{"id":115883,"date":"2015-07-22T15:31:47","date_gmt":"2015-07-22T13:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/?p=115883"},"modified":"2015-07-22T17:21:42","modified_gmt":"2015-07-22T15:21:42","slug":"riding-in-letape-du-tour-will-leave-your-speechless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2015\/07\/22\/riding-in-letape-du-tour-will-leave-your-speechless\/","title":{"rendered":"Riding in l\u2019\u00c9tape du Tour Will Leave You Speechless"},"content":{"rendered":"

The annual\u00a0<\/strong>l\u2019\u00c9tape du Tour<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0lets thousands of amateur cyclists from around the world race along one of the hardest stages of the Tour de France. And this year it was particularly special for WeLoveCycling, as we sent a team of our fans to race in l\u2019\u00c9tape du Tour. Read about their tears of joy, their exhaustion, and the thrill of crossing the finish line of this thigh-busting race.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The race, which was first held in 1993, covered Stage 19 of this year\u2019s Tour from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to La Toussuire. This is an incredibly strenuous 142-kilometre mountain course. And if you remember, we offered the best of you<\/a> 3 places on our team.<\/p>\n

So, how did our riders compare to the other 15,000 racers? We knew we\u2019d chosen the best of the best, but the results were beyond our expectations.<\/p>\n

500 kilometers a week makes you a beast<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When someone who finishes a 142-kilometre course of steep alpine roads in 5 hours and 55 minutes tells you he expected to finish 20 minutes faster, it gets your attention. David, our last winner, finished in 176th place out of 15,000 people!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

And no wonder he performed so well, he lives on Tenerife where he rides 500 kilometers a week in hot conditions \u2013 perfect training for l\u2019\u00c9tape. But his biggest surprise was the organization: \u201cIt feels like a real race.\u201d And it is \u2013 one in which you compete mostly against yourself, your limits and the mountain ahead of you.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tears of joy: \u201cI\u2019ll never forget Col du Clandon\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Right after the finish we asked Manos about his first impressions, but he was unable to answer as the emotions overwhelmed him and he burst into tears. \u201cIt was so, so difficult. No one can describe it until you live it. Every mile of Col du Clandon was steeper and steeper, I will never forget that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

And yet he didn\u2019t once think about quitting \u2013 it simply is not his philosophy. Still, the best moment for him was finally seeing the finish line.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Eat well, drink well, and take care of your\u00a0bike<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Another of our winners, Gabriel, described the perfect and, really, the only possible strategy for l\u2019\u00c9tape: \u201cEat well, drink well, and take care of your bike.\u201d This must\u2019ve worked for him, since he crossed the finish line looking as fresh as the night before the race, taking 3,838th place out of 15,000.<\/p>\n