Etape du Tour 2012 Act 1 Travel packages Act 1 – Albertville to La Toussuire 140km Sunday 8th July

The first Etape du Tour will take place in the Alps on Sunday 8th July 2012. Replicating Stage 11 of the 2012 Tour de France.
It will start from the Winter Olympic City of Albertville and it is a classic Alpine stage, taking in the climbs of the Col de la Madeleine, the Glandon, Criox de Fer and Mollard, before the final climb up to the ski resort of La Toussuire Les Sybelles.
At 140km it is an attractive proposition for both the experienced cyclo sportive rider and the Etape du Tour novice.

Special offer - A limited number of Etape du Tour entries are available at £50 when you book your travel package! But hurry, numbers are limited.

Our standard Etape du Tour travel package is around 3 nights, arriving on Friday 6th July and departing on Monday 9th July. We are using a number of hotels in the Albertville and Chambery areas.

In Albertville, we are offering a variety of local accommodation. Being in the start town of the Etape du Tour has a real advantage as it makes registration, final prepartions and race start access much more convenient. Our hotels include:

The 3 star Hotel La Roma, which is about the best hotel in Albertville and ideally situated for both the registration village and the start of the Etape. Accommodation is on dinner, bed and breakfast basis.
Hotel Albert 1er on B+B basis. it is located in the centre of Albertville and there are restaurants and bars nearby.
Hotel Savioie - a B+B 2 star hotel, again in the centre of Albertville.
2 star Balladins hotel. This hotel is on B+B basis and on the outskirts of Albertville. This hotel is aimed at people on self drive and we will not be offering airport transfers to this hotel. Note: on the Friday you will make your own way to this hotel and keep your bikes here. On Sunday morning, you should ride to the start and then we will take you back, by coach, to the hotel after the Etape.
Budget hotel option - we are using two budget hotels in the Albertville area. Please note, then twin/double rooms are very small, so we are selling these on sole occupancy/single room basis. The hotels are basis, but clean and convenient, hence the price.

In Chambery, we are using 4 different hotels and we will be offering airport transfers to these hotels, together with transfers to the bike store on Saturday, and transfers back to the hotels after the Etape:

Our hotels include:

• Hotel Chateau de Comtes de Challes. This is a 3 star luxury Chateau hotel, with a wonderful feel about the property. It is a vast mansion set in 2 hectares of grounds with a very interesting character. Food is of a high quality and there is also a swimming pool and free WIFI. We are here on half board basis, so you can enjoy your stay.
• 3 star Mercure Chambery on bed and breakfast basis.
• 3 star Hotel Altedia located on the outskirts of Chambery on bed and breakfast basis.
• 2 star Hotel Altedia located on the outskirts of Chambery on bed and breakfast basis.

UK BIKE TRANSPORT OPTION
We are offering a UK Bike transport Service, where we take your bike from the UK down to France for each of the Etapes. This has the advantage of:

• Guaranteed delivery of your bike...as opposed to risking it with airlines.
• No dragging around of your bike at the airport.
• Convenient collection points around the UK at Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and London.
• Up to a week to drop off your bike to the collection points, with up to a week to collect your bike after the return to the UK.

Your bike needs to be in a bike box or in a bike bag. The cost of this service is £90 return, which is £45 less than the price in 2011 and cheaper than the cost of flying with your bike and paying the transfer cost at the other end too.

BIKE HIRE
Once again, we will be offering our sportive bikes for hire in the Etape. They will cost £75 for the weekend and will be waiting for you in the bike store. They are a good alternative to taking your own bike on the plane with you. Click here for more details of the bikes we supply. If you require one, please select the option at time of booking. The bikes are in limited supply and will not be available to add later.

Typical Itinerary:

Thursday 7th July:
If you are using our bike transfer service from the UK, then this will probably be the day the bikes are collected from various points.

Friday 6th July:
Travel to Albertville or Chambery. If you have opted to be collected from Geneva, then you must give us your flight arrival details. We are arranging coach transfers at 12:00 15:00 and 18:00 from the airport. If you are bringing your bike, you must select and pay for the Bike transfer option. Please note, flights are going to be in high demand on this date, so we advise you to book early to guarantee a flight seat and a good price. Alternatively, make your own way to the hotel.

Saturday 7th July:
After breakfast, you'll be taken to our secure bike store on the outskirts of Albertville, from where you will be able to ride to registration for the 2012 Etape du Tour. If you are using our bike transport option fom the UK, your bike will be taken directly here. After this, you'll have some time to take a short ride and make sure your bike is in full working order to the event on Sunday. In some cases, you may be able to keep your bike at your hotel with you.

PLEASE NOTE, AT ETAPE REGISTRATION, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT A DOCTOR'S NOTE STATING THERE ARE NO KNOWN MEDICAL REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD NOT COMPETE. PLEASE VISIT OUR MEDICAL CERTIFICATION PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION. THIS IS LEGAL REQUIREMENT AND FAILURE TO COMPLY MAY MEAN YOU NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE ETAPE.

Sunday 8th July: - L'Etape du Tour Act 1
We antipate a 07:00 start for the Etape, so we will all travel down there early to ensure everyone is lined up in the right pens for the start. The organisers allocate pens according to likely finish time and historic Etape performance, therefore faster riders start nearer the front and the slower riders at the back. Please note, we have no influence over your starting pen.

The Etape is a closed road sportive, but you must be wary of other cyclists, especially if they are going faster than you or if you have stopped. There will be water stops on route and mechanical assistance available. Along the route, there are certain times that you must have passed certain spots, otherwise you may be swept up by the broom wagon.

At the end of the Etape in La Toussuire, our reps will be at the finish to meet you and then transfer you back to your hotel. Currently we do not know exactly where the coaches will be and they may be a further ride away from the finish area as in previous years - we will be informed by the organsiers about this nearer the date of the Etape. We will be offering a shuttle service when we will send the coaches off as they fill up. At this finish area, we will also ask you to pack up your bike into your bike bag so that you can load it on to the van to take it back to the UK or to Geneva airport, or if you have made your own way to the hotel, we will take it there later in the evening.

Upon return to your hotel, you can choose to do what you wish, whether relax in the bath or celebrate!

Monday 9th July:
After breakfast will be start running transfers back to Geneva Airport, with the first transfers leaving at 07:30 arriving at the airport around 09:00 and another set of transfers aorund 12:00 arriving at Geneva airport aorund 13:30. If you are making your own way home, you will need to leave the hotel mid morning.

Tuesday 10th July:
If you are using the UK bike trasnport service, then we expect bikes to be available for collection from this day onwards - to be confirmed.

Included in your Basic travel package are:

• Return airport transfers between Geneva Airport and your accommodation for yourself and one normal-sized suitcase. Any bike bags must be pre-booked and are charged in addition.
• 3 nights accommodation at the stated hotel on the stated board basis.
• Breakfast each day at your hotel.
• Transfer (if appropriate to registration on Saturday)
• Transfer (if appropriate to the start on Sunday morning)
• Return transfer from the finish of the Etape at La Toussuire back to your accommodation on Sunday evening.
• Services of the experienced Sports Tours International team in Albertville.

Not included (not exhaustive):

• Your journey to France.
• Bike transport to your accommodation - either choose from the Geneva airport option or the UK Bike transport option.
• Any meals and drinks not noted above.
• Any extras at your accommodation.
• Etape Entry fee.
• Travel Insurance - highly recommended.

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