While 4000 riders have registered for the two L’Etape events on 19-20 March – the Ride and the Race – many locals still aren’t aware of just how big this event will be for our area.

“Our ambition was to reach 6000 participants overall, but each event has been limited to 3000 under the current public health order,” says Florent Malézieux, the Head of Sport for the the organiser, Lateral Event Management.

“A new health order will come into place on 6 March, and we are hoping this cap will be increased.

“We already have 3000 registered for the Race and 1000 for the Ride.

“This is amazing considering people have been holding back from committing given the COVID uncertainty.

“As with many things, people are waiting to the last minute before committing themselves.”

Participants, their families and other support people will arrive in town no later than Friday, to collect their registration packs from the L’Etape HQ at Coronation Park on that day.

Both the 136km Race and the 80km Ride will set off from Kiama, with the Race ending there and the Ride ending in Berry.

The Race will start in Manning Street at 7am on the Saturday, with the Ride starting no more than 45 minutes later.

The race start in Jindabyne - a similar start and finish arch will be erected in Manning St

“We need to make sure there is significant enough gap between the last wave of the Race and the start of the Ride, so they qualify as individual sporting events for the cap,” says Mr Malézieux.

“It will also stop overcrowding in the start area.”

Just over three and a half hours later, the winner of the Race is expected back in Manning Street at 10.38am, with the last one in by 3.17pm.

“These estimates are so precise based on our experience,” says Mr Malézieux.

“Last year we were out by a minute or two.”

The experience of the Tour de France backed crew is behind the road closures that will be necessary for the Saturday, for the riders to advance on vehicle free roads.

Full details of the road closures, approved by Kiama Council at their December meeting, are here. Our overview of what is involved is here.

Mr Malézieux says there are plans to ‘paint the town yellow’ – the colour of the Tour de France – with a festival atmosphere being organised in liaison with Destination Kiama and the Kiama Business Chamber.

“I know Waste Services have been collecting old bikes to paint them yellow and place them around town.

“There really is going to be a super look and feel for visitors and locals.”

An SBS filmcrew will be here to produce a half hour documentary on the event, which will be seen around the world.

The event was originally scheduled for last November. Despite the 40C heatwave conditions, many riders who were due to compete came down to do the course anyway.

Because of the postponement, L’Etape will occur twice this year, the next time in December.

Mr Malézieux reports that accommodation prices at the time of the second event are already 15-20 per cent higher than last November.

After this first event, Lateral, the Tour de France and the State Government will be in talks about the location of the event in coming years.

While not his decision to make, Mr Malézieux says, “This area is made for cycling.”