gravel’s best kept secret

western europe’s tallest mountain…. the hiking trail between france, italy and switzerland sees 25,000 hikers hopping from mountain huts to mountain huts with overloaded backpack… this is also the playground for trail' running’s best as well as week end warriors trying to finish the utmb loop in less than 46 hours

the gravel version of this loop does not prioritize the fastest time around the mountain but by far the most scenic one, and most importantly, the most rideable one….

you will see more of the stunning beaufortin area than hikers, be on the border of the tarentaise before a challenging ascent on the old petit saint bernard road… a quick descent in courmayeur will lead you onto one of the 2 push a bike sections, the 2.5km of grand col ferret…. but the downhill to la fouly and its natural berms will put a smile back on your face… a steep section to champex takes you to one of the cafe on the edge of the lake for a well deserved rivella, before the final section of the ride with the “gravel / tarmac” split climbs of forclaz pass and les jeurs, before dropping back to chamonix’s church, where all records start and finish in the area….

f.k.t. you say ? there is no such thing at the moment, it is for you to grab… the “push a bike mission” gravel mont blanc race was won in 12.5 hours, this one should not be that far for ultra gravel’s elite….