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The 2007 Etape du Tour and then some...

Reflecting back on this year's trip the question comes to mind: How Do You Top That? Granted, this year we got a little carried away and by the time the week was over, including some short rides on the arrival and rest days, we'd put 1010km into our legs in the week of our trip. That pretty much matches the Tour de France km for km over the same period!. And don't be fooled: A lot of easy miles in your legs the week prior can set you up for a terrific Etape: Three of us finished in the top 200 during the race!

The Trip

This year's poetic gesture was to start the ride at the southern-most point of France, in Bonifacio on the island of Corsica. This turned out to be a very, very good idea, mainly because of three things: Scenery, weather, and beautiful waitresses (my girlfriend is going to kill me if she reads this!). In fact, it was so nice we're starting the 2008 trip in Corsica, too.

Day 1 - Bonifacio to Piana (196km)

Arguably some of the most scenic riding in the world, western Corsica offers rugged coastline riding on relatively quiet roads. We culminated the day after 200km of riding in the Unesco world heritage site of Les Calanques, in the nearby town of Piana.

Day 2 - Piana to Ile Rousses (116km)

Waking to the above view was...an utterly fantastic way to start the day. It was our shortest day of the trip so we enjoyed taking our time, making a few longer stops to enjoy the scenergy and casual pace, and also so that Ryan could chat up two Swedish bike tourists. The evening was spent on the night ferry to Marseilles.

Day 3- Marseilles to Sete (209km)

This was interesting. We started off in France's busiest port at rush hour but made our way out of the city rather easily. Crossing the flat plains of the Camargue was a stark contrast to the scenic coastline of Corsica, and the industrial stretch around Fos-sur-Mer only exaggerated the effect. Another long day in the saddle and we arrived after 205km of flat, tailwind riding in Sete.

What an amazing town! Sete is France's "Venice", with busy canals running through the busy fishing town. It's still a gritty fishing town more than a tourist haven.

Day 4 - Sete to Chateau de Camon (196km)

We rose to continued tailwind, a mighty southeast wind that had been pushing us for two days already and a fine treat for another long day. Today we'd be arriving back at the Chateau de Camon, one of our favourite places in the history of the trip - and this time we were staying for two nights, a perfect way to wind up the pre-race week of riding. The route took us through the magnificent Corbieres, one of France's finest wine-growing areas...we did our best to help improve the 2007 vintage!

Day 5 - Rest Day at Chateau de Camon (40km)

Yes, you read right: The Rest Day still means riding, although a few opted out. Generally it's a good idea to keep the legs turning over with a little bit of easy riding on a rest day in a week like this. Other than that, we spent the day with the usual ritual of cleaning our bikes and registering for the next day's race - and then enjoyed the hospitality of Chateau de Camon.

Day 6 - Etape de Tour: Foix to Loudenvielle (196km, 6 cols)

In a word: Brutal. Only half of the 8500 starters finished the day's route under the cutoff time. If it wasn't the col de Menthe, it was the tremendous wall of the Port de Bales or the final long and hot slog up the (very beautiful!!!) col de Peyresourde that did them. But we all championed on - with 800km in our legs so far, what were a few hills going to do to slow us down now?!