NIKE is motivated to spread the participation in sports and to support the athletes in general. And as its moto says: if you have a body you are an athlete, all employees are motivated to do all types of sports and participate in all types of sportive events.
In that way, since 2006 a group of employees started enrolling, training and participating in the L'Etape du Tour sportive. One of the most challenging one day event in the cycling calendar for amateurs. As its name says, the Etape is an identical replica of one professional stage of the Tour de France.
The stage is chosen by the Tour organization to provide the participants the feeling of being a professional cyclist: closed roads, food and mechanical support available and the challenge to perform in what is usually one of the most difficult stages of that year. Every year a different stage is chosen and it is usually been a so called queen stage: above 150 kms in distance and containing one or more famous mountains.
The stage is chosen by the Tour organization to provide the participants the feeling of being a professional cyclist: closed roads, food and mechanical support available and the challenge to perform in what is usually one of the most difficult stages of that year. Every year a different stage is chosen and it is usually been a so called queen stage: above 150 kms in distance and containing one or more famous mountains.
THE STAGE -This is no walk in the park. This is a serious challenge with long distances, steep and long mountains and very tight elimination times. You need to perform well or you are out of the race. And to be able to do that one need to train very hard! This year the stage will be stage 20 of the Tour, from Annecy to Annecy-Semnoz. Those are 130 kms with almost no flats, several small climbs and two mid size mountain passes: Mont Revard with 15.9 kms distance and average inclination of 6% and finish on Annecy-Semnoz, that has 10.7 kms and an average inclination of 8.5%.
If this doesn't sound difficult enough, there is the elimination times. Those are not publish yet but usually are very short. Every participant need to cross elimination gates at specified deadlines or they are removed of the race. They are also being chased by a elimination car that keeps a constant speed regardless of the place being a flat, descend of ascend climb. If the car overtakes the rider, he/she is eliminated of the race. This makes it even harder and every one finishing the Etape on time can consider themselves a winner!
Read here a complete review of the stage.
TEAM AND FUNDRAISING - The Nike L'Etape du Tour training train from December to July with indoor training schedules for the winter months and team rides for the spring trainings. The official training rides all around Holland and self-organized group rides builds up a strong team. The participation in sportive races and the fact that cycling is a team sport creates a strong bond with the team members.
Since last year the team has been choosing a good cause to do fundraising. This year, with the diagnose of ALS to one of our riders, we decided to focus our efforts on raising donations towards the Dutch ALS institution. Each team member will voluntarily reach out their network and raise money to support the research against the disease. Each one will also set a target to achieve in a way to motivate the donations as people will see the effort the team is doing for the cause by raising awareness and increasing communication about it.
There several ways to donate. Take a look in the How to Donate page for more information.
TOUR DU ALS - A sub-group of the Nike L'Etape du Tour has also committed to ride the Tour du ALS this year. This is an additional challenge and should motivate people to donate to the cause even more. The full team is not yet confirmed and we will communicate that in the blog.
Keep an eye in this blog for the next articles on the Tour du ALS or if you want do know more about it read this post here.
If this doesn't sound difficult enough, there is the elimination times. Those are not publish yet but usually are very short. Every participant need to cross elimination gates at specified deadlines or they are removed of the race. They are also being chased by a elimination car that keeps a constant speed regardless of the place being a flat, descend of ascend climb. If the car overtakes the rider, he/she is eliminated of the race. This makes it even harder and every one finishing the Etape on time can consider themselves a winner!
Read here a complete review of the stage.
ROUTE OF THE ETAPE THE TEAM WILL FACE WITH FOUR MOUNTAINS
TEAM AND FUNDRAISING - The Nike L'Etape du Tour training train from December to July with indoor training schedules for the winter months and team rides for the spring trainings. The official training rides all around Holland and self-organized group rides builds up a strong team. The participation in sportive races and the fact that cycling is a team sport creates a strong bond with the team members.
Since last year the team has been choosing a good cause to do fundraising. This year, with the diagnose of ALS to one of our riders, we decided to focus our efforts on raising donations towards the Dutch ALS institution. Each team member will voluntarily reach out their network and raise money to support the research against the disease. Each one will also set a target to achieve in a way to motivate the donations as people will see the effort the team is doing for the cause by raising awareness and increasing communication about it.
There several ways to donate. Take a look in the How to Donate page for more information.
TOUR DU ALS - A sub-group of the Nike L'Etape du Tour has also committed to ride the Tour du ALS this year. This is an additional challenge and should motivate people to donate to the cause even more. The full team is not yet confirmed and we will communicate that in the blog.
Keep an eye in this blog for the next articles on the Tour du ALS or if you want do know more about it read this post here.
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