Published by Andrew on 14 October 2019
Riding the 2020 Étape du Tour? Here is everything you need to know to enter, enjoy – and survive – the most famous sportive in the world.
*** This event has now been cancelled due to COVID-19. There is a statement from the organisers here.***
Riding a Tour de France under race conditions is the ultimate amateur cycling challenge. There's only one Étape du Tour. Here's what you need to know to enter.
When is the 2020 Étape du Tour?
The 2020 Étape was originally meant to take place on Sunday, July 5, but it has been postponed until September 6 due to COVID-19.
Which Tour de France stage does the 2020 Etape du Tour use?
The 2020 Etape du Tour will be based on Stage 2 of the Tour de France and take place on the high climbs surrounding Nice, used by many in the peloton for training. The stage is 177km long, with a total elevation gain of 3570m. There are 3 categorised climbs on the route: the Col de la Colmiane (16.3km at 6.3%), the Col de Turini (14.9km at 7.4%) and the Col d'Èze (7.8km at 6.1%) which comes close to the finish after a long descent of the Turini.
How do I enter?
All info is on the official Etape du Tour website. There is a basic race entry rate, as well as various official race packages available.
Registrations will open at 4pm (CET) on October 21, 2019 until all entries are taken – usually by around March but sometimes earlier. We think the accessibilty of Nice will make this a very popular year. Don't delay!
Everyone who enters needs to have a valid medical certificate that's no more than one-year-old to say they are fit. See here for a template. You’ll need to show the certificate when you pick up your number. If you’re a member of a French cycling federation, you may be exempt. The certificate can be in English.
Where to stay
Our best advice is to stay with a bike-friendly hotel, chalet or B&B that's geared for cyclists and can offer the best local advice. Search our map below for options or see Stage 2 of our sugestiosn for stage 2 of the 2020 Tour de France.
Should I bring my own bike or hire one?
It’s completely up to you. While most people prefer their own bike, it really depends on where you’re coming from, and how easy (and affordable) it is to bring your own bike. We have information on shipping your bike to France if you need to send your bike ahead.
If you need hire, remember that quality road bikes can be in short supply in the Alps during the Tour and this is especially the case around Étape time. Book well ahead if you need to hire a bike so that you get the size and the specs you want. If you need help, you can use our bike hire service.
Can you recommend any supported Étape packages?
These can make life a lot easier as they’ll take care of all your logistics, including accommodation and bike hire if you need it. They’ll also drop you at the start village and pick you up at the end, which means all you need to worry about is the riding.
Need help sorting your Etape trip? We can refer you to a suitable local company, incuding official Tour de France operators. See our bespoke tours service.
