For amateur cyclists who dream of experiencing the Tour de France from inside the race, few events compare with L’Étape du Tour de France.
Every year, thousands of cyclists take on an actual Tour de France mountain stage on closed roads, riding many of the same climbs that will later decide the world’s biggest professional cycling race.
And preparations for L’Étape du Tour 2027 have already begun.
The organisers have announced the 2027 route: 154 km and 4,850 metres of climbing from Cluses to Les Saisies on 11 July 2027.
This guide brings together the confirmed route details and practical advice for training, travel and preparing your bike.
L’Étape du Tour 2027 Quick Facts
| Event | L’Étape du Tour de France 2027 |
| Country | France |
| Date | 11 July 2027 |
| Route | Cluses to Les Saisies · 154 km · 4,850 m climbing |
| Route announcement | October 22, 2026 |
| Registration | Opened 2 November 2026; check availability |
| Roads | Closed during the event |
| Type | Mountain cyclosportive |
| Organiser | A.S.O. / Tour de France |
The event takes place on 11 July 2027. General registration opened on 2 November 2026; check the organiser for current entry options.
Make your bike easier to identify and give it a clean professional look.
The 2027 Route Announcement
The organisers unveiled the route on 22 October 2026: it runs from Cluses to Les Saisies.
The route includes five major climbs and 4,850 metres of ascent.
That is an important date if you’re considering entering.
Use the official route profile to analyse:
- start and finish locations;
- total distance;
- elevation gain;
- major climbs;
- maximum gradients;
- expected difficulty;
- ideal gearing;
- accommodation options;
- training requirements.
Consult the organiser’s participant guide for current practical details and any changes.
When Is L’Étape du Tour 2027?
The event takes place on 11 July 2027.
Use the official event site for updates and participant information.
The confirmed 2027 route starts in Cluses and finishes in Les Saisies.
A.S.O. has confirmed the event date and route.
What Is L’Étape du Tour de France?
L’Étape du Tour gives amateur cyclists the opportunity to ride an actual mountain stage of the Tour de France.
According to the organisers, the event began in 1993 and now attracts around 16,000 cyclists each year.
The appeal is easy to understand.
You’re not simply riding famous roads.
You experience many of the ingredients that make the Tour unique:
- closed roads;
- huge groups of cyclists;
- mountain passes;
- Tour de France branding;
- professional-level organisation;
- spectators along the route;
- feed stations;
- timing;
- an official finish line.
For many amateur cyclists, it is one of the closest experiences possible to riding a genuine Tour de France stage.
How Difficult Will L’Étape du Tour 2027 Be?
The 154 km route includes five major climbs and 4,850 metres of ascent.
But history suggests that riders should expect a serious mountain challenge.
For comparison, the 2026 edition ran for approximately 170 km from Bourg-d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez, giving riders a demanding Alpine route. L’Etape du Tour de France
The 2027 route is 154 km long, with five major climbs.
Distance alone will not tell us everything.
For L’Étape, the key numbers will be:
total climbing + altitude + climb length + gradients + weather.
A 140 km Alpine stage can easily be harder than a 200 km flatter sportive.
L’Étape du Tour 2027 Registration
General registration opened on 2 November 2026. Check current entry options with the organiser.
The organiser provides the current registration process and conditions.
Check the official registration process and account requirements directly with the organiser.
An account alone does not guarantee a place.
How Can You Secure a Place for L’Étape du Tour 2027?
Demand for L’Étape can be very high.
There is already one confirmed route toward priority access.
The organisers state that riders who participate in an eligible L’Étape Series event can obtain early access to registration for L’Étape du Tour de France 2027 through the L’Étape Reward programme. L’Etape du Tour de France
This could be particularly useful if you’re worried about missing general registration.
Check the organiser for currently available registration options.
How to Prepare for Registration
If L’Étape du Tour 2027 is one of your main goals, there are several things worth doing now.
Create Your Tour de France Club Account
Check your account and the current registration conditions before purchasing.
Plan Around the Confirmed Route
Use the published route when planning travel, training and gearing.
Don’t Book the Wrong Location Yet
The start is in Cluses and the finish is in Les Saisies; check transport and booking conditions before committing.
Start Building Fitness Now
You don’t need to know the precise climbs to begin improving aerobic endurance.
A solid endurance base will be useful regardless of the final route.
How to Train for L’Étape du Tour 2027
Make training specific to the published course.
Continue to build the fundamentals.
Build Endurance
Gradually become comfortable riding for four, five and eventually six or more hours.
Improve Your Climbing
Long mountain events require sustained effort rather than short explosive power.
Long steady climbs or structured indoor sessions can help if you don’t live near mountains.
Practice Repeated Climbs
A common mistake is training for one big ascent.
Tour stages often include multiple major climbs.
Being able to climb strongly after several hours is very different from climbing fresh.
Train Your Nutrition
Your stomach needs training too.
Use long rides to establish how much carbohydrate and fluid you can consistently consume without digestive problems.
Practice Descending
On a mountainous route, efficient descending can save both energy and time.
You should be comfortable braking, cornering and descending around other riders.
What Bike Do You Need for L’Étape du Tour?
A lightweight road bike is ideal, but sensible gearing matters more than saving a few grams.
Choose gearing suited to the published climbs and your own fitness.
Before the event, your bike should have:
- reliable brakes;
- fresh or healthy tyres;
- a clean drivetrain;
- appropriate gearing;
- correctly adjusted derailleurs;
- comfortable contact points;
- tested nutrition storage;
- correctly positioned bottle cages.
Avoid making major bike-fit or equipment changes immediately before travelling.
Make Your Bike Easy to Identify at L’Étape
L’Étape brings together thousands of cyclists and thousands of extremely similar high-end road bikes.
At hotels, bike storage areas, feed stations and the event village, a small personal identifier can make yours much easier to spot.
Planning your season? Explore our 2027 cycling events calendar to discover more of the world’s best gran fondos, sportives and endurance cycling challenges.
Is L’Étape du Tour 2027 Worth Doing?
If experiencing the Tour de France atmosphere from the saddle is on your cycling bucket list, L’Étape is difficult to beat.
It combines closed roads, major climbs, thousands of riders and the identity of the Tour de France in a single event.
Consider the confirmed route, elevation and travel logistics when deciding whether it suits you.
The confirmed route provides a useful basis for preparation.
The 2027 route was announced on 22 October 2026.
Check the organiser’s website for current registration availability and participant information.
Compare L’Étape with Other 2027 Cycling Challenges
Before choosing your main 2027 challenge, compare L’Étape with the Quebrantahuesos 2027, Maratona dles Dolomites 2027 and Dragon Ride 2027 guides. In addition, our cycling events 2027 calendar lists more international options.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is L’Étape du Tour 2027?
The event takes place on 11 July 2027.
When will organisers announce the L’Étape du Tour 2027 route?
The route was announced on 22 October 2026.
Where will L’Étape du Tour 2027 take place?
The route starts in Cluses and finishes in Les Saisies.
Is registration for L’Étape du Tour 2027 open?
General registration opened on 2 November 2026. Check current entry options with the organiser.
How many cyclists ride L’Étape du Tour?
The organiser says approximately 16,000 amateur cyclists participate each year.
Can I guarantee a place at L’Étape du Tour 2027?
The organiser states that participating in eligible L’Étape Series events can provide early access to 2027 registration through the L’Étape Reward programme.