This Sunday, August 24th, the Haute Route Alpes returns to its roots for the start of the fourth edition between Geneva and Nice, where it all began in 2011. The popularity of the Haute Route Alpes remains strong with 450 amateur cyclists registered for this new edition.
The route, which follows a more western path than previous editions, will offer racers the challenge of 21,400 meters of vertical gain, 20 ascents of the French Alps, and will finish at altitude on four occasions. Numerous “Giants” of the Alps are on the agenda for this fourth edition, which will hold many surprises for the participants.
The 7 timed stages will include many “classics” of the Haute Route such as the Colombière, the Cormet de Roselend, the ascent of Courchevel, the Madeleine, the Glandon, and the double ascent of Alpe d’Huez, first accomplished during the Marathon stage on the third day (via Villard-Reculas) and then again the next day in an individual time trial from Bourg d’Oisans. Peaking at 1912 meters, Mont Ventoux is commonly known as the ‘Giant of Provence’ and its isolated position southwest of the Alps allows it to dominate the region. Its ascent is one of the most feared in the cycling world, and it will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the Haute Route Alpes 2014.
42 different nationalities are represented within the peloton of the Haute Route.
In parallel with the Haute Route Alpes, the Haute Route Compact will also take place, allowing riders to test the Haute Route during the prologue and stage 1 (Geneva-Megève) and stage 2 (Megève-Courchevel) of the Haute Route Alpes, between Geneva and Courchevel.
The participants of the Haute Route Compact will ride alongside the racers of the Haute Route Alpes, sharing the same experience.
Before the racers begin their adventure tomorrow, and for the first time in the history of the Haute Route, they participated in an exceptional prologue yesterday in the streets of Geneva. The cyclists set off on the 9-kilometer prologue from Quai Gustave Ador to arrive at the Jardin Anglais, where the Departure Village was located.
This prologue was a unique opportunity for cyclists to race against the clock along Lake Geneva and through the streets of Geneva, which were closed to traffic.
