A new week long cyclosportive race dubbed “La Haute Route” was presented in London yesterday, which should challenge even the toughest amateur riders. The course, which covers 720km in seven days, will climb some of the most famous cols in the Alps, including the Madeleine, the Galibier, the Izoard and the Cime de la Bonnette.
The route was officially announced in Paris two weeks ago, but was presented to the UK cycling press yesterday. The event will take in starts and finishes in the prestigious ski resorts of Megève, Les Arcs/Bourg-St-Maurice, Serre Chevalier, Pra Loup and Auron.
“Cycling is a mass participation sport across Europe and especially in the UK,” said Rémi Duchemin, CEO of event organiser OC ThirdPole. “We know that many cyclists from Britain will be excited about this new event and motivated to participate, and the best way to inform UK cyclists is via the media.”
The race, beginning on August 20th net year, will start on the shores of Lake Geneva and cover 720km in seven days, climbing 17,000m over 14 cols, to finish on the famous “Promenade des Anglais” in Nice on the French Riviera. As a cylosportive the event is technically a race, although for many riders it will simply be a challenge to finish; all stages, with four mountaintop finishes including a mountain time trial, will be timed.
The race’s name comes from the legendary mountaineering route across the Alps, first charted in the mid-19th century by the UK Alpine Club and dubbed ‘The High Level Route’.
Entry will cost £595 before December 31st and £630 thereafter; the entry fee covers full support and backup, with all accommodation and transfer of luggage included. Food and drink will be included during and after each stage
“We have put in place a comprehensive team to guarantee safety, comfort and professional medical backup,” said Race Director, Jean-François Alcan, who has created and directed major events of this kind for 20 years. “The Haute Route will be one of the biggest challenges the sportsmen and women will face in their lives so it is important that we offer a service that measures up during the racing but also in our host venues each night.”
Full details and entry forms can be found at www.hauteroute.org.
Stage Details:
Saturday 20th August 2011 The HAUTE ROUTE Village, Geneva
Sunday 21st August 2011 Geneva - Megève (97 km)
Monday 22nd August Megève - Les Arcs (103 km)
Tuesday 23rd August 2011 Bourg-St-Maurice - Serre Chevalier (162 km)
Wednesday 24th August 2011 Serre Chevalier - Col du Granon (12 km, time trial)
Thursday 25th August 2011 Serre Chevalier - Pra Loup (119 km)
Friday 26th August 2011 Pra Loup - Auron (78 km)
Saturday 27th August 2011 Auron - Nice (145 km)