Peter Pouly, five-time French mountain biking champion, wins the Haute Route Alpes for the third consecutive year, while Tatjana Ruf climbs to the top of the women’s podium. Until the end, camaraderie and friendliness reigned within the peloton, composed of 91 teams. A race filled with countless extraordinary stories, of which Niçois François Le Maut, the 70-year-old veteran of the event, is one of the heroes.
The moon was still high in the sky and the first lights visible on the horizon this morning when the riders gathered in Auron to start the 7th and final stage of the 2013 Haute Route Alpes. Silent and focused on the upcoming stage, participants were ready to make one last effort before reaching Nice, the Mediterranean, and seeing their loved ones again.
Five-time French Mountain Biking Champion and winner of the Haute Route in 2011 (in Duo) and 2012 (in Solo), Peter Pouly delivered a remarkable performance to win the Haute Route Alpes for the third consecutive year: “This edition was special because it was much harder than the previous ones, it increased progressively in difficulty, and it became increasingly difficult with accumulated fatigue. I am very happy because I trained hard for this.”
Pedaling as one, the 550 riders ventured through the Tinée Valley, before tackling the only climb of the day towards the Col de Vence. Participants found it hard to believe that the sea was so close.
Carried out in a secure convoy with the support of law enforcement, the last kilometers towards the Grande Bleue will forever be etched in the memories of the participants. Gathered on the Promenade des Anglais in front of the seafront, the families and friends of the riders eagerly awaited the arrival of the week’s heroes.
At all levels, the riders pushed their limits to achieve the goals they set at the start line in Geneva a week ago.
Results of the Haute Route 2013
Individual General Classification – Men
1 Peter Pouly / 89 / FRA / Life and Living Bikenet / 22:07:12
2 Ariya Pounsavath / 610 / FRA-LAO / Life and Living Bikenet / 22:37:07
3 David Polveroni / 245 / FRA / Uphill Only / 22:57:57
Individual General Classification – Women
1 Tatjana Ruf / 310 / SUI / Hobby Gummeler / 27:06:51
2 Amelie Laurendon / 384 / FRA / Mont Cenis / 28:47:18
3 Marg Fedyna / 78 / CAN / Saint Martin / 29:01:41
Team General Classification
1 Life and Living Bikenet / 68:20:15
2 Uphill Only / 70:37:26
3 Team Radsport Greiner / 73:47:48
