HotChillee Alpine Challenge
16 - 20 JUNE 2021
Routes & Profiles

TOUR DE FRANCE APPEARANCES:

COL DE LA JOUX VERTE - 2

COL DE LA RAMAZ - 3

COL DE JOUX PLANE - 11

We’ll leave Morzine in the groups riders selected at registration, for a steady 6km warm up to the bottom of the Col de la Joux Verte and the ITT! Don’t be fooled by the first 1km of the Col, the following 9.6km has an average gradient of 7%, with what HotChillee Ride Captain Juliette Clark describes as “an interesting kick” between 3-5km. Riders will be seeded into their official speed groups after a quick coffee stop at the top before the 12km descent back to Morzine and out towards what are often described as the most beautiful Cols in the area: Col d’LEcrenaz (8km, average gradient 6%) and Col de la Ramaz (6.6km, average gradient 6%) before descending into lunch at Sommand.

After lunch, the descent continues into Mieussy, with 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 some tired legs, but the reward of an 11km descent back to Morzine awaits!

TOUR DE FRANCE APPEARANCES:

COL DE LA COLOMBIERE - 22

COL DE LA CROIX FRY - 4

COL DES ARAVIS - 40

The gentle climb to start day 2 is soon over and a long, almost 26km descent takes us back across the valley from the start of Stage 1. The first climb of the day comes at 32km, the HC rated Col de la Colombiere - 14km at 7% average but save something in the tank for the top, the last kilometres are 9%, 10% and 11%! After regrouping at the top, we’ll descend into lunch and the halfway point of the day. What follows will be familiar territory for anyone who joined any of the HotChillee Alpine Challenges from Annecy, the afternoon’s double header with the Col de la Croix Fry (11km, average gradient 7%) and a short, 4km descent straight into the Col des Aravis (4.4km, average gradient 6%) with the final kilometre at 4% allowing the possibility of some big ring, sprinters efforts for the final bragging rights of Stage 2.

TOUR DE FRANCE APPEARANCES:

COL DES SAISIES - 3

COL DU PRE - 1

MONT BISANNE - 2

The sloping descent from Megeve gives riders a chance to warm up their legs before the first climb of the day, the Col des Saisies (11.6km, average gradient 5%). Don’t be fooled by the average gradient, the first few kilometres reach up to 8%, but there’s also a 3km false flat with plenty of time to recover before the push to the top. From the summit, we take the rural route to Beaufort for the first time today. The second time will be on the way to lunch, 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 (average gradient 7%) climb offers stunning views of the Lac de Roseland, which we’ll soon drop down to, 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. From Beaufort, a short 5km downhill to prepare for the following 12.4km of 8% average gradient. Cresting here, we return 5K to Col des Saisies, have a quick celebratory coffee and cake before descending back to Megeve for a well earned beer.