HotChillee, the brains behind the London-Paris ride, have launched the 2011 Alpine Challenge, to take place between September 7-11.

The event kicks off with a 10km mountain time-trial to seed riders into appropriate groups, followed by three mountain stages between 110-120km.

There will be a flagged timed climb each day, of which the aggregate time determines the wearer of the Sigma leader’s jersey (male and female) for the next stage.

Riders will enjoy rolling road closures, motorbike outriders and lead vehicles, and will be supported by a professional crew including masseurs, mechanics and Mavic neutral service.

Entries will open at midday on February 23 and can be made online at www.thealpinechallenge.com

Former Tour de France winner Stephen Roche, who rode last year’s inaugural event, said: “The experience of riding The Alpine Challenge brought back all the feelings of that crazy La Plagne mountain top stage in 1987 when I won the Tour de France. The most real it can get for an amateur.”

Alpine Challenge director Sven Thiele added: “We were blown-away by the response to the inaugural event in 2010, people genuinely felt that the challenging environment and the event logistics made the event feel very much like a Continental stage race.

“The London-Paris has a wonderful social network, and that is replicated on The Alpine Challenge. Riders meet many new friends and riding partners, they create new business contacts and they all share a real passion for cycling. 

“There are no barriers to mixing and interacting and many participants of our events have become very close to all of the HotChillee events team. We have an even better event planned for 2011 and feel that The Alpine Challenge will surpass people’s expectations.”