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{"ID":179,"SpaceID":3,"PageID":78,"HasCommentsThread":false,"SeoTags":{"OpenGraphTags":[{"ID":"og:title","Name":"Tougher than the Pros! - L\u0027Etape Du Tour"},{"ID":"og:type","Name":"website"},{"ID":"og:url","Name":"https://www.petersfieldtriathlonclub.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/CN/Tougher+than+the+Pros++LEtape+Du+Tour"}],"NonOpenGraphTags":[]},"Path":"Tougher+than+the+Pros++LEtape+Du+Tour","Title":"Tougher than the Pros! - L\u0027Etape Du Tour","Author":{"ID":72,"Name":"Joshua Lahiri","CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":true},"Version":2,"IsDraft":false,"IsOldVersion":false,"PublicationDate":"25/07/2025 16:30","VersionDescription":"v2 - Joshua Lahiri","HideHeader":false,"IsFullWidth":false,"ThemeCode":null,"BackgroundColour":"rgb(182, 47, 61)","JumpLinks":[],"Blocks":[{"Columns":[{"Width":8,"WidthClasses":"col-md-8 col-sm-12 col-xs-12","Elements":[{"ID":1060,"Type":"HTML","Content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\u0022\u003eWell well well, what a stage that was to bring the curtain down on the GC battle at the tour am I right?! If only we could get an insight in to what the pro\u0027s went through over the course of the stage... Or how about a view on what it would potentially have been like if the full stage had actually been raced?! Well luckily for you all we have just the report, ably provided by our resident mountain goat, Chris Redmond! So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride as we join Chris to lay down a marker for Tadej, Jonas and co at the L\u0027Etape Du Tour!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\u0022\u003eEach year, the organisers of the Tour de France open up one full stage of the race to amateur riders. Known as L’Étape du Tour, it’s the closest any of us will get to riding the Tour itself – same route, same climbs, same road closures, same crowds. This year’s edition tackled Stage 19: 131 km from Albertville to La Plagne, with more than 4,500 metres of climbing, including two Hors Catégorie ascents. It’s regarded as one of the toughest amateur cycling events in the world – and this year lived up to that reputation.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\u0022\u003eFor me, this was a very different challenge. I come from a rugby background, not pure cycling, so I’ve always been naturally heavier set – built to take knocks rather than float uphill. Even in triathlon, I’ve never quite found my ideal distance: I enjoy the grind of Ironman, but I’m still working out where I fit between long-course endurance and Olympic distance racing.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\u0022\u003eThe Alps, though, are unforgiving. To perform on climbs like Col du Pré or the final ascent to La Plagne, you need power-to-weight. There are only two ways to improve that ratio: increase FTP or reduce body weight. In the lead-up I worked hard on both, adopting a carnivore/ketogenic approach to strip visceral fat. It worked – but it also came at a cost. I lost muscle mass, and with it some raw power. It’s a fine line, and I’m still learning where the balance lies between being lighter and being strong enough to sustain the effort.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\u0022\u003eAdding to the challenge, my brand-new climbing bike – bought specifically for this event – was put out of action after a crash a few weeks before. I ended up riding on a rental bike. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough to get me to the start line and, more importantly, to the finish.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\u0022\u003eThe day itself was everything I’d expected and more. The early climbs – Côte d’Héry and Col des Saisies – felt manageable, but Col du Pré was the first real test: steep ramps, no shade, and energy-sapping heat. The Cormet de Roselend was stunning but long, and by the time we hit the final ascent to La Plagne, it became sheer survival – 17 km of climbing that felt like it would never end.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\u0022\u003eCrossing the line was less about the time and more about proving something to myself: that I could complete one of the hardest Étapes in years, in conditions that tested every weakness I had. It’s given me huge respect for the pro riders who do this day after day – and a clear view of what I need to work on next: tighter weight control, better gut training for long climbs, and continued refinement of pacing and nutrition.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\u0022\u003eIt wasn’t pretty, but it was unforgettable – and I’ve already caught myself wondering what stage they’ll choose for next year.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","ContentConfig":{"Caption":null,"Icon":null,"IconColour":null,"CaptionColour":null,"UnderlineColour":null,"TextColour":null,"FontSize":null,"LineHeight":null,"RequiresLoggedInUser":false,"BottomMargin":0,"PaddingLeft":"0px","PaddingTop":"0px","PaddingRight":"0px","PaddingBottom":"0px","PhoneVisible":true,"TabletVisible":true,"DesktopVisible":true,"CssClass":null,"PageLinkName":null,"PageLinkCaption":null},"ComponentCode":null,"ComponentError":null,"BottomMargin":"0px","PaddingLeft":"0px","PaddingTop":"0px","PaddingRight":"0px","PaddingBottom":"0px","CssClass":null,"ResponsiveClasses":"","PageLinkName":null,"PageLinkCaption":null,"Background":{"Colour":null,"ImageURL":null,"Filter":null,"IsParallax":false,"Image":"","Tint":""},"ImageConfig":{"ImageURL":null,"ObjectFit":"contain","ImageHeight":null,"FrameStyle":null,"BorderRadius":null,"Caption":{"IsActive":false,"Text":null,"SubText":null,"Font":{"Size":null,"Colour":null},"SubFont":{"Size":null,"Colour":null},"Alignment":null,"Position":null,"Margin":null,"BackgroundColour":null,"Blur":false,"Hover":false},"AltText":null,"LinkURL":null,"BottomMargin":0,"PaddingLeft":"10px","PaddingTop":"10px","PaddingRight":"10px","PaddingBottom":"10px","PhoneVisible":true,"TabletVisible":true,"DesktopVisible":true,"CssClass":null,"PageLinkName":null,"PageLinkCaption":null},"IgnoreCache":false}]},{"Width":4,"WidthClasses":"col-md-4 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