How difficult is L'Étape Campos do Jordão?

It is the toughest L'Étape stop in Brazil — 107 km (66 mi) with 2,300 m (7,545 ft) of climbing at ~1,600 m (5,250 ft) altitude, on closed mountain roads. Serious amateurs prepare for months.

What are the course options?

A 107 km / 2,300 m long course starting at 06:00 and a 66 km / 1,300 m short course starting at 07:20, both finishing in Campos do Jordão.

When is L'Étape Campos do Jordão in 2026?

The event is traditionally held in late September (spring, Brazilian dry season). Confirm the exact 2026 date on the official site — camposdojordao.letapeseries.com.

How much does it cost to enter?

Recent editions have run roughly R$ 800–1,400 depending on registration wave and course, with early-bird pricing 30–40% cheaper than late waves. Confirm current pricing on the official site.

How many carbs per hour should I target?

70–100 g/hr of mixed-source carbohydrate (glucose + fructose) is a good target on the long course. Trained guts can push toward 120 g/hr on the queen climb.

How much should I drink?

500–800 ml/hr (17–27 fl oz/hr) on the long course. Dry cold air masks sweat losses — drink to the clock, not to thirst.

How much sodium do I need?

500–800 mg of sodium per liter of fluid as a default. Salty sweaters, warmer mid-day riders and heavier finishers should push toward 800–1,000 mg/L.

How many aid stations are there?

Typically 3–5 official aid points across the long course, spaced 25–40 km (15–25 mi) apart. Confirm exact locations in the current year's Rider Manual.

Does altitude really matter here?

Yes — starting and finishing near 1,600 m (5,250 ft) and climbing higher on course meaningfully raises perceived effort and slows glycogen use if you under-fuel. Expect a 4–8% reduction in sustained aerobic power for unacclimated riders.

What should I eat before?

1–4 g/kg carbohydrate 3–4 hours before the 06:00 start, from familiar low-fiber, low-fat foods you have rehearsed. A 70 kg (154 lb) rider targets 140–280 g CHO.

How long does it usually take?

Most amateurs finish the 107 km course in 4–7 hours depending on climbing pace and altitude adaptation. Elite riders finish in 3:15–3:45.

How much climbing is there?

Roughly 2,300 m (7,545 ft) of climbing on the long course and 1,300 m (4,265 ft) on the short course, concentrated in three or four sustained Mantiqueira climbs.

What is the weather like on race day?

Late September in Campos do Jordão: 4–10 °C (39–50 °F) at the 06:00 start, warming to 18–24 °C (64–75 °F) midday, low humidity, high UV, rare rain in the dry season.

What bike should I use?

A road bike with compact (50/34) chainrings and an 11-32 or 11-34 cassette. Climbing gears matter more than aero here. Disc brakes strongly preferred for the long descents.

What gearing do I need?

A 50/34 compact chainring with an 11-32 or 11-34 cassette gives most amateurs a bail-out for the steepest Mantiqueira pitches. Riders under 3.5 W/kg should consider 11-36.

What tire pressure for closed mountain roads?

Most riders on 28 mm tubeless tires run 65–75 psi (4.5–5.2 bar) front and 70–80 psi (4.8–5.5 bar) rear, adjusted for body mass. Slightly softer on cold, damp descents.

Do I need to acclimatize to altitude?

It helps but is not essential. Arriving 3–5 days early gives some acute adaptation; arriving within 24 hours of the start minimizes the worst of the acute response. The 24–72 hour window is the least favorable.

How do I pace the queen climb?

Cap effort at high Zone 2 to low Zone 3 heart rate (~75–82% of altitude-adjusted FTP). Keep carbohydrate intake at 90–100 g/hr and sip constantly. Do not chase groups that surge past — most come back on the next descent.

How many calories per hour do I need?

For a 4–7 hour effort at altitude, most riders target 280–400 kcal/hr, primarily from carbohydrate. Larger and faster riders trend higher.

Downtown Campos do Jordão has hotels, pousadas and short-term rentals within 5–10 minutes of the start. Book 3–6 months in advance — the event fills the town. Sleeping at 1,600 m (5,250 ft) is a small acclimatization bonus.

How do I get to Campos do Jordão?

Fly into São Paulo (GRU or CGH) and drive ~180 km (112 mi) / 2.5–3 hours via SP-070 and Rodovia Floriano Rodrigues Pinheiro. Rental car is the practical option; there is no reliable shuttle.

Is there a group start or wave format?

L'Étape uses corral-based wave starts based on submitted qualifying times. Faster corrals leave first; late corrals may cross the line 10–20 minutes after the gun. Submit accurate qualifying times to be placed correctly.

L'Étape typically restricts clip-on aero bars in the mass-start format for safety. Check the current year's Rider Manual — enforcement is strict at start-line inspection.

What is a good L'Étape Campos do Jordão training plan?

A realistic L'Étape Campos do Jordão training plan runs 12–16 weeks and hits three targets in parallel: aerobic volume (peak 10–14 hours/week for 8–12 weeks), sustained climbing (weekly 30–60 min at threshold on 6–9% gradients) and altitude preparation (arrive 3–5 days early on-site or within 24 hours of the start). Long rides progress toward 4–6 hours with 1,800–2,500 m of climbing on similar sustained-climb terrain. A 2-week taper with race-effort openers finishes the block.

Where can I download the L'Étape Campos do Jordão course map or GPX file?

The official 2026 route (long course + short course GPX, elevation profiles, aid layout) is published by L'Étape Brasil in the year's Rider Manual, distributed to registered athletes a few weeks before the event on camposdojordao.letapeseries.com. Third-party GPX files circulate on Strava and RideWithGPS, but only the official Rider Manual counts on race day. Do not plan aid or turn-by-turn logistics off prior years.

Can I defer my L'Étape Campos do Jordão entry?

Deferral and refund policies are set year-by-year by L'Étape Brasil / ASO. Historically, a partial refund window closes 45–60 days pre-event and a limited transfer / deferral option may be available for documented medical or family reasons, subject to a fee. Always confirm the current-year policy in the registration terms on camposdojordao.letapeseries.com — informal or late-request deferrals are not granted.

Do I need to qualify or enter a lottery for L'Étape Campos do Jordão?

No. L'Étape Campos do Jordão is open registration — there is no lottery, no qualifier race series, and no prior-finish requirement to enter. Register directly on camposdojordao.letapeseries.com subject only to spot availability. Early-bird waves fill fastest, so registering early saves 30–40% versus late waves.

L'Étape Campos do Jordão by Tour de France Nutrition Basics — Pre-Race, Race Day & Recovery

Nutrition basics for L'Étape Campos do Jordão

Three windows shape every endurance result: what you eat in the hours before the start, what you take in on the bike, and how you recover once you cross the line.

Pre-race breakfast

1–4 g/kg carbohydrate 3–4 hours before the 06:00 start, from familiar low-fiber, low-fat foods. A 154 lb (154 lb) rider targets 140–280 g CHO. Rehearse the early-morning meal in training on 03:00 wake-ups at least twice.

During-race execution

Fuel by the clock from km 0 (mile 0). Cold and altitude suppress hunger, so a 15-minute alarm protects intake through the first climb. Chew when climbs allow, sip constantly on rolling sections, save the descents for holding position.

Recovery

1.0–1.2 g/kg carbohydrate and 0.3 g/kg protein within 60 minutes of finishing, plus 150% fluid replacement — critical after racing at altitude. Recovery nutrition at the finish tent shapes how much of your training you can do the following week.

Race-day morning timeline

T-4 h (≈ 02:00)	Wake, coffee, first breakfast (1–2 g/kg CHO): oatmeal, banana, honey. Hydrate 17 fl oz (17 fl oz) with sodium.
T-2 h (≈ 04:00)	Second small feed (~50 g CHO) — bread with jam, sports drink. Chamois cream, warm layers on.
T-90 min	Bike check — pressure, brakes, computer, lights (start is dark), bottles staged. Layer up for 41 °F.
T-45 min	Ride to corral or short spin. Sip 7–10 fl oz (7–10 fl oz) of sports drink. Restroom.
T-20 min	In corral. First caffeine dose (100–200 mg gel or gum). Final layering call.
T-5 min	Half a gel. Breathe. Confirm HR/power start plan with yourself.
T+0 (06:00)	Gun. Neutralized rollout — ride patiently to the first climb, do not chase surges.

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A practical race-week checklist: carbs, hydration, sodium, caffeine and race-day supplies — print it or keep it on your phone.

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L'Étape Campos do Jordão by Tour de France — Nutrition Basics