Tour de France Magazine 2019 | Page 89

THE ROUTE The 2018 l’Étape du Tour took riders over the same route as Stage 10, from Annecy to Le Grand-Bornand in the Alps. The 169km challenge included climbs up the Col de la Croix-Fry, the Plateau des Glières, the Col de Romme and the Col de la Colombière, the highest point of the stage at 1 613m. Now in its 29th year, the popular l’Étape du Tour allows amateur cyclists to tackle a stage on the Tour de France route. The 2019 edition takes place on Sunday 21 July and will see a sold-out field ride Stage 20 from Albertville to Val Thorens six days before the peloton arrives. The 130km route incorporates three Alpine passes and a high-altitude finish… 4 450m of vertical elevation gain 2 365m altitude at Val Thorens finish 16 000 riders of 71 nationalities 43.7 years is the average age of the riders 1 000 volunteers and 240 security staff 2 0 1 9 TO U R D E FR ANCE | 89