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BASED IN CHAMONIX, THE BIRTHPLACE OF ALPINISM IS ALSO THE GATEWAY TO SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR GRAVEL RIDING IN NEARBY BEAUFORTIN, CHABLAIS.
OUR UNIQUE MULTI DAY TOUR DU MONT BLANC GRAVEL TRAIL HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY CURATED AND THOUGHT WITH ONE IDEA IN MIND : MORE PEDALLING, LESS PUSHING
GIRONA
widely recognised as the european capital of gravel riding, the mix of fire roads, cycle lanes and farmland dual tracks
cycling cafes, beach side restaurant, local food and easy access to public transport mean this is a must go for any cycling enthusiast
PROVENCE
some of the finest sceneries france can offer, great network of gravel routes and unbeatable quality of life, cafes and restaurants
based in the alpilles, with luberon, mont ventoux and gard at our doorstep, creating a mesh of daily itineraries as well as multi day adventures
FRENCH ALPS
ULTRA GRAVEL MONT BLANC manifesto
ULTRA GRAVEL MONT BLANC manifesto
goal
hikers have their tmb, trail runners the utmb
there is a widely accepted course for the road bike version of the loop
we created a mountain bike loop in 2008, and an ebike version in 2018
in 2022, a group of gravel enthusiasts from millau created the “mont blanc gravel challenge”. however the route prove too challenging and technical for the gravel community, the event was won by french mountain biker, emeric turcat in front of multiple mtb world champion cristoph sauser.
we want to find the best gravel route around mont blanc
principles
the perfect loop
f.k.t. route
a gravel race must consist of a majority of gravel sections with no more than 50% of tarmac.
the tour du mont blanc has to go via 3 waypoints that are common to all disciplines : chamonix, courmayeur, champex.
it should give the option to follow the route “clockwise” or “anti clockwise”
the route should become one of europe’s most famous gravel adventure.
due to the nature of high alpine terrain, the duration of the course, the remoteness of some areas like grand col ferret, this course is currently not suited for a traditional event / mass start on a fixed date. the persistence of snow into the first weeks of summer and some crowded sections limit the periods at which such event could be organised
this course lends itself to a self supported challenge with numerous villages, fountains and mountain huts along the way.
the course has been set.
250 kilometers
just under 10,000m ascent
50% gravel, 50% tarmac
one 2.3km steep / push a bike section after 170km