I’ve not ridden the etape…
but I have ridden the Ventoux. And you can too! Go on! It’s a beast of a climb though, unrelenting and steep on the bottom section and either baking hot or jetstream windy or freezing cold at the top, depending on the day. It’s a vertical mile bottom to top, and don’t forget that those six ‘blips’ in the graph before the Ventoux are bigger climbs in themselves than anything you’re likely to find on your doorstep.
Be honest with your gearing. I saw lots of sporty types pushing flash bikes up the steep bits because they hadn’t been. If you think you need a triple, buy one. You won’t win, so there’s not much point posturing, is there?
You’ve got lots of great climbs not too far away… why not drive down to Abergavenny for your next weekend jaunt and start with the Gospel Pass?