A cloudy summer's day in the west of Ireland, 2008, and the crowd enthusiastically await the arrival of the cyclists in the Tour of Ireland.

Salthill, on the edge of Galway City marked the end of stage three of the five stage race and the world's greatest sprinter, Mark Cavendish, was making sure of a third win out of three on the flat sprint finish.

This cyclist, from the Isle of Man, a 35-stage winner of the Tour de France, more than any other in the race's 111-year history has retired after winning his final race in the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium.

The previous day, in Loughrea, County Galway, a pair of excited fans declared "The world's greatest cyclist is racing right here in Loughrea!" And that accolade coming only three years after turning professional, having won four stges at the Tour de France a month before.

I had the privilege of photographing Mark Cavendish, known as the Manx Missile, in 2008 on the Tour of Ireland and again in 2015 on the Tour de France.

The cycling world will miss one of its all time greats.

As a keen cyclist, like many Irish people, and someone who enjoys photographing cycling races (from the Tour of Ireland to the Tour de France), the opportunity to partake in one of the world's most famous cycling events is tempting, tickets for L'Étape du Tour go on sale 6th of November 2024.

The Étape du Tour is held every year, on closed roads covering one of the Tour du France's most challenging stages, with 16,000 participants taking to the scenic French roads with all the support of the real thing which follows a few days later. This is professional level organisation.

This is a non-professional cyclist's opportunity to ride as if part of the Grande Boucle.

You don't need to be a competitive cyclist, anyone who is fit enough can take part and you don't need to be a KOM rider, this event is doable with a good level of fitness.

For 2025, the Étape du Tour starts in Albertville, home to the Winter Olympics in 1992 and finishes in La Plagne, famous for skiing and the world's most popular ski resort in 2014.

But, in the heat of the French summer in July, skiing will take second place as La Plagne sees the arrival of 16,000 cyclists from all over the world, followed a few days later by hundreds of the world's top professional cyclists.

It will be the last mountain stage for the 2025 TdF but and it will be challenging for the professionals but on the 21st of July there will be a lot of sore legs in La Plagne, as it marks its fifth time hosting the Tour de France.

Interestingly, La Plagne will also host a SUPER8 mountain biking race on the 11th to 13th July, making it a cycling hotspot for 2025. Mayor of La Plagne Tarentaise Jean-Luc Boch said "...we are going to see a real celebration of cycling."

Leaving Albertville (355m) the Étape du Tour will cross some of the most famous mountain passes in France, the Col des Saisies (1,650m) which sees a 13.7km long climb at average gradient of 6.4%; before the descent to Beaufort at 724m followed by the tough climb to the Col du Pré at 1,748m with 12.6km of roads at a whopping 7.7% average gradient, which reaches 11.3% maximum. The Cormet de Roselend takes riders to 1,968 metres above sea level, dropping again to 806m ahead of the long (19.1km) climb to La Plagne at 2,052m with an average gradient of 7.2%! All that over 131km of Savoie tarmac.

What is it: L'Étape du Tour de France - a closed road, full stage of the world's most famous cycling race, the Tour de France run a few days before the professionals take on the stage

When is it: Sunday 20th of July 2025, 131km and 4,500m of ascent to finish at La Plagne

How to find out more (and only place to buy tickets/register unless booking with a tour operator or riding for charity): https://www.letapedutourdefrance.com/en/the-race/how-to-register

Hurry though, tickets go on sale on Wednesday November 6th 2024 at 16:00 and will likely sell out quickly - within a few hours.

**UPDATE** Registration has now closed, but you can find tickets through official tour operators or ride for charity, more information here: https://www.letapedutourdefrance.com/en/village/tour-operators or https://www.letapedutourdefrance.com/en/event/charity