Sports Tours International is taking reservations now for amateur cyclists who want to participate in L’Étape du Tour 2018, an opportunity to tackle a mountain stage of the 2018 Tour de France.
MANCHESTER, UK– Sports Tours International, the UK-based provider of vacations built around nail-biting, world-class cycling and running competitions, is taking reservations now for amateur cyclists who want to participate in L’Étape du Tour 2018, an opportunity to tackle a mountain stage of the 2018 Tour de France.
L’Étape du Tour 2018 is scheduled for Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Annecy, France. The finish is at Le Grand-Bornand, a resort in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. This finish was used in the 2009 Tour de France on Stage 17 when Alberto Contador famously went against team orders and left Lance Armstrong on both the Col du Romme and the Col de la Colombière.
Riders experience highs and lows while traversing a distance of 169km and climbing to heights of up to 4,000km, just like the pros when the 2018 Tour de France begins on July 7 and runs through July 29. For example, the Col de la Colombière will be the final climb for Stage 10 (Annecy to Le Grand Bornand, 159km) on July 17.
Riders and their guests will enjoy a festival of cycling over the weekend in Annecy. Lake Annecy is a focal point of Annecy, an alpine town known for canals and cobbled streets. Annecy is well known for the heritage of its buildings and natural landscape. It is situated beside one of the purest lakes in Europe, at the foot of the Alpine massifs of the Aravis and the Bauges, but close to Switzerland and Italy.
Sports Tours International’s L’Étape du Tour 2018 four-day/three-night tour package includes guaranteed entry when booked through Sports Tours International. With direct-to-the-public entries nearly sold out, Sports Tours will become one of only a handful of operators who can guarantee entry to the event. Also included in the package are accommodations at a range of hotels, roundtrip airport transfers from Geneva, overland bike transfer, bike rental and storage, complimentary coach accommodations for traveling companions to witness the excitement, three breakfasts, and, depending on the hotel, three dinners, staff support along the race course and more. Per person, double occupancy rates begin at £519 and go up to £699 for four-star accommodations. Self-drive packages are also available. While guaranteed, an additional cost is the actual entry fee to L’Étape du Tour 2018.
For non-riders, a free coach from Annecy to the finish in Le Grand Bornand is offered with return to Annecy later in the day.
Sports Tours International is one of Europe’s leading specialists in sports travel. Since the company’s launch in 1973, it has hosted thousands of participants and spectators at major sporting events worldwide. With the tagline, Fanatical about Sport, the company’s initial roots came from a devotion to running when founder Vince Regan began taking runners to the NYC Marathon. Since the early 2000s, the company has embraced international cycling events and triathlon competitions, sports training camps and corporate hospitality. Clients often can participate in events with the pros and are encouraged to “unleash your inner hero” or when it’s not possible to compete, there’s the ability to be active spectators along the routes and “watch your heroes.”
A Manchester, UK company is issuing invites across the pond to sports fans in the US and Canada to view or engage in some of the world’s most iconic yet demanding athletic events.
Sports Tours International takes care of all the vacation arrangements in a variety of inclusive packages while tracking the drama of international cycling and running events.
Guests may become event players themselves, as in a late June inaugural Haute Route for cyclists in the American Rockies. All may witness the agonies and joys at starting and ending stages of fierce competitions. They can ride the same courses the warriors master; they can be tourists in places new to them. And always they are viewing the world through the eyes of a passionate athlete.
Sports Tours International does the vacation packaging legwork for the following 2017 cycling events:
May 5-28, 2017 – 100th Giro d’Italia– As an official Tour Operator of this grand tour of cycling, Sports Tours International has exclusive VIP options on 6 sprint stages, 8 medium mountain stages, 5 high mountain stages and 2 Individual Time Trials. Sports Tours International offers five spectator tour packages to witness the 100th edition of this Grand Tour that begins in Sardinia, climbs up Mount Etna, weaves through the rest of Italy and Dolomites as riders conquer Stelvio and Mortirolo, and arrives in Milan for a spectacular time trial from the Monza Grand Prix motor racing circuit. See: https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/event-categories/giro-ditalia/
Suggested Package: The Final 9 Days, May 20-29, 2017 is priced from US$2,760 per person based on sharing a double/twin room (both cyclists and spectators are welcome). This is a 10-day program that includes, among others, gifts and informational packets, a copy of the official 100th Giro d’Italia roadbook, accommodation for nine nights, multiple meals, all transfers and transportation, the grand finale in Milan, bike handling and storage. Rental bikes are available. Guests lodge on arrival in Milan, then transfer for three nights each in Bormio and Cortina d’Ampezzo to watch the final legs of the Giro before returning to Milan for two additional nights to attend the finish as a VIP at Piazza Duomo. Every day there will be cycling opportunities as well as options to watch the Giro d’Italia. On a Giro rest day in Bormio, guests may cycle, visit a local spa, hop on a train or cable car or do some leisurely shopping. See more at: https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/events/giro-ditalia-finale
June 24-30, 2017 – Mavic Haute Route Rockies. Sports Tours International’s experience on European Haute Routes (the toughest cyclosportives in the world) benefits cyclists participating in this inaugural event, the first Haute Route on North American soil. Organized by OC Sports of Switzerland, this combines the established format of the European Haute Route events with the thrill of riding through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the heartland of American road cycling. The event starts in Boulder before heading through the Colorado Rockies, stopping in Winter Park, Avon, Snowmass Village, Crested Butte and finishing in Colorado Springs. Interest is this exciting new event is high and entries are expected to sell quickly. Entry fees for riders in the competition: US$1,800 subject to availability. This is available with or without the rider support package.
Suggested Rider Support Package: June 24-30, 2017. This package priced at US$2,180 per person, based on sharing a double/twin room includes accommodation for nine nights, daily breakfasts, dinners, airport and daily transfers including transport of non-riding companions between stages and to viewing points, bike handling, gifts and informational packets, and midweek laundry. See: https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/events/haute-route-rockies/
July 1-23, 2017 – Tour de France. Sports Tours International is an official tour operator for the world’s biggest annual sporting event. Guests have special VIP access to stage start villages, VIP hospitality at finish lines and the opportunity to ride some of the routes taken by the pro riders. In particular, Sports Tours International offers official grandstand seating and VIP hospitality available for the final stage in Paris where the new yellow jersey winner is crowned. For only the fourth time in this tour’s history, the event will begin in a German city, this year in Dusseldorf. See: https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/event-categories/tour-de-france/
Suggested Package: Mountain Stages, July 11-24, 2017. On this official Tour de France 14-day tour itinerary guests start and finish in Paris and witness all the mountain stages in the Pyrenees, followed by the Alpine finale and the deciding Time Trial in Marseille. Guests have VIP access to some stage starts and also enjoy VIP Hospitality at one of the finish lines. Included are airport transfers in Paris, nightly accommodation and breakfasts, some dinners, bike transfers and storage, and train transfer from Marseille to Paris for the grand finale. The per person rate based on sharing a double/twin room is from US$3,450. See: https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/events/2017-tour-de-france-pyrenees-alps-marseille-paris/
July 30, 2017 – Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100. This London Marathon for cyclists is an opportunity to ride 100 miles on the closed roads of London and out into the English countryside of Surrey before finishing on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. This is the route based on one made famous by the 2012 Olympics Road Race. Sports Tours International has guaranteed entry and hotel accommodation available for two, four and five nights for people wanting to join this race. Per person rates based on sharing a double/twin room include accommodation, guaranteed entry to the race, service and support of Sports Tours International staff and bike storage at the hotel. Note: entries to participate in this event close on 26th May, interested parties need to act quickly! See: https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/events/ridelondon/
Sept. 1-11, 2017 – La Vuelta a España. This is the final Grand Tour of the season. The 2016 Vuelta a España was a nail-biting duel almost to the very end between Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome. Despite pulling back an enormous amount of time in the time trial, Quintana was able to hold off Froome in the final stage, becoming the first Colombian to win the race since 1987. Sports Tours International welcomes riders as well as spectators. Experience the battle for the red jersey up close and personal. Guides know the ideal locations and viewing points to experience the best of La Vuelta. See: https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/event-categories/vuelta-espana/
Suggested Package: The Final Week, Sept. 4-11, 2017. This 8-day tour from US$1,610 per person, based on sharing a double/twin room, experiences the stages of the second week of 2017 Vuelta including the final stages. This all takes place in northern Spain including the finale on the infamous Angliru. The rate includes hotels in the best places, many meals, transport to watch the stages, ride support and bike guides. Bike rental options available. See: https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/events/2017-vuelta-a-espana-final-week/
Sports Tours International is a leading European specialist in sports travel. Since inception in 1973 they have hosted thousands of participants and spectators at major sporting events worldwide. With the tagline, Fanatical about Sport, the company’s initial roots came from a devotion to running when founder Vince Regan began taking runners to the NYC Marathon. Since the early 2000s, the company now embraces international cycling events and triathlon competitions, sports training camps and corporate hospitality. Clients often can participate in events with the pros and are encouraged to “unleash your inner hero” or when it’s not possible to compete, there’s the ability to be active spectators along the routes and “watch your heroes.”
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