La Marmotte
La Marmotte is one of Europe’s most popular sportives and, since its first edition in 1982, has earned a deserved reputation and one of the most prestigious – and toughest – events on the calendar. The list of past ‘winners’ includes Laurens Ten Dam, who, as a young rider on the Rabobank development squad, completed the course in 06:07:04 hours.
Unlike the Etape du Tour, which follows the route of a different stage of the Tour de France each year, La Marmotte follows a fixed course which tackles some of the most iconic climbs in the Alps on the first Saturday in June. Be warned: this year’s event takes place on the same day as the Tour de France Grand Départ in Yorkshire.
The 174km route is effectively a loop, starting in Bourg-d’Oisans and tackling the Col du Glandon, Col du Télégraphe and Col du Galibier, before riders are faced with the 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez for an accumulative ascent of 5,180m.
La Marmotte is rightly at the top of many a rider’s bucket list and individual entries for 2014 are sold out, but packages are still available through a variety of tour operators.
Otherwise, there is no shortage of alternative events in the Alps. Consider the Time-Megeve Sportive, the Gruyère, the Alpenbrevet and the Morzine Vallee d’Aulps
Date: Saturday July 5
Route: 174km
Price: Individual entries are sold out, packages still available through tour operators
Website: La Marmotte
