L’Etape du Tour is a cyclosportif for amateurs which was first organised in 1993. It is an opportunity for amateurs to cycle the same route as the professionals cover on one of the stages of the Tour de France. It takes place during the Tour, often on a rest day through closed roads with many ferocious climbs. 2008 was no exception with 167kms of riding and 2114 m of climbing - Laurent Four came home in just 5 hours and 38 minutes. Over 7500 cyclists come from all over the world to take part but most of them don’t do what Tchavdar Kostadinov, known as ‘Kosta’, undertook.

A member of Stratford Cycling Club, Kosta had known for many months that he was going to ride L’Etape and had trained hard throughout the winter and spring months to ensure he was in peak condition for the ride. However it was a last minute decision to ride and not drive from his home town of Stratford on Avon. Setting off on Sunday June 29th, he gave himself just 6 days to complete over 800 miles to Pau where the stage commenced, a no mean feat for someone in their mid 40’s originally from Sophia, Bulgaria.

Setting off with his bike, 2 panniers carefully packed, a map and a compass, he had no clear idea of the route or where he was going to stay. However he knew if the compass was pointing south he was going in the right direction. Staying in Bed and Breakfasts on the way, he covered between 100 and 140 miles every day sending regular updates back to his training partner and SCC member friend, Peter Ward. He arrived in Pau with a day to rest before the main stage ride on Sunday July 6th and was therefore fresh to complete the gruelling ride to Hautacam in just over 7 hours, averaging 20 mph up until the final mountain climb. Undaunted after the event, he then rode back to Pau with a French cycling club, before setting off on his return journey home, shedding various items of clothing on the way, including half his towel in order to lighten his load.

The return journey was going smoothly until the last day in France when a spoke snapped in his back wheel and he had to find someone early in the morning to fix it. Luckily for him, he was soon back on the road, racing against the clock to catch the ferry back to Portsmouth in order for him to complete the journey home in time for work on Monday. All in all over 1700 miles completed in 2 weeks with a little encouragement from his friends and a little help from his compass.

Miranda Harris
14/07/08