Friday, 5th July 2024: Travel
Please make your own arrangements to arrive at your chosen hotel today. Our team will be available to meet you at the hotel. If you plan to fly then you can make your own way to the hotel via Tram. It's just a few minutes and one stop by tram to get to your hotel. Remember, you'll need to carry you're luggage and bike on the short journey.
Using the tram to get to your hotel means no waiting around for other flights to arrive and so you arrive at your hotel quicker. The hotel is just 500m from the airport!
What about my bike?
You can bring your own bike as it's easy to move between the airport and your hotel. Alternatively, you can rent a bike with us for the weekend. Our mechanic will be available this afternoon at the hotel to assist you with fitting your rental bike or building your own bike after travel. Bikes can be safely stored at the hotel.
This afternoon and early evening, our tour leaders and bike mechanics are available for you. The evening is free for you to eat out if you don’t have evening meal included at your hotel.
Saturday, 6th July 2024: Preparation and registration day
After breakfast and preparing the bikes, we will take you on a supported, guided ride.
We’ll be back at the hotel in the afternoon for you to rest and get prepared for tomorrow.
Don't forget, you'll need to visit the Etape du Tour race village and expo today, with your medical certificate, to collect your race bib and pack.
Self Driving?
If you are arriving in Nice by car, you can choose to drive up to the finish area today and leave your car. You can book our optional transfer back to Nice at one set time today. The advantage of this is that once you've finished the Etape du Tour, you make your way back to Nice at your own pace, not waiting for others to finish.*
* Sportive Breaks are not responsible for getting you to your car in the event that you don't finish the event.
This evening our bike guides will do a race briefing to run through Etape day logistics and of course the route.
The evening is free for you to eat at your hotel or eat out at a local restaurant.
Sunday, 7th July 2024: The 2024 Etape du Tour
We have an early start this morning. Early breakfasts are arranged in the hotel.
Transfer to the start
This morning you will ride the short distance from your hotel to the start of the 2024 Etape du Tour. The ride will make a great warm up / shake out, to get you ready for the challenge ahead.
The 2024 Etape du Tour
The Etape du Tour start is done in waves. You will be allocated a start pen with a time that you must enter the pen plus a start time. Previous editions have started between 07:00 and 08:30. The Etape du Tour is a race with cut off points. You need to have passed certain points on the route at a certain time otherwise you will be eliminated from the route. If you’re eliminated your bike will go on a bike trailer and you will be transported to the finish.
Getting back to Nice
At the end of the Etape you have a number of choices to get back to Nice:
1. We offer a pre-bookable service that you can add at check-out to get you back to Nice
2. If you've driven yourself to Nice or have rented a car, you can leave your car at the finish area on Saturday, and book our coach to bring you back to Nice. You will then drive yourself back to Nice on Sunday after the event.
3. Still got some energy? You can join many of the local riders who will cycle back to Nice after the Etape!
This afternoon and early evening we’ll assist you with re-packing your bikes ahead of travel and you’ll also be able to return your rental bikes with us.
This evening, relax and celebrate your achievement - you've earnt it!
Monday, 8th July 2024: Departure
After breakfast you are free to check out and make your way to the airport either by foot or making use of the local tram system. It's just a few minutes, so if you have a later flight, enjoy a restful morning.
