly miffed at the decision to simply cut out a chunk of the ride.
'argument',
Relax, I'm just having a laugh.
Enjoy your paid for day out
For anyone else thinking of riding these roads, don't worry about doing it when the roads aren't closed to traffic. It's a sleepy area and any motorists you do happen across will be careful and polite. I totally get the 'pay to ride' mentality on closed roads in the UK, but not in France.
Totally agree with Dodgy.
Why do you need to fork out an entry fee and ride with thousands of others?
That's not really the point though, is it? Many people have paid the entry fee (perhaps because they want to ride with lots of other people on closed roads with support vehicles and feed stations etc.) on the basis that they would be doing all 4 climbs. I accept the point about medical emergencies during the event which are completely unavoidable but the organisers have been aware of the issues with the Ramaz road surface for the past couple of months and have only now announced that the solution is to cut out a chunk of the route.
People have chosen to enter a prestigious event and paid for it. Doesn't matter if there are 15 or 15,000 riders, they are entitled to expect something for the fee. Whether you agree with it or not, l'Etape is a huge deal and riding on closed roads (and in this case a Tour de France stage) is something many people feel is worth paying for.
Suggesting that they just pop over to France and ride some other roads instead is unhelpful. Would you tell someone who paid to go to Glastonbury when one day's bands were a no-show to take their own guitar and just sit in a field elsewhere that evening?
I think I might re-read Tim Moore's book Cycling Revolutions, in which he rides all the stages of that year's Tour.
I have to admit, I'm a bit disappointed by this also. But hey, always an excuse to do it again next year!
We should remember, that vehicular traffic isn't paying for the privelege of driving over Ramaz to an organisation that have somewhat of a duty of care over the 'drivers'.
I know the area pretty well, Ramaz has been in poor condition for some time, several thousand cyclists going over it in various stage of fatigue is probably not a good idea with the road surface the way it is, though it should be ok for the TdF for stage 20.
Do what I do instead, pitch up and ride any tour stage from the last 30 years or more (including this year's stage 20), no fees to pay to anyone, just ride it for the fun of it.
See you in Samoens
"ASO look like a complete bunch of amateurs" - but that's OK, because its L'etape, which is an event for amateurs. You don't think you might be taking this just a bit too seriously do you?
Yes it's an event for amateurs, but the point is we've paid a professional bike event organiser (ASO) to organise it. Therefore I don't think it's unreasonable to expect them to do a proper job, including timely communication & having an alternative route of a similar standard!
This is a big disappointment. The abbreviated route hardly justifies the expense involved in attending the event. The organisers have had weeks if not months to come up with an alternative plan. We were only officially informed of this yesterday.
This comes hot on the heels of the "disc brakes are banned....oh no they're not" fiasco.
ASO look like a complete bunch of amateurs. It will certainly be the last time they receive any entry fees from me. Fortunately my group are heading down a few days early and will be able to make our trip worthwhile by fitting in some other rides in the area (including the Ramaz which remains open to ordinary traffic!)
It wasn't affected by rockfall months ago!
There are plans and contingenices in place for all sorts of things. You may find yourself being bussed half way across the stage if there's a bad accident and they need to stop everyone, it's just part of the risk you take with entering an event with 15,000 other riders several months in advance of it.
Errr, except that it was:
http://blog.alpine-property.com/2016/05/19/col-de-joux-plane-open-closed/
http://www.cycling-challenge.com/col-de-la-ramaz-and-col-des-charmettes/