The Estonian president, Kersti Kaljulaid, will race at l’Étape du Tour, a competition for the unprofessional cyclists who ride on the same routes and under the same conditions as the professionals of Tour de France.
Kaljulaid will cycle at l’Étape du Tour on 21 July, her spokesman told the Estonian Public Broadcasting, ERR.
L’Étape du Tour has been organised since 1993. This year, the race takes place between Albertville and Val Thorens, on the same route that was designed for the 20th stage of the Tour de France.
The participants have to cover a distance of 135 kilometres (84 miles), with a total positive altitude difference of 4,563 metres (14,970 feet). The finish line is at an altitude of 2,365 metres (7,760 feet) – the highest in the history of l’Étape du Tour.
The Tour de France, organised since 1903, is an annual men’s multiple stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. It consists of 21 day-long stages over the course of 23 days.
Kersti Kaljulaid is the fifth president of Estonia, in office since October 2016. She is the first female head of state of Estonia, as well as the youngest ever president, aged 46 at the time of her election.
