ALPINE CHALLENGE

You’ll be met at the Geneva arrivals gate by the Hotchillee team and driven 1.5 hours to the event hotel. Mechanics will be on hand to help build bikes, sports therapists to iron out any niggles and the Ride Captains to answer any last minute questions. Once you’ve collected your Rider Pack there should be time for a short spin, grab a coffee or join your fellow riders for a quick beer before the Rider Welcome Dinner.

We’ll leave Morzine for a steady 6km warm up to the bottom of the Col de la Joux Verte and the Individual Time Trial. Don’t be fooled by the first 1km of the climb, the following 9.6km has an average gradient of 7%, with an interesting kick in the middle! After a quick coffee at the top you’ll be allocated into one of three ability groups and descend the 12km towards two of the most beautiful Cols in the area Col de l’Ecrenaz and Col de la Ramaz.
Lunch will be at a traditional restaurant in Sommand where the food is well earned and sports therapists waiting. Re-fueled and ready to go there’s 17km of flat before the final climb of the day, the HC rated Col de la Joux Plane. At 11.4km and average gradient of 9%, this will be a big test for tired legs, but the reward of an 11km descent back to Morzine and the hotel bar awaits.

TOUR DE FRANCE APPEARANCES:
COL DE LA JOUX VERTE – 2
COL DE LA RAMAZ – 3
COL DE JOUX PLANE – 11

With yesterday’s effort in your legs you’ll appreciate the first real climb of the day not coming until 32km, the HC rated Col de la Colombière. With 14km at 7% average make sure you save something in the tank for the top, the last kilometres are 9%, 10% and 11%! After regrouping at the summit, we’ll descend into lunch at a local alpine restaurant for a light lunch of typical regional food and the halfway point of the day. What follows will be familiar territory for anyone who rode the Hotchillee Alpine Challenges from Annecy with the afternoon’s double header including the Col de la Croix Fry followed by a short descent into the Col des Aravis. With the final kilometre of the final climb at 4% there’s the possibility of some big ring sprinter’s efforts for the final bragging rights of Stage 2. The stage finishes in Megève where your luggage will be waiting and a brand new hotel bar to check out before dinner!

TOUR DE FRANCE APPEARANCES:
COL DE LA COLOMBIERE – 22
COL DE LA CROIX FRY – 4
COL DES ARAVIS – 40

The sloping descent from Megève will give you the perfect chance to warm up the legs before the first climb of the day, the Col des Saisies. Don’t be fooled by the 5% average, the first few kilometres reach up to 8% followed by a 3km false flat to recover before the push to the top. From the summit, we’ll take the rural route to Beaufort but there’s the small matter of the Col du Pre/ Col de Meraillet before then. Only used by the Tour de France once due to the steep descent, the 12km climb offers stunning views of the Lac de Roseland to help take your mind off the legs. We’ll soon drop down to ride along the Dam before the 1.5km ascent of the Col de Meraillet and the sweeping 11km descent into lunch.
After lunch, the Grand Finale of the event beckons, the Montee des Bisannes. Cresting here, we return 5km to Col des Saisies, have a quick celebratory coffee and cake before descending back to Megève for a well earned beer and the celebration dinner.

TOUR DE FRANCE APPEARANCES:
COL DES SAISIES – 3
COL DU PRE – 1
MONT BISANNE – 2

The early risers can enjoy a social spin to clear any cobwebs, but make sure your bike is packed and you’re ready to jump on the airport transfer for 12:00. You’ll be dropped at the airport for 13:30 so plan to book a return flight with plenty of time to check in.