etape du tour 2014 pau - hauticam

gr3g0ree

Hardy Backs wrote: »

Im looking for an entry as well,but its proving to be very costly going through travel agents .If anyone hears of someone not going will they put them in touch with me please.Thanks

Try to get a charity place. I did get one early March with 'Get Kids Going' last year.

Hardy Backs

Thanks ,but i have got a place using "Ronaen Pensec Travel" at a cost of €220 The charities were looking for me to collect min of €1000 and i have already been involved in a few big charity collections over the past few years and i feel they are some that might feel i am only collecting to get a free place and a trip away.

gr3g0ree

Hardy Backs wrote: »

Thanks ,but i have got a place using "Ronaen Pensec Travel" at a cost of €220 The charities were looking for me to collect min of €1000 and i have already been involved in a few big charity collections over the past few years and i feel they are some that might feel i am only collecting to get a free place and a trip away.

I did pay £115 (or EUR, can't remember) for my place and set my charity target low enough - £100 but didn't reach even that lol
And you are right about the trip away.

Got my flights booked, bike rented, accommodation half-sorted, most is done I think.

Curnode

Has anyone any ideas as to how I could get to Pau from Lourdes on the morning of the Etape? All the accomodation was gone in Pau so I could only get accomodation in Lourdes which is 40km from the starting line. If needs be I will cycle it, but I'd prefer to save this time and energy for the Tournmalet and Hautacam !!!!! (148km with 3300 metres climbing is enough without having a 40km warmup at 5.30am)

velopeloton

Curnode wrote: »

Has anyone any ideas as to how I could get to Pau from Lourdes on the morning of the Etape? All the accomodation was gone in Pau so I could only get accomodation in Lourdes which is 40km from the starting line. If needs be I will cycle it, but I'd prefer to save this time and energy for the Tournmalet and Hautacam !!!!! (148km with 3300 metres climbing is enough without having a 40km warmup at 5.30am)

Taxi. It will still be dark at 05:30.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

gr3g0ree

velopeloton wrote: »

Taxi. It will still be dark at 05:30.

Wait for June to find out which pen will u start in, in worst case request to change your pen to the 2nd last one and you will have more time to get there in the morning.

Plan B is to find any English speaking anybody and simply ask them in you could leave to bike at his/hers place(make sure its not too far from start) locked up overnight for a small fee, and get a taxi next morning, or just use the forum to organize/ask for transport, there will be a few tackling the same problem, look for a larger group who might rent a minivan to transport bikes and ask to join them.

Heisenberg. wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

http://www.getkidsgoing.com/letape_du_tour.htm

Only £99 and you don't have a set amount to raise. I did Etape last year with them, even got a T-shirt, and 'I' *sponsored the paralympic flagbearer in Sochi

* ok, ok, terms&conditions apply

crkaeds

Hi Folks,

I will be holidaying with the family in France that week so will be driving to Pau for the etape on my own.

I am also looking for accommodation and transport.

Its looking like i will stay in Lourdes somewhere and need to find transport on the morning of the event and after the event.

I have asked the organisers if they will open the hippodrome in Pau for parking but they are pushing to use the shuttle from Lourdes to Pau on the Saturday which is not ideal for me.

Lets keep sharing the info so that we are all looked after here.

Rgs

Curnode

crkaeds wrote: »

Hi Folks,

I will be holidaying with the family in France that week so will be driving to Pau for the etape on my own.

I am also looking for accommodation and transport.

Its looking like i will stay in Lourdes somewhere and need to find transport on the morning of the event and after the event.

I have asked the organisers if they will open the hippodrome in Pau for parking but they are pushing to use the shuttle from Lourdes to Pau on the Saturday which is not ideal for me.

Lets keep sharing the info so that we are all looked after here.

Hello crkaeds ,

Agreed - it sounds like there may well be a few in the same boat - staying in Lourdes and needing to get to Pau early on the Sunday morning.
Personally I am not too worried about getting back to Lourdes after the event, as it only 28km and 14km is downhill from the top of the Hautacam.

Koobcam

I have my entry but nothing else booked so far. My plan was to stay in Pau, do the Etape and cycle back to Pau from the top of the Hautacam. It's about 65km and mostly downhill so not as daunting as it seems. There's also a train service from Lourdes to Pau so you could also maybe hop on that, though maybe there are thousands of other people with the same idea.

Curnode

Koobcam ,
I spent a lot of time last month looking for accomodation in Pau and could not find anything . Bear in mind that 12,000 cyclists will be descending on Pau for 7am on the Sunday, so most will be staying in the locality the night before.

crkaeds

just got a reply from the organizers saying there are no parking options in Pau which i find hard to believe but anyway. They have there agenda and i have mine.

currently my plan is-

Saturday
Drive to Pau to register.
Then drive back to my accommodation in Lourdes (must book accommoddation yet)

Sunday
Organise transport (taxi/bus) to take me and my bike to Pau for start)
Hopefully finish the etape and cycle from Hautacam to accommodation.

rgs

Ryder

crkaeds wrote: »

just got a reply from the organizers saying there are no parking options in Pau which i find hard to believe but anyway. They have there agenda and i have mine.

currently my plan is-

Saturday
Drive to Pau to register.
Then drive back to my accommodation in Lourdes (must book accommoddation yet)

Sunday
Organise transport (taxi/bus) to take me and my bike to Pau for start)
Hopefully finish the etape and cycle from Hautacam to accommodation.

rgs

I was going to do something like this when I did the etape a few years ago - also in Pau. You could try to buy transport only from one of the companies like Sportstoursinternational. Other option is to drive car and bike bag to finish the day before (shuttle busses bring you back to Pau) so you have an easy trip home. After the etape I was in no mood or condition for any kind of extended commute so bear that in mind

velopeloton

100 days to go.

Curnode

Ryder quoted
"Sunday
Organise transport (taxi/bus) to take me and my bike to Pau for start)
Hopefully finish the etape and cycle from Hautacam to accommodation"


That is my plan too as I am staying in Lourdes on the Saturday night. Maybe a few of us can pool together to hire a minibus to take a few lads and their bikes to Pau early on the Sunday morning....

It's approx 15 km from the bottom of the Hautacam back to Lourdes on Sunday......I know it will be a loooong 15km after completing the Etape , but I'm sure we will manage it .

crkaeds

Curnode wrote: »

Ryder quoted
"Sunday
Organise transport (taxi/bus) to take me and my bike to Pau for start)
Hopefully finish the etape and cycle from Hautacam to accommodation"


That is my plan too as I am staying in Lourdes on the Saturday night. Maybe a few of us can pool together to hire a minibus to take a few lads and their bikes to Pau early on the Sunday morning....

It's approx 15 km from the bottom of the Hautacam back to Lourdes on Sunday......I know it will be a loooong 15km after completing the Etape , but I'm sure we will manage it .

I might be interested

peachyb

Alberto Contador rode the Pyrenean stages last week. He said Hautacam was "really hard".
pyreneescyclingtravel.com/photos-news-blog/pro-riders/alberto-contador-hautacam

velopeloton

2 Wheels Good

Is anyone staying on after the Etape for the tour? Any thoughts on viewing locations either for the Tuesday stage Carcassonne > Bagnères-de-Luchon or Wednesdays Saint-Gaudens > Saint-Lary Pla d’Adet?

Curnode

TRANSPORT FROM LOURDES TO PAU ON THE MORNING OF THE ETAPE

Has anyone any suggestions re transport early on Sunday from Lourdes to the Etape start in Pau ??

Is anyone interested in sharing a minibus or taxi ? There might be two interested at this stage . If there are a few more the group could organize a minibus.

peachyb

We are staying near Lourdes and plan to catch Tuesdays stage - would love to hear suggestions. Was told cycling is not an option - have to scale 3 cols to get there.
Have rented a 7 seater IVECO DAILY van from Thursday Wed for €375 from Europcar BIARRITZ *VANS* which is near the airport. Only catch is 600km limit then €1 per quarter km. Some of us bringing bikes - some renting.

Enterprise through Expedia also very reasonable for SUVs from Biarritz Airport - Renault Espace for €350 for same days.

Biarritz to Lourdes 160km. Lourdes to Pau 40km.
After party in Lourdes - one us can cycle to Pau the next day to pick up the van.

velopeloton

peachyb wrote: »

We are staying near Lourdes and plan to catch Tuesdays stage - would love to hear suggestions. Was told cycling is not an option - have to scale 3 cols to get there.
Have rented a 7 seater IVECO DAILY van from Thursday Wed for €375 from Europcar BIARRITZ *VANS* which is near the airport. Only catch is 600km limit then €1 per quarter km. Some of us bringing bikes - some renting.

Enterprise through Expedia also very reasonable for SUVs from Biarritz Airport - Renault Espace for €350 for same days.

Biarritz to Lourdes 160km. Lourdes to Pau 40km.
After party in Lourdes - one us can cycle to Pau the next day to pick up the van.

From Lourdes this would be the shortest way to get on to stage 16 route.
http://www.strava.com/routes/417186
That would leave you under you 600km for the trip. Or you could just man up and ride there and back :-)

velopeloton

2 Wheels Good wrote: »

Is anyone staying on after the Etape for the tour? Any thoughts on viewing locations either for the Tuesday stage Carcassonne > Bagnères-de-Luchon or Wednesdays Saint-Gaudens > Saint-Lary Pla d’Adet?

Stage 16 go to Port de Balés.
Stage 17 go on the climb to Pla d'Adet 3 or 4 km from the top.
Stage 18. Hautacam. 3km from the finish.

rothar_man

3 of us travelling over for the Etape in a months time. organised this back in November so have accom in Pau. Renting a car and driving down from Bordeaux on the Thursday before.

Just reading you need a Medical Cert to register, are they serious on this? To get one, i take it i need to go and spend another €60 with a GP?

cheers

victor201

Yes on both counts :eek: they will check it at registration ,need photo id as well

Doc07

rothar_man wrote: »

3 of us travelling over for the Etape in a months time. organised this back in November so have accom in Pau. Renting a car and driving down from Bordeaux on the Thursday before.

Just reading you need a Medical Cert to register, are they serious on this? To get one, i take it i need to go and spend another €60 with a GP?

cheers

If you're doing the Tour De Burren as a warm up bring the form this saturday, find me at the start line and I'll fill it out for you for free.

lafors

Lads due to my holidays being refused from work I can't get enough days off to go over for this....probably a good thing as my training has been nearly non existent!

If anyone needs an entry and knows how to transfer it they're welcome to it so PM me, I'd prefer if it was going to a boardsie or friend of a boardsie so no point signing up an account to get it (happened when I offered a WW200 entry here a few years ago).

Koobcam

rothar_man wrote: »

3 of us travelling over for the Etape in a months time. organised this back in November so have accom in Pau. Renting a car and driving down from Bordeaux on the Thursday before.

Just reading you need a Medical Cert to register, are they serious on this? To get one, i take it i need to go and spend another €60 with a GP?

cheers

Yes, the medical cert is required. I think it used to be the case that you could get in if you had a racing license, but AFAIK that's not the case. I did the Etape last year and actually the medical certificate is really just a simple form that you need to download from the Etape website and get signed by a doctor-it basically says something like 'I see no reason to exclude this person from cycling competition', and the doctor, by signing, agrees to this. I happened to be seeing a doctor anyway to follow up with injuries sustained in a cycling accident, so he was happy to sign the form-he saw no reason why I couldn't compete in a cycling event (which is kind of funny if you think about the fact that I was covered in bandages and missing most of the skin from the right side of my body...). Anyway, it should be easy enough to get the form signed, and if you have a decent local GP, probably for a lot less than the normal €50-60 consultation fee

rothar_man

Thx for the update lads.....Doc, i wont be at Tour De Burren this weekend unfortunately but i've a friend whos a Hospital doc who might do me a favor.

crkaeds

I dropped it into the doctors reception and said I would collect it later in the day. I told receptionist that I was not sick and didn't need to see a doctor and waste his/her time and my money. Collected it later that afternoon at no charge. You gotta be abit pushy with them to get what you want

rothar_man

thx, appreciate the advise....probably should be worrying about my climbing ability more than this, but looking forward to the last few weeks training now.

Koobcam

I have an entry for this that I won't now be using-anyone interested?

gr3g0ree

Koobcam wrote: »

I have an entry for this that I won't now be using-anyone interested?

??? Didn't manage to find any accommodation?

peachyb

Interesting 3D views and breakdowns of the Tourmalet and Hautacam: Google team sky TOUR DE FRANCE: THE CLIMBS
A unique look at the race's toughest uphill tests
Last updated: 2nd July 2014
Sorry can't post links.

rothar_man

thx, nice views and info there.....i m starting to **** it now. i never been up a climb that long !!

btw one of my mate's cant make it so entry up for use if anyone has a last minute idea to go over.

peachyb

Nice visual / scary yellow snake on YouTube by A.S.O. Challenges - Le Parcours - L'Etape du Tour 2014 - Pau / Hautacam

BTW re. afters: From the official website: Pasta party that usually took place the day before the event is deleted. Indeed, in response to your requests, this service will take place at the finish.
Hot and salty snacks will be served after the event, on the ‘Finish Village’ at Lau-Balagnas.

2 Wheels Good

How's everyone set? Forecast seems like it could be a typical Irish summers day, cloudy and a few showers.

rothar_man

****ting it....just going to try and be as fresh as possible on the day and dig deep. Not sure on what to wear, but according to your predictions its could be cold and wet in patches so prob going with a light jacket/jillet and some arm warmers.....

2 Wheels Good

rothar_man wrote: »

****ting it....just going to try and be as fresh as possible on the day and dig deep. Not sure on what to wear, but according to your predictions its could be cold and wet in patches so prob going with a light jacket/jillet and some arm warmers.....

Yeah, bringing a light jacket, bandana and arm warmers, not too bothered about the legs/feet (at the moment)

Shedite27

Thinking about entering this next year, what's the type of average speed people need to avoid the broom wagon? What would the equivilent on the Wicklow 200?

gooch134

Hello all.

The training has ( or has not) been done. No more hiding. Facing our demons on Sunday. I am traveling over tomorrow to Argeles Gazost with three of my mates. We will make up part of a 45 strong team with Trail Seekers. I dont know any of you guys here to see or by name. All I can say about me and my 3 buddies is KLO for " Dingle Adventure Race Jerseys".

I only started bike training approx 5 weeks ago. On the bike only dribs & drabs up to then. I should be ok. This is a short stage as has been pointed out earlier. I was running right up to six weeks ago so I had good fitness to begin with.

Another of my group only started training 6 weeks ago from scratch ( I dont feel 2 bad now). He had been injured since August 2013 and had only come around then. Will be interesting to see how he fares. You will recognise him, " Dingle Adventure Race" jersey and probably the only person taking part in the event wearing runners!! A Legend.

I will be looking out for potential Irish along the way,

Best of luck,
Raymond

Tree Scape

See you there R.
One of 4 Orwell who are heading over. with Sean

2 Wheels Good

gooch134 wrote: »

Hello all.

The training has ( or has not) been done. No more hiding. Facing our demons on Sunday. I am traveling over tomorrow to Argeles Gazost with three of my mates. We will make up part of a 45 strong team with Trail Seekers. I dont know any of you guys here to see or by name. All I can say about me and my 3 buddies is KLO for " Dingle Adventure Race Jerseys".

I only started bike training approx 5 weeks ago. On the bike only dribs & drabs up to then. I should be ok. This is a short stage as has been pointed out earlier. I was running right up to six weeks ago so I had good fitness to begin with.

Another of my group only started training 6 weeks ago from scratch ( I dont feel 2 bad now). He had been injured since August 2013 and had only come around then. Will be interesting to see how he fares. You will recognise him, " Dingle Adventure Race" jersey and probably the only person taking part in the event wearing runners!! A Legend.

I will be looking out for potential Irish along the way,

Best of luck,
Raymond

See ye tomorrow at some stage. Flying over in the morning.

gr3g0ree

I'll get all my waterproof kit with me, just in case that 'might be raining' turns into a proper rain on Sunday morning/afternoon
What I'll take will be decided on Sun morning.
Btw is there any shuttle transport back to Pau from the finish? Might need to get back somehow as I'm renting a bike and need to drop it after the race.

2 Wheels Good

Should be buses. I think you should be able to book it at registration

2 Wheels Good

How'd everyone get on? Some miserable day up the tourmalet yesterday!

Koobcam

I signed up for this ages ago but couldn't go for various reasons. I got a load of pre-event emails, including one warning of dire weather and advising everyone to bring warm clothes. How did everyone get on? Was the weather as bad as the emails suggested?

2 Wheels Good

Koobcam wrote: »

I signed up for this ages ago but couldn't go for various reasons. I got a load of pre-event emails, including one warning of dire weather and advising everyone to bring warm clothes. How did everyone get on? Was the weather as bad as the emails suggested?

Will give a proper report when I get back. Great day but the weather was horrendous on the tourmalet and almost as bad on the hautecam. Heavy rain and a wind chill which made the descent deadly. Braking downhill for about an hour is not fun! Did the descent Thursday in about 30 minutes, must have been twice or three times as long yesterday

RO 06

Koobcam wrote: »

I signed up for this ages ago but couldn't go for various reasons. I got a load of pre-event emails, including one warning of dire weather and advising everyone to bring warm clothes. How did everyone get on? Was the weather as bad as the emails suggested?

It was as bad as forecast. Rained for last 75k and was very cold coming down of The Tourmalet.

Curnode

Well done to all that battled through the conditions last Sunday - conditions were very bad for the last 75 km as RO 06 alluded to .
The rain for the ascent of the Tourmalet was bad , but the cold and the misery on the descent was something else . I believe it was only around 8 degress at the top in the fog/cloud .
I stopped into a bus shelter a quarter ways down to put on extra gear which lucklily I had brought for the wet. There were about thirty shivering helpless souls standing in the shelter trying to warm themselves. We all looked a pityful sight.
A bit further down the descent I saw a guy rooting through a bin and pulling out a sheet of cardboard to help him block out the cold. Further down I saw two ladies being assisted by medical staff as a result of the cold.

Did anyone hang around for the party after the cycle ? Was it any good? Personally I was too tired - I just wanted to get changed and get going to hang around.