L'ETAPE ORGANISERS LAUNCH NEW SPORTIVE

Organisers of the Tour de France, the Amoury Sport Organisation (ASO), have launched a new cyclo-sportive for 2007. The first L'Etape de Legende will run from Strasbourg to the Ballon d'Alsace and takes place on September 23.

The Ballon d'Alsace, in the Les Vosges mountain range in eastern France, was the first mountain the Tour went over back in 1905. René Pottier was the first rider to crest the 1,178 metre summit. He quit the race the following day, but came back to win the Tour the following year.

The new event will allow for 8,500 entrants. More details will be released soon.

L'Etape itself will be held on Monday, July 16 over the parcours of the Foix - Loudenvielle stage of this years race. The 202km route in the Pyrenees takes in the Col de Port (1,249m), the Col de Portet d'Aspet (1,069m), the Col de Menté (1,349m), the Col du Port de Balés (1,755m) and the Col de Peyresourde (1,569m).