L'ÉTAPE MADRID BY TOUR DE FRANCE REACHES ITS THIRD YEAR OF EXISTENCE
Le Grand Boucle cyclotourism in the Madrid municipality of Villanueva del Pardillo reaches its third edition on October 1, 2023.
In 2021, the great cyclotourism festival with the Tour de France seal landed in our country thanks to L'Étape Madrid by Tour de France presented by Lapierre, organized by RPM Sports. Since its birth in a difficult moment for the world after the Covid-19 pandemic three years ago, this march has added Spain to the list of countries that already have the events for cycling and Le Grand Boucle lovers such as China, Mexico or Australia.
In addition, the two previous editions of this race held to date in Madrid have had two Spanish ambassadors and Tour de France legends: Óscar Pereiro in 2021, who wore the yellow jersey in 2006, and Carlos Sastre in 2022, who did so in 2008.
Thus, L'Étape Madrid will welcome its participants for the third time in the Madrid town of Villanueva del Pardillo, to ride on the roads of the Cuenca del Guadarrama, the Sierra Oeste and Ávila, next Sunday, October 1. There will be the expected King of the Mountain and Queen of the Mountain to decide the Kings of the Mountain, a Sprint Challenge in a timed section or the "Didi" himself, as the Devil is known among the world peloton encouraging the participants before the start.
One distance and the second year of the Movistar Women Cyclists Circuit
In these two previous editions, more than 2,000 cyclists have enjoyed the two routes to choose from to experience the Spanish cycling tour of the Grand Tour of France, which pass through several little-travelled mountain passes that belong to the mountainous terrain of Madrid and Avila: Arrebatacapas, El Mediano, La escondida, Santa María Alameda and La Paradilla. A challenge that was available in two distances to enjoy landscapes and roads, ideal for cycling: a more demanding circuit of 162 km and 2,977 m of d+, in addition to overcoming 4 passes, or a short distance that will have 112 km and 1,939 m of d+, with 3 passes.
For this 2023, there will be a single route of 153 kilometres, four passes and more than 2,500 metres of accumulated positive difference in altitude. All of this with closed traffic and the necessary safety equipment to enjoy cycling without thinking about anything else. La Vuelta 2023 will also take place on 16th of September, and the international professional peloton will ride over the mountain passes that will be climbed in both events. Iconic places such as La Escondida, the Alto de Santa María de la Alameda and the Alto de Robledondo will be the protagonists of the stage of La Vuelta and the third L'Étape Madrid by Tour de France presented by Lapierre.
Likewise, the participants on 1st of October will be part of the Movistar Women's Cycling Circuit for the second consecutive year. L'Étape Madrid will once again be the finishing touch in the circuit of this initiative, adding the participations of the cyclists of the three rides of the circuit (Mussara Reus, Mussara Donostia - San Sebastián and L'Étape Madrid). In this way, at the end of the season, the participants of these events, who have previously registered on Strava and Mussara and L'Étape Live, will be eligible for the prizes of the Woman in Bike project. For this course, the prizes are an official Movistar Team bicycle and a complete kit also from the same team, as well as a double registration with accommodation to participate in any Mussara in 2024.
