AS Lance Armstrong coasted home to his seventh successive Tour de France title last month a group of amateur riders from Radlett could not help but nod an appreciative head at the mammoth task he had just completed.

For just days before the super-fit American crossed the finishing line in Paris, the group of six men had competed in their own mini version of the race when they joined other amateur riders from around the globe for the start of this year's L' Etape du Tour.

The L' Etape du Tour or L' Etape as it more commonly known was founded by French cycling magazine Vlo in 1993 and offers amateur cyclists the opportunity to ride a real stage of the Tour de France for a day.

Each year the event attracts record numbers and at the starting line this year there were more than 8,000 ready to test themselves against the brutal course.

Among them was the gang of riders from Radlett. Roy Somerston, Danny Ackerman Barry Welck, Neville Newman, David Rosenfeld and Alex Pomerance all began riding together ten years ago. They decided to take on the challenge and in the process helped raise thousands of pounds for charity.

This year's L'Etape du Tour started from Mourenx in south west France and wound its way into the Pyrenees before finishing in Pau 118 miles later.

The gruelling trek formed stage 16 of the real Tour de France and along the way, riders would have to take in four peaks or climbs including the Col d'Aubisque, which is nearly 11 miles long with an average gradient exceeding seven per cent.

Just like the real race, all roads are closed off to the general public and police on motorbikes escort the peleton around France's countryside.

Large crowds of supporters ringing cowbells also line up along the course to cheer on the willing riders.

And just like the real race there are those who will fail to complete the race as the course's punishing climbs take its toll. Only Roy, David and Danny from the Radlett bunch managed to complete the tricky stage. Of the 8,000 who started this year's L'Etape, fewer than half completed it. Strict rules dictate that riders who do not complete the first 60 miles under five hours must give up riding so the French authorities can re-open the roads to the general public.

Among those swept up by the infamous "broom wagon" was Radlett rider Alex. The 44-year-old company director was forced to stop 40 miles from the finish line.

Although feeling shattered, he said he was disappointed to pull out just short of the top of a climb.

He added: "The stewards are pretty ruthless and I was quite despondent when I stopped.

"I felt I could have gone on because I was just five kilometres from the top of the climb and after that it was pretty much a downhill descent.

"I wasn't actually fazed by the cycling. I think it was down to lack of experience more than anything.

"I was panicking a bit because of the time factor. I found I was constantly thinking about the clock as I tried to make each checkpoint.

"We all went with the intention of completing it, but after 50 kilometres we realised we would have to go a lot faster pace than we had trained at. We all trained quite hard, but over here you don't have the climbs like they do."

However, it was not just the climbs that posed difficulties for all the riders. One of the scariest parts of the ride is the tricky descents down mountain-tops at speeds approaching 50 kilometres an hour.

With so many riders squeezed on to tight, winding roads, crashes are often inevitable and Alex witnessed quite a few pile-ups.

He added: "It gets quite dangerous on the descent simply because people are racing against the clock and they go hell for leather at some points.

"It felt great going at such speeds, but you look over the edge of the mountain at the beautiful scenery and realise you don't want to become part of it."

Despite the obvious dangers and problems, Alex said the race gave him a fascinating insight into life on the road and he had nothing but admiration for those who took part in the race for real.

He added: "You really have to admire them.

"They expend so much energy you just can't imagine how they can get up the next day and do it all again.

"When you see them going uphill at the same speed we normally go at on the flat, you realise just how fit they really are.

"If I had been allowed to finish my time would have been double what those guys do it in."

Watching stars such as Lance Armstrong, Jan Ulrich and Ivan Basso back on TV also allowed Alex time to bask in the memory of his time in France and he paid tribute to the thousands of fans who lined the route of the L'Etape just as they do for the real race.

He said the image of fans ringing their cowbells as he made his way up the mountain was one that would stay with him for a long time.