Every year, L’Étape du Tour de France gives amateur cyclists the opportunity to take on a stage of the Tour de France, riding the same roads as the professional riders. To rise to the challenge, good physical fitness alone is not enough: you also need to prepare for the effort, choose the right equipment and learn how to manage the demands of the course.
The 2027 edition will take place on Sunday, July 11, between Cluses and Les Saisies, in the heart of the French Alps. The challenge: 154 km and 4,850 m of elevation gain. With five major climbs, this edition will demand endurance, effective pacing and specific preparation for mountain riding.
Training Plan: 12 Weeks
Phase I
Weeks 1 to 4: Base Building
- Frequency: 3 to 4 rides per week.
- Type of Training: Focus on building an endurance base with long rides at low to moderate intensity. Add a weekly hill ride to start working on climbing power.
- Duration: Gradually increase the duration of long rides, starting from 2 hours and extending to 4 hours by the end of this phase.
Phase II
Weeks 5 to 8: Increasing Intensity
- Frequency: 4 to 5 rides per week.
- Type of Training: Introduce high-intensity intervals and threshold work. This includes short (1 to 5 minutes) high-intensity efforts and longer (10 to 20 minutes) moderate-intensity efforts.
- Example Session: After warming up, perform 4 to 6 repetitions of 5 minutes at threshold power, with 5 minutes of recovery between each.
Phase III
Weeks 9 to 12: Sharpening and Tapering
- Frequency: Reduce to 3 to 4 rides per week towards the end.
- Type of Training: Maintain one high-intensity session per week but gradually reduce training volume to arrive fresh on race day. Keep long rides but with less intensity.
- Tapering Strategy: Start significantly reducing training volume 2 weeks before the event, maintaining one high-intensity session to keep the rhythm.
Weekly Training Plan
Monday: Complete Rest
- Activity: No intense physical activity.
- Objective: Allow the body to fully recover from the previous week’s efforts.
- Tip: Practice light stretching or yoga to improve flexibility and promote recovery.
Tuesday: High-Intensity Intervals
- Duration: About 1 hour.
- Activity: After a 15-minute warm-up, perform 6 repetitions of 3 minutes at high intensity (90-95% of max HR), followed by 3 minutes of active recovery.
- Objective: Improve power and anaerobic capacity.
- Tip: Focus on maintaining a high cadence and good form during efforts.
Wednesday: Endurance Ride
- Duration: 2 hours.
- Activity: Ride at a moderate intensity (70-75% of max HR).
- Objective: Improve base endurance and active recovery after an intense session.
- Tip: Use this ride to practice nutrition and hydration as you would on race day.
Thursday: Hill Ride
- Duration: 1.5 hours.
- Activity: Include several short climbs (3-5 minutes) at high intensity. Focus on maintaining good climbing technique.
- Objective: Build climbing power and specific endurance.
- Tip: Choose hills with a similar gradient to those you will encounter during L’Étape du Tour.
Friday: Light Day or Rest
- Activity: Complete rest or very light ride of 30 to 45 minutes.
- Objective: Active recovery to prepare for the weekend’s training.
- Tip: Listen to your body; if you feel particularly tired, opt for complete rest.
Saturday: Long Ride with Threshold Efforts
- Duration: 3 to 4 hours.
- Activity: Include 2 to 3 blocks of 20 minutes at threshold power/pace, with 10 minutes of recovery between each block.
- Objective: Improve endurance and the ability to sustain intense effort over long periods.
- Tip: Ensure you stay well-hydrated and fueled during the ride.
Sunday: Recovery Ride
- Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Activity: Easy ride at low intensity (50-60% of max HR).
- Objective: Promote muscle recovery and reduce fatigue.
- Tip: Use this ride to release both physical and mental tension.
This weekly training plan is designed to effectively prepare you for the demands of L’Étape du Tour, developing power, endurance, and recovery capacity.
Nutrition and Hydration
Do not neglect your nutrition and hydration during preparation. A good diet and adequate hydration support training efforts and recovery. Also, practice your nutrition and hydration strategy during long sessions to avoid surprises on race day.
Rest and Recovery
Rest is as important as training. Make sure to include full rest days in your plan and use recovery techniques such as stretching, compression, and massage therapy.
Which Bike to Choose?
Road Bike, Mountain Comfort, or Gravel
The Axxome is designed for cyclists seeking high performance without sacrificing its core identity. With its new, even more efficient frame, the Axxome III is smooth and comfortable on a wider range of terrains.
Speed across smooth roads, conquer mountain passes, or glide over cobblestones: nothing will stop you. The impressive efficiency of the UML technology, previously used only for molding the front triangle on the Axxome Evo, is now utilized for the complete frame molding, including both the front and rear triangles. This gives the Axxome III even more lively and dynamic handling and improved vibration damping.
Transfer your watts even more effectively with the optimized Dynamic Response, and enjoy a more efficient pedal stroke on all types of surfaces.
Finally, for even more comfort, the Axxome now accommodates tires up to 35mm and integrates its cabling for increased safety, better handling, and easy maintenance.
Expand your playground and reinvent road cycling.
Easy Gears
For choosing gears, the ideal is to achieve a 1:1 ratio. This ratio means that the largest cog is as large as the smallest chainring (e.g., a small chainring with 34 teeth and an 11-34 cassette). This ratio allows for one wheel rotation per pedal turn. It’s a very soft gear for road riding, but if you’re tackling several thousand meters of elevation, you will be very grateful for it by the end of the ride.
L’Étape du Tour 2027 route: distance, elevation gain and climbs
The 2027 L’Étape du Tour route will link Cluses, in Haute-Savoie, to Les Saisies, in Savoie. This Alpine crossing covers 154 km with 4,850 m of elevation gain, featuring five major climbs.
With several climbs in succession, pacing will be particularly important. You will need to find your rhythm from the first major ascent, fuel consistently and preserve enough energy for the climbs in the second half of the course.
Key figures for the 2027 route
- Date: Sunday, July 11, 2027
- Start: Cluses
- Finish: Les Saisies
- Distance: 154 km
- Elevation gain: 4,850 m
- Number of major climbs: 5
The official route is the best starting point for planning your preparation. Studying the elevation profile helps you identify the main challenges, understand how the climbs link together and tailor your long rides to the demands of the event.
The main challenges along the route
Col de la Colombière
At 15.9 km long with an average gradient of 7%, the Col de la Colombière is a major early challenge. Avoid starting too fast and aim to maintain a steady effort. Even if you feel strong at the start, the remaining distance and elevation gain mean you need to save energy for later in the day.
Col du Pré
Located in the Beaufortain mountain range, the Col du Pré is another significant challenge on the route. After several hours on the bike, maintaining a comfortable cadence and managing your effort will be crucial. This climb highlights the importance of training on routes with several consecutive climbs rather than focusing exclusively on individual ascents.
Montée de Bisanne
At 12.4 km long with an average gradient of 8.3%, the Montée de Bisanne represents a major challenge in the latter part of the course. As fatigue builds, choosing the right gearing, fuelling properly and maintaining a steady effort will become particularly important.
The other climbs must also be factored into your preparation. For a complete overview of the difficulties and their sequence, consult the official L’Étape du Tour 2027 route profile.
Key takeaway: the challenge is about much more than covering 154 km. With 4,850 m of elevation gain, success depends above all on building a solid endurance base and developing the ability to tackle repeated climbs.
How should you approach the L’Étape du Tour 2027 route? What training plan should you follow to be ready on the start line? Here are our tips to help you prepare and make the most of the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions for Preparing for L’Étape du Tour
- When is the best time to start training for L’Étape du Tour?
It is recommended to begin your specific training at least 12 weeks before the event to allow for adequate progression through the different phases of training. This implies having a base and practicing at least once a week for an additional 2 or 3 months. - What type of bike is recommended for L’Étape du Tour?
A high-performance, lightweight, and well-maintained road bike is ideal. Ensure it is well-fitted to your body and in good mechanical condition. We recommend a lightweight road bike for mountainous terrain, such as the Axxome GTR. - How to manage nutrition during training?
It is crucial to consume complex carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats. During long training sessions, practice consuming gels, bars, and energy drinks that you plan to use on race day. Consider having salty foods in case you get tired of sweet flavors after several hours. - How many rest days should I take each week?
It is recommended to take at least one to two full rest days per week to allow your body to recover and strengthen. - What is the importance of group rides in preparation?
Group rides can improve your riding skills and get you used to riding in a peloton, which is useful given the large number of participants in L’Étape du Tour. Never compromise your safety. Take your time and maintain good safety distances, especially when overtaking, particularly on descents. - How to prevent injuries during training?
Make sure to include flexibility and strengthening exercises in your routine, stay hydrated, and listen to your body. Don’t push too hard on days when you feel tired or sore. If you experience pain, consult our cycling health articles and seek advice from a healthcare professional. - What is the importance of hill or altitude training for this race?
L’Étape du Tour takes place in the mountains, so hill training will be very beneficial. If you don’t live in a mountainous area, try to include as many hills as possible in your routes and find a pace you can maintain for a full hour. If this isn’t possible, connected home trainer workouts that simulate incline effects can help. Altitude also requires acclimatization. If you cannot prepare for it, remember to reduce your effort thresholds above 1500 meters. - Do I need a coach to prepare for L’Étape du Tour?
While not mandatory, a coach can personalize your training plan, motivate you, and help you manage the technical and tactical aspects of the race. The training plan provided above is a good base for progressing and giving yourself the best chances of success in your cyclosportive. - How do I know if I am ready for the race?
If you can comfortably complete long training sessions that simulate the distance and profile of the stage, and have followed your training plan, you are likely ready. - What to do in the last days before L’Étape du Tour?
The last days should be devoted to rest and recovery. Decrease the volume of your training, stay well-hydrated, eat balanced meals, and mentally and materially prepare everything you will need for the race.
