Hello everyone,
I set myself a challenge: finish L’Etape du Tour 2023 (152 km with more than 4,100 metres of accumulated positive elevation gain)
I’ve been cycling for a few months but without a real training plan, what do you advise me to choose as the type of athlete for this kind of event? I went on century rider but maybe climber would be more appropriate?
Thanks!
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I ride hilly audax, which is essentially very similar to your event, I’ve found Climber and GC Specialist work quite well, Climber if the climbs are longer and steadier, GC Specialist if you have a more punchy course. Century rider will only really build your low energy system, I think it’s a little misleading to be honest, as most people would recommend something with a shorter focus duration for an event like yours.
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Etape du Tour 2023 route reveal | Sportive.com
Definitely not Century Rider for an event like that. 
On the plus side you have 170 days to get ready. More base endurance can only help. 
If you set a TED of July 9 you’ll be in Pre-base for the next 50 days and can do as you’d like (experiment with various athlete types), then a phased progression will begin with endurance focus for 45 days.
When you say “cycling for a few months” does that mean you are new to cycling or getting back into it?
What is the longest ride you have done in past? (distance and hours)
Reference –
Training Right For Your Event – Xert
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Hey, thanks for the answer, Im New to cycling because I only train since september (almost only sweetspot, I used TR)
I can cycle 100km in 5 hours (without too much elevation gain), but Im exhausted at the end.
I know its a big challenge for me but its exciting
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A fantastic goal. I’ll be there too!
Having ridden an Etape in 2012 and a couple of Marmotte’s with good success, I’d suggest you gradually build your endurance with increasing time in the saddle at LTP and also work on leg strength on the bike with gradually more and more hills in your rides. No need to smash yourself at any point, just keep adding more load at a sustainable rate.
Gaining load and TP are the main aims with low cadence leg strength. You’ll be riding the climbs at less than TP (about 85% TP) so plenty of long climbs at that power will get you used to what’s to come.
Then it all comes down to being fresh on the day, pacing well and eating & drinking appropriately.
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This is an interesting post.
I am doing the 130km Dirty Reiver gravel ride in late April. There is 2000m of climbing on that route.
I am new to Xert (been using it for just over 2 weeks, I think) and had initially set my athlete type to Century Rider, as I figured that 130km (~87 miles) was getting pretty close to the century.
Since reading this I have now changed the athlete type to Climber, as it is suggested above that it would be a more appropriate choice for the hilly terrain I am likely to encounter.
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