Etape 2009

etape packages costs about the same as an airfare to melb (visit is long over due). roda's given me the go ahead for the etape, but the price is a real turn off. would prefer to do it independently as well, so we can drive around and follow the tour of a bit. anyway, trying to contact a few people to see if i can scam an entry via Velo mag. where did you see €100 entry from, andyp? ive seen £150 for entry-only and they're sold out.

Veló magazine publishes an entry form for the Etape in, I think, February. It costs €60 but you have to have an address in France to register at and you're not guaranteed an entry. Even so, it's a lot less than the £150 that UK tour operators charge.