19/11/2015

2016 Haute Route Course Announcement

The Haute Route Series parcours for 2016 showcases more historic climbs and a more varied route than ever before. Each week-long Haute Route covers a total distance of 800-900kms and consists of seven timed and ranked stages featuring more than 20,000 metres of ascent.

Haute Route Director, Julie Royer stated, “With the support of our host venues we have been able to stage the most demanding and historically significant route yet. For those taking on the Haute Route Pyrenees, the cycling icons of the region, including Tourmalet, Peyresourde and Col d’Aspin, lie in wait. The highlight of 2016’s Haute Route Alps is day three’s race against the clock on the Col du Galibier – a first in world cycling – while the Dolomites Swiss Alps features two ascents of the fearsome Passo dello Stelvio.”

The Haute Route Pyrenees begins in Anglet on August 20th, finishing in France’s fourth-largest city, Toulouse on August 26th. After a brutal first day and a summit finish in La Pierre St-Martin, riders will be encamped in the heart of the mountains. The wild beauty and savage challenge of the most famous cols in the region (Tourmalet, Marie-Blanque, Aubisque, Soulor) is supplemented by climbs new to the Haute Route like the magical ascent of Cap de Long, via the “Routes des Lacs,” featuring multiple ramps above 12%. Two two-night stays in Argelès-Gazost and Saint-Lary Soulan further reinforce the Haute Route Pyrenees as the most intimate of the European events.

The sixth running of the Haute Route Alps starts in Nice on August 28th and finishes in Geneva on September 3rd. In addition to tackling both sides of the Col du Galibier - a climb steeped in cycling history like no other - the region’s highest pass, rising above 2700m, Col de la Bonette, features on stage two. Far from the longest climb of the week, the 12% sections of the unmistakable Lacets de Montvernier represents one of the tougher and more memorable challenges for the peloton while new climbs like the Col du Tra will test the peloton as the race edges closer to the finish on the shore of Lake Geneva. Ascents up the col de l’Izoard, Madeleine and summit finishes in some of the prestigious alpine towns of Courchevel and Megève make the Haute Route Alps a must-do event for amateur cyclists.

The Haute Route Dolomites Swiss Alps runs from Geneva to Venice between September 5th and 11th. Perhaps the most visually arresting climb in Switzerland, San Gottardo, has been added to the Haute Route roster - a formidable summit finish to stage two with its cobble stone sections. The most dramatic climbs of the Dolomites again feature towards the end of the week, including the double ascent of the Stelvio, the Gavia and Giau. The 12 summits above 2000m, 900km of riding and 21000m of climbing undoubtedly make the Haute Route Dolomites Swiss Alps the most demanding of the three weeks.

Jean-Francois Alcan, race director for the Haute Route Pyrenees and Alps, believes the 2016 routes are tougher than ever. “With over 30% new routes, the 2016 courses plunge into the heart of France’s best cycling playgrounds and promise to be a true test as much for Haute Route veterans as the first timers. This is a unique opportunity for amateur cyclists to live like a professional, benefiting from Mavic’s mechanical assistance, post-stage massages and secure racing conditions”.

Watch here the 2016 Haute Route trailer.

Following the success of 2015, all three events are expected to sell out soon. The final discount entry window closes on November 30th at midnight (CET) after which places cannot be guaranteed. For further information and to register, see: http://www.hauteroute.org/how-to-enter/entry-information

Entries for 2016’s two Haute Route Compact events open on December 1st.

Full stage descriptions are available online at:
- Pyrenees http://www.hauteroute.org/events/stages/pyrenees-2016
- Alps http://www.hauteroute.org/events/stages/alps-2016
- Dolomites Swiss Alps http://www.hauteroute.org/events/stages/dolomites-swiss-alps-2016

Haute Route Pyrenees 2016 Stage by Stage

Event Village, Friday 19th August: Anglet
Stage 1, Saturday 20th August:
Anglet – La Pierre Saint-Martin (143km – difficulty 4/5)
Cols and ascents: Ahusquy (1075m), La Pierre St-Martin (1656m)
Stage 2, Sunday 21st August:
Pau – Argelès-Gazost (146km – difficulty 5/5)
Cols and ascents: Marie-Blanque (1035m), Aubisque (1709m), Soulor (1474m), Spandelles (1378m)
Stage 3, Monday 22nd August:
ITT Argelès-Gazost – Col de Couraduque (16km – difficulty 3/5)
Col de Couraduque (1367m)
Stage 4, Tuesday 23rd August:
Argelès-Gazost – Pla d’Adet
 (97km – difficulty 4/5)
Cols and ascents: Tourmalet (2117m), Hourquette-Ancizan (1564m), Pla d’Adet (1660m)
Stage 5, Wednesday 24th August:
Saint-Lary Soulan – Cap de Long (100km – difficulty 5/5)
Cols and ascents: Hourquette-Ancizan (1564m), Aspin (1489m), Azet (1580m), Cap de Long (2160m)
Stage 6, Thursday 25th August:
Saint-Lary Soulan – Peyragudes
 (131km – difficulty 4/5)
Cols and ascents: Azet (1580m), Port de Balès (1755m), Peyresourde (1569m), Peyragudes (1620m)
Stage 7, Friday 26th August:
Peyragudes – Toulouse (169km – difficulty 3/5)
Col de Menté (1349m)

Haute Route Alps 2016 Stage by Stage

Event Village, Saturday 27th August: Nice
Stage 1, Sunday 28th August:
Nice – Auron
(136km – difficulty 5/5)
Cols and ascents: Nice (414m), Turini (1607m), St-Martin (1500m), Auron (1581m)
Stage 2, Monday 29th August:
Auron – Risoul
 (111km – difficulty 4/5)
Cols and ascents: Bonette (2715m), Vars (2109m), Risoul (1870m)
Stage 3, Tuesday 30th August:
Risoul – Valloire
 (118km – difficulty 4/5)
Cols and ascents: Izoard (2360m), Lautaret (2058m), Galibier (2645m)
Stage 4, Wednesday 31st August:
ITT Valloire - Galibier (18km – difficulty 4/5)
Col du Galibier (2645m)
Stage 5, Thursday 1st September:
Valloire – Courchevel (141km – difficulty 5/5)
Cols and ascents: Chaussy (1533m), Madeleine (2000m), Courchevel (1850m)
Stage 6, Friday 2nd September:
Courchevel – Megève (134km – difficulty 4/5)
Cols and ascents: Tra (1308m), Cormet de Roselend (1968m), Saisies (1650m)
Stage 7, Saturday 3rd September:
Megève – Geneva (138km – difficulty 3/5)
Cols and ascents: Araches (958m), Ramaz (1559m), Cou (1117m)

Haute Route Dolomites Swiss Alps 2016 Stage by Stage

Event Village, Sunday 4th September: Geneva
Stage 1, Monday 5th September:
Geneva – Crans-Montana
 (177km – difficulty 4/5)
Cols and ascents: Cou (1117m), Terramont (1096m), Grand Taillet (1035m), Pas de Morgins (1369m), Crans-Montana (1500m)
Stage 2, Tuesday 6th September:
Crans-Montana – San Gottardo (137km – difficulty 3/5)
Cols and ascents: Nufenenpass (2478m), San Gottardo (2091m)
Stage 3, Wednesday 7th September:
St Moritz – Bormio
 (97km – difficulty 5/5)
Cols and ascents: Bernina (2330m), Forcola di Livigno (2315m), Eïra (2208m), Foscagno (2291m), Stelvio (2758m)
Stage 4, Thursday 8th September:
ITT Bormio – Stelvio (21km – difficulty 3/5)
Passo dello Stelvio
 (2758m)
Stage 5, Friday 9th September:
Bormio – Alto Adige (144km – difficulty 4/5)
Cols and ascents: Gavia (2652m), Tonale (1884m), Mendola (1363m)
Stage 6, Saturday 10th September:
Alto Adige – Cortina d’Ampezzo
 (150km – difficulty 5/5)
Cols and ascents: Gardena (2121m), Furcia (1789m), Tre cime di Lavaredo (2304m)
Stage 7, Sunday 11th September:
Cortina d’Ampezzo – Venice (175km – difficulty 4/5)
Cols and ascents: Giau (2236m), San Boldo (706m)