Etape du Tour 2009 route preview

A preview of Stage 20 of the 2009 Tour de France between Montélimar and Mont Ventoux, the route of which will be used for the Etape du Tour cyclosportive. There's a kilometre by kilometre account and then some overall thoughts at the end.

The route for this year's Etape takes in some stunning scenery as it criss-crosses between the Rhône-Alpes and Provence regions of France. The start is in the town of Montélimar, famous for nougat and the route passes through vineyards, cherry and apricot orchards, fields of lavender and stunning river gorges on the way to the Mont Ventoux.

KM 0: Montélimar
The start is flat and taking small B roads out of town it should be a very fast start as you pass under the A7 motorway and high speed TGV railway line towards Espeluche and the hamlet of Le Colombier. Aim to get on a good wheel and stay sheltered.

KM 9: Côte de Citelle
The first climb of the day is short and not too hard. It has a few sweeping hairpin bends and a granular road surface but the high speed from riders jostling for position should mean you roll up it quickly. Don't let the start line euphoria put yourself too much into the red at this early stage. A series of wind turbines mark the ridge towards which you're climbing, as soon as you get close to them you're at the top.

KM 15: Descent of the Côte de Citelle
This is an easy and fast descent. There are some tight bends but the road is wide and grippy with some long straight sections. Assuming it's dry your biggest obstacle will be fellow riders and if the weather is fine you'll catch a glimpse of Mont Ventoux, the sight of which might send a chill down the spine given the way it dominates the view and how distant the recognisable communications tower seems. You'll hit a T-junction at the bottom to turn right and mark the end of the descent.

KM 26: Taulignan
The route into this town is basically flat and you'll pass round the ancient ramparts of the town. There's a small rise on the way out and some lumps thereafter.

KM 35: Rousset Les Vignes
There are some steady drags to this small picturesque village. You'll round a wide bend as you climb into the town but the road is smooth and the gradient is gentle so it's not too much of a climb. Watch out for the sharp right-hander on the descent out of town.

KM 38: Venterol
You turn left at a roundabout to pass close to Venterol and the road dips down all the way into Nyons, famous for its black olives. The descent is fast but straight and wide.

KM 45: Nyons
The first bigger town on the route. You'll descend into town and as this ends in the shady town centre at the roundabout there's a water fountain on the right with drinkable water, think about stopping if you're running low on water. You leave town to cross the Eygues river - look at the 15th century bridge on your left - and then turn left after the bridge. Now you will ride up the river gorge but the road is wide and near flat all the way to Curnier.

KM 56: Curnier
Here you'll cross the river via a large steel bridge and the first difficulty of the day looms as the gradient begins to pick up on the way to the village of St Jalle.

KM 64: St Jalle
It's here that the first main climbing test begins, you'll cross a narrow bridge and once you leave the town the 6km Col d'Ey climb begins.

KM 70: Col d'Ey
Rather than clinging to the hillside, the road meanders up through open fields and orchards. From below you will be able to spot the road above but whilst you are climbing up the gradient is deceptive, the road looks flattish but you're actually gaining a decent altitude. Be sure to take in the stunning views of the Baronnies below you as you reach the top, it's worthy of a postcard.

As soon as you reach the top, you'll turn right to start the descent. As you'll quickly discover, the descent is very different from the climb up, no more open fields, you're barreling down steep ravines. It twists and turns more with some sharp bends and the terrain is much rockier with mountain pines and small oaks clinging to the cliffs. The road's been freshly resurfaced for you so enjoy the smooth tarmac but watch out for fallen rocks on the road. You drop down quickly into the Ouvèze valley and a 180° hairpin marks the end of the descent.

KM 77: Buis Les Baronnies
Once you pass the narrow gorge after the descent you will come into this town. Here marks the first feeding station of the day on the left. Stock up if you want. The road out of the town is wide and smooth and includes a couple of drags but you should motor down the valley to Eygaliers.

KM 85: Eygaliers
Here you'll turn up into a smaller valley, enjoy the stunning views ahead.

KM 92: Col de Fontaube
This is a great little climb, you'll roll up it quickly, sweeping through several hairpin bends. Enjoy the beautiful views of Ventoux on the way up. This is an easy climb and over before you know it. They've resurfaced the route and it's great in some places but - in June - they've done a poor job elsewhere. The descent too is quick and straighforward. Just aim to keep your pedalling smooth on the way up.

KM 110: Aurel
After the descent ends the road drifts down towards Montbrun. You'll turn right here and do an uncategorised climb up to Aurel, the sort where you'll realise you're getting tired, it's not on the map but make no mistake, this is a long slog uphill. Make the most of this section to eat and drink ahead of the upcoming difficulties.

KM 115: Sault
The town is surrounded by blue lavender fields and the air should be perfumed. You climb up into town, a sharp kick. As you come into the town 25 metres after the tourist office on your left, you'll spot a café terrace on the right just before the road bends to the left: there's a water fountain tucked away by the wall, top up with water if you're thirsty. You have a fast descent out of town before the road rears up, from afar you can see where you will be climbing.

KM 126: Col de Notre Dame des Abeilles
The name means "Our Lady of the Bees", a fitting name as you leave behind Sault with its lavender and honey. The first mile of the climb is the hardest but rather than sprint up to get it over with, ease into a low gear and pace yourself as the rest of the climb isn't as bad but still long. This is the toughest part of the day so far. With the distance in your legs you should have a decent idea whether you've got your climbing legs with you or not. Note that there are two quick downhill sections on the way up, don't think that as soon as the road starts to drop down that it's over for you'll round a sweeping bend only to see the road rise up. The real descent is fast, long and open, your freewheel will sound like one of the roadside crickets and cicadas. Take care to spin your legs, don't let the long sections fool you into long periods of freewheeling, keep the legs supple. You can descend without touching your brakes if you're confident enough.

KM 137: Villes-sur-Auzon
This village marks the end of the descent. Watch out for the small roundabouts and directional islands in the village. From here you'll pass along open and flat roads to Mormoiron.

KM 143: Mormoiron
You'll turn right into the town and beware the way road rises up as you go into the village, this might sap your strength if you don't change to the little ring. As you leave the town you'll pass a restaurant on the left called "La Fringale" which means hunger knock in French: take this as a mental note to eat and drink plenty on the last remaining flat roads. The route out of town is straightforward and you'll now see Mont Ventoux right above you, hopefully you can spot the summit and communications tower for this will mean the summit is clear of rain or snow.

KM 150: Bédoin
You're now at the foot of Mont Ventoux and you'll climb up gradually under shady plane trees before finding the ravitaillement. After you'll come to a small roundabout and turn right. Look for the narrow strip of white cobbles across the road for this marks the starting point of the climb up to Mont Ventoux, you might want to time yourself. Maybe you won't!

Even if you are now climbing, you are not on the recognisable climb of Ventoux yet. But from Bédoin the road drags up and there are some steep portions, so if your legs are hurting here don't worry as the road is harder than it looks, you might be passing the vineyards and orchards but in fact you are gaining altitude quite quickly.

KM 154: St Colombe
Almost the last bit of flat road of the day, time for a final bite or energy gel and you'll come to the hamlet of St Estève and Les Bruns. Aim to drink as the climb ahead can be so vicious you won't want to lift your hands off the bars much. There's are some fountains on the left of the road in case you need them.

KM 155: St Estève
It's from here that the main climb skyward begins, you'll round a hairpin bend with some Armco barriers and it's now relentless all the way to Chalet Reynard. Give yourself a few minutes to get into the rhythm of the climb but frankly you will be suffering. Don't be surprised if you quickly end up in your lowest gear, this is exactly where you'll need it.

If the legs are hurting it's a mental challenge too as each time you'll see bend in the road ahead and hope for respite but it never seems to come. Instead it is just up and up, a real ordeal. There's are points where the gradient slackens but it's relative, 7% instead of 9%. Your only consolation is that road surface is excellent all the way up and there'll be plenty of vocal support. Gradually the gradient eases, the more you go up the - slightly - easier it gets. Eventually you'll round a bend and spot two large green sheds by the road, this means you're close to Chalet Reynard, one small effort more and the road will ease up.

KM 166: Chalet Reynard
Here's the last ravitaillement and the road is for a moment flat. It's from here that the infamous lunar landscape begins, the white limestone. The weather will play a big part here, it can be cold and windy or exposed and dry. The good news is that if it's not windy, you've done the hardest part of the climb. Now you climb up in sections, a series of 90° bends snakes up to the top. Don't be fooled though, the summit might look close but you're still anything from 30-90 minutes away depending on what state you're in. If you have some spare energy, begin to ratchet up the pace but be careful.

KM 170: Tom Simpson Memorial
It might be hard to spot the memorial if others are around, it's on the right and resembles a shrine that's been draped in cycling caps, bottles and other bits of bike kit. Now you're close to the top. The terrain is now totally white but look closely and you might spot some flowers poking up through the rocks but frankly if €500 bank notes were lying under each rock you probably won't care, the finish line is what matters. You might be close but aim to ride steady, it is still more than a sprint away so save the final burst right for the last section. Remember that even the final hairpin bend to the top, it's a killer.

KM 172: L'Arrivée
Well done! You've made it. Now you think you're finished but in fact you have to descend down the other side to the small ski resort of Mont Serein. Don't hang around to wait for a friend or to bask in satisfaction but instead get off the mountain quickly before you get cold. Be very careful, the descent is fast and technical in places and you'll likely be tired and frozen, this is when mistakes happen and you don't want to spoil the day.

Overall Thoughts

The route has two components, the first has rolling hills and the second is Ventoux. Make no mistake, the approach to Ventoux includes plenty of climbing but these are third category climbs and there's plenty of flattish roads in between them. The road from Bédoin to Ventoux is one of the hardest climbs in France. Take a moment to think about each part, how to manage the 90 miles to Bédoin and then what you'll do on Ventoux; don't fixate on Ventoux and ignore the long ride to get there but at the same time don't think that just because Ventoux is on the menu that the whole day is a killer. I think the long approach to Ventoux will sap your legs a lot but unlike many previous editions, there's also the chance to sit on someone's wheel for parts of the day, it's not every one for themselves on one col after another.

The weather will play a big role but check the weather forecast the day before. Often it will be hot and sunny but the area is prone to the Mistral wind which blows along the Rhone valley. It can howl in winter but should be tame in July but don't be surprised if there's a mean crosswind at some point in the day. The last time the Etape went up the Ventoux it had to be abandoned because the weather got so bad, riders were coming off the top with their holes in their helmets filled with snow! But if it's hot the usual rules apply: wear light clothing, drink a little but very often and think about some good sunblock. As well as the food stops many towns have their own fountains, look for the eau potable sign which means it's drinkable. It's easy to say but remember to drink, don't let yourself get distracted.

So long as it's sunny the roads should be amazing, whether the lavender-scented valleys or the views of Ventoux. Take the time to appreciate all of this, it's not every day that you get to parade through Provence on closed roads with crowds clapping you on. Ventoux might loom above you all day, a daunting vision at times, but don't take the Etape so seriously that you're only focussed on the next climb or how many kilometres there are until the next food point.