12/10/2017

The Haute Route Cycling Series Expands to 11 events in 2018

After signing off the 2017 Haute Route Cycling Series in style around the mythical Mont Ventoux last weekend, organisers OC Sport are delighted to announce today a full calendar of 11 events for the 2018 season. Starting in San Francisco in April, and finishing on Mont Ventoux in October with another nine events in-between 2018 promises to be a landmark year.

Reaffirming once again the Haute Route’s position as the first global series of multi-day cycling events for amateurs, five new events have been added in 2018. Staying true to the principles of the Haute Route, each event will offer the premium level of rider services usually reserved for the professional peloton. Amongst the new events are three brand new 3-day events in the USA, the Maserati Haute Route Norway and a revamped three-day Haute Route Dolomites and Haute Route Stelvio.

FULL CALENDAR 2018:

SAN FRANCISCO April 20th to 22nd
ASHEVILLE May 18th to 20th
STELVIO June 8th to 10th
MAVIC ROCKIES June 23rd to 29th
ALPE D’HUEZ July 13th to 15th
MASERATI NORWAY August 3rd to 5th
PYRENEES August 18th to 24th
ALPS August 26th to September 1st
DOLOMITES 3 days in September
UTAH September 14th to 16th
VENTOUX October 5th to 7th

Both of the flagship events in the Alps and Pyrenees will see rejuvenated courses next year. The Alps (August 26th –September 1st) returns to its North to South route, departing from Megève to reach Nice with a host of world-renowned Alpine cols in-between. The Pyrenees (August 18th-24th) will both start and finish in Pau, whilst also visiting a number of host towns throughout the week, allowing riders to discover the raw beauty of this mountain range. The Mavic Haute Route Rockies (June 23rd-29th) also returns for a second edition in Colorado, featuring once again the iconic dirt roads, high altitude passes and beautiful panoramas that make Colorado the heartland of American cycling. These 7-stage long timed and ranked events are the pinnacle of the 2018 Haute Route calendar, and will allow hundreds of amateur riders from across the globe to fulfil their cycling dreams in an iconic mountain range.

Opening the Haute Route season in April will be the inaugural 3-day Haute Route San Francisco (April 20th-22nd), offering riders an opportunity to experience the fierce local cycling culture in the Bay Area, appreciate the breath-taking ocean views and iconic landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge. Following the inaugural San Francisco adventure, the season will continue in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina on the first ever 3-day Haute Route Asheville (May 18th to 20th). The peloton will be immersed in its unmistakeable mountain vibe and will ride in the awe-inspiring scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The final new 3-day event on North-American soil next year will be the Haute Route Utah in Cedar City from the 14th to 16th of September. Combining superb red rock scenery with the charming back roads which will take riders to the coveted high plateaus and summits, Utah promises three remarkable days of cycling.

Returning for a second edition in 2018, the 3-day events on Alpe d’Huez (July 13th to 15th) and Ventoux (October 5th to 7th) will showcase once again two of the most storied climbs in the history of cycling. The much-awaited Maserati Haute Route Norway will take place in August (3rd to 5th); riders will experience an extraordinary setting for cycling in the Stavanger region. Snaking through the Norwegian fjords and drinking in the deep-rooted cycling culture, riders will undoubtedly be captivated by the Haute Route’s first Scandinavian adventure.

In order to visit the most legendary climbs in Italian cycling the Haute Route Dolomites has taken on a new format in 2018; splitting into two separate three-day events. Taking place in September, the 3-day Haute Route Dolomites will trace a sensational route through the highly recognisable jagged rock faces and demanding climbs of the region. In addition to this, the new 3-day Haute Route Stelvio will be hosted in Bormio from June 8th to 10th. As one of the most recognisable and respected climbs in cycling, the Stelvio has been much in demand by the Haute Route peloton, and Bormio provides the perfect location for the new three-day Haute Route event.

Brand new in 2018, riders have the option to either ride the Haute Route as a solo rider or as a duo (team of two cyclists). Riders registering as a Duo will not be included in the individual standings; Duo rankings will be established based on the time of the second member of each Duo team to cross the finish line every day.

Registrations are currently open to the general public for the Mavic Haute Route Rockies and Haute Route Alpe d’Huez.

Alumni riders currently have access to an exclusive 7-day registration phase for the Haute Route Alps, Pyrenees, Ventoux, Maserati Norway, San Francisco, Asheville, Utah, and Stelvio. Registration to all these events will open to the general public on Thursday 19 October.

All riders can also pre-register for the 3-day Haute Route Dolomites here.