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Haute Route announce ‘most demanding’ routes yet for 2016 sportives

More historic climbs packed into Haute Route Pyrenees, Alps and Dolomites Swiss Alps routes

More historic climbs than ever before have been packed into the routes for the 2016 Haute Route Series, with the three week-long sportives boasting their most varied parcours yet.

Each week in the Pyrenees (August 20-August 26), Alps (August 28-September 3) and Dolomites Swiss Alps (September 5-September 11) comes with seven timed and ranked stages and more than 20,000m of climbing packed into the 800km-900km routes.

Haute Route director Julie Royer believes the 2016 routes represents some of the most challenging courses in the series’ history.

This year’s Haute Route Series packs in more historic climbs than ever before (Pic: Haute Route)

She said: “With the support of our host venues we have been able to stage the most demanding and historically significant route yet.

“For those taking on the Haute Route Pyrenees, the cycling icons of the region, including Tourmalet, Peyresourde and Col d’Aspin, lie in wait.

“The highlight of 2016’s Haute Route Alps is day three’s race against the clock on the Col du Galibier – a first in world cycling – while the Dolomites Swiss Alps features two ascents of the fearsome Passo dello Stelvio.”

The Haute Route Pyrenees kicks off the series, rolling out in Anglet on August 20, with the first day offering the chance to climb La Pierre-Saint-Martin, scene of Chris Froome’s explosive Tour de France stage victory in 2015.

The Col du Tourmalet, Col de Peyresourde, Col d’Aspin, Col d’Aubisque and Route des Lacs – the latter new to the route for this year – all then lie in wait en-route to Toulouse.

On the Haute Route Alps, the Col du Galibier must be climbed from both sides, while the beautiful hairpins of the Lacets de Montvernier also lie in wait.

New climbs include the Col du Tra, while iconic ascents such as the Col d’Izoard and Col de la Madeleine are also packed in, with riders departing Nice on August 28 and arriving in Geneva on September 3.

Fancy a taste of some of Europe’s toughest climbs? (Pic: Haute Route)

The Haute Route Dolomites Swiss Alps then takes participants from Geneva to Venice, between September 5 and September 11, with the route including the iconic Stelvio and similarly fierce Passo Gavia and Passo Giau.

The seven days include 12 summits above 2,000m with more than 21,000m of climbing crammed into the 900km route.

For full stage descriptions on the Haute Route Pyrenees, Haute Route Alps and Haute Route Dolomites Swiss Alps follow the respective links.

Otherwise, whet your appetite with the trailer above and head this way for more information and to register – the final discount entry window closes at midnight on November 30.

Haute Route Pyrenees 2016 route

Saturday August 20 – Anglet to La Pierre-Saint-Martin (143km, difficulty 4/5)

Sunday August 21 – Pau to Argeles-Gazost (146km, 5/5)

Monday August 22 – Argeles-Gazost to Col de Couraduque (16km, individual time trial, 3/5)

Tuesday August 23 – Argeles-Gazost to Pla d’Adet (97km, 4/5)

Wednesday August 24 – Saint-Lary Soulan to Cap de Long (100km, 5/5)

Thursday August 25 – Saint-Lary Soulan to Peyragudes (131km, 4/5)

Friday August 26 – Peyragudes to Toulouse (169k, 3/5)

 

Haute Route Alps 2016 route

Sunday August 28 – Nice to Auron (136km, 5/5)

Monday August 29 – Auron to Risoul (111km, 4/5)

Tuesday August 30 – Risoul to Valloire (118km, 4/5)

Wednesday August 31 – Valloire to Col du Galibier (18km, individual time trial, 4/5)

Thursday September 1 – Valloire to Courchevel (141km, 5/5)

Friday September 2 – Courchevel to Megeve (134km, 4/5)

Saturday September 3 – Megeve to Geneva (138km, difficulty 3/5)

Haute Route Dolomites Swiss Alps 2016 route

Monday September 5 – Geneva to Crans-Montana (177km, 4/5)

Tuesday September 6 – Crans-Montana to San Gottardo (137km, 3/5)

Wednesday September 7 – St Moritz to Bormio (97km, 5/5)

Thursday September 8 – Bormio to Stelvio (21km, individual time trial, 3/5)

Friday September 9 – Bormio to Alto Adige (144km, 4/5)

Saturday September 10 – Alto Adige to Cortina d’Ampezzo (150km, 5/5)

Sunday September 11 – Corina d’Ampezzo to Venice (175km, 4/5)

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