Gran fondos, sportives and challenge rides across Europe
Toerversie Amstel Gold Race
Granfondo La Fausto Coppi
L'Étape du TourL'EroicaLes 3 Ballons
Liège–Bastogne–Liège Challenge
Mallorca 312Granfondo Internazionale Nove Colli
Ötztaler RadmarathonParis-Roubaix ChallengeColnago GF Mont VentouxGFNY La VaujanyGFNY CannesGranfondo ColnagoLa Stelvio SantiniHaute Route AlpsHaute Route DolomitesMarmotte Granfondo AlpesMarmotte Granfondo PyrénéesSportful Dolomiti RaceToerversie Amstel Gold RaceGranfondo La Fausto CoppiL'Étape du TourL'EroicaLes 3 BallonsLiège–Bastogne–Liège ChallengeMallorca 312Granfondo Internazionale Nove ColliÖtztaler RadmarathonParis-Roubaix ChallengeColnago GF Mont VentouxGFNY La VaujanyGFNY CannesGranfondo ColnagoLa Stelvio SantiniHaute Route AlpsHaute Route DolomitesMarmotte Granfondo AlpesMarmotte Granfondo PyrénéesSportful Dolomiti RaceA closed-road sportive that replicates a real Tour de France mountain stage. The route changes each year, but recent editions consistently deliver a D4 high-mountain challenge.
Register as soon as entry opens, then wait for the annual stage announcement before finalising route-specific pacing, accommodation and gearing.
Best for
Watch out for
D-Score™
D4
Epic
Entry
Direct paid registration, first-come first-served
or Charity places
Route
138 km
4,600 m climbing
Terrain
Mountain
Smooth mountain tarmac
Month
July
Annual rotating Tour de France stage; main-table figures use the latest verified route in the document (2024)
Temperature
5-40+ °C
Valley to summit
Roads / Format
Fully closed, police-controlled roads
Large seeded or staggered mass start determined by the annual host route
Participants
Approximately 7,000-16,000 depending on edition
Per edition
GPX
Direct GPX download not found
Route files
The strongest available pro-race-stage experience for amateur riders, but also one of the least predictable because the host region and exact mountain profile change every year.
Register immediately rather than waiting for route confirmation. Consider a tour package if accommodation certainty is important.
No L'Étape du Tour-specific tours listed yet
Explore French Alps cycling tours and providers, or get notified when race packages are added.
| Route | Distance | Climbing | D-Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Briançon–Alpe d’Huez | 167 km | 4,700 m | D4 |
| 2023 Annemasse–Morzine | 157 km | 4,100 m | D4 |
| 2024 Nice–Col de la Couillole | 138 km | 4,600 m | D4 |
A Tour de France queen-stage style ride with several long climbs, major altitude changes and long descents. The exact concentration of difficulty changes annually, but recent routes all sit in the D4 range.
Several climbs on this route appear in Giro d'Italia history. The full route includes seven major passes.
| Climb | Length | Avg gradient | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Col du Galibier | 17.7 km | 6.9 % | Recurring high-mountain pass in recent editions; exact inclusion depends on the annual Tour stage selected. |
| Col de la Croix de Fer | 22.4 km | 5.2 % | Long exposed climb used in the 2022 edition. |
| Alpe d'Huez | 13.8 km | 8.1 % | Iconic 21-hairpin summit finish used in 2022. |
| Col de Joux Plane | 11.6 km | 8.5 % | Steep late-race climb used in 2023. |
| Col de la Couillole | 15.7 km | 7.1 % | Summit finish used in 2024. |
| Col du Tourmalet | 19 km | 7.4 % | Recurring Pyrenean feature when the selected Tour stage is routed through the region. |
Every rider has unique gearing and nutrition needs. Below are tools we find useful for working these out before race day.
Gearing
Bike Speed & Gear Calculator
bikespeedgear.com
Estimates your climbing speed from power, weight and gradient, then helps you pick gearing that keeps cadence in a comfortable range.
Gear Calculator
gear-calculator.com
Compares chainring and cassette combinations to show resulting gear ratios and speed at a given cadence, for fine-tuning your drivetrain.
Fuelling
DIN Calculator
dincalculator.com
Upload your GPX route (or use quick mode) for an hour-by-hour carb, fluid and sodium plan based on the ride's actual climbs and descents.
Precision Hydration Planner
precisionhydration.com
Questionnaire-based tool that builds a personalised fuel and hydration strategy, including electrolyte needs, based on your sweat profile and event details.
Best base
Depends on annual host regionNearest airports
Alps: Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble · Pyrenees: Pau, Toulouse, Tarbes-Lourdes
Car hire
Often useful because road closures complicate local transport
Book ahead
Book immediately after the host region and route are confirmed
The event coincides with Tour de France rest-day operations, so host towns also absorb teams, media and race infrastructure. Expect high prices and constrained capacity.
A single day can range from extreme valley heat to cold rain, fog or hail on high cols.
Event size
Major event; historically 7,000-16,000 riders
Field level
Strong, well-trained sportive field
Atmosphere
High prestige from riding a real Tour de France stage
International mix
High, with riders from across Europe and beyond
Bunch intensity
High early, then thins significantly on climbs
First-timer
Only suitable as a first Étape for riders who already have substantial mountain-sportive experience
Long climbing endurance
Prepare for repeated Hors Catégorie or long Category 1 climbs.
Heat management
Train hydration, electrolytes and pacing for potentially extreme valley heat.
Descending confidence
Practise long, technical descents at speed and in groups.
Flexible gearing
Use conservative mountain gearing because the annual route changes.
Nutrition and hydration
Practise consistent fuelling across a long exposed mountain day.