La Marmotte is an annual, one-day cyclosportive event in France for amateur cyclists. It is named after the large ground squirrel that is known to inhabit the slopes of the final climb to the finish in Alpe d'Huez. The first event held in 1982 makes it one of the oldest cyclosportive events of its kind and in France it is often called La Doyenne ("the old lady"), borrowing the nickname given to the professional road race Liège–Bastogne–Liège. The Marmotte remains one of the most popular cyclosportive events today in Europe, with interest in participation exceeding the 7000 places available.

Route

Unlike the other famous French cyclosportive, the Étape du Tour, that has a different route each year, the Marmotte route is fixed. Covering a distance of 174.4 km (108.4 mi) and with 5,180 m (16,990 ft) of climbing, the route is considered to be one of the hardest of any cyclosportive and comparable to the most challenging high mountain stages of the Tour de France. Several famous Tour de France mountains feature; the Col du Glandon, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier and the final ascent of the legendary Alpe d'Huez. Le Le Bourg-d'Oisans hosts the start of the event.

The route for the 2015 edition was changed due to the Tunnel du Chambon (the route off the Galibier to the Alpe) being closed due to cracks being found after a landslide. The altered route included the Lacets de Montvernier and also the ascent of the Col de Croix de Fer via the Col du Mollard (starting from Villargondran). The route was 176 km, including 5,200m of climb.

LocationAltitude (m)Distance (km)Information
Le Bourg-d'Oisans7190Timing starts
La Paute7302
Rochetaillé7117
RD1091 – D526
Allemont82010
Le Rivier125420
D926 – D927190735.5
Col du Glandon192435.7

Feed station Water station Medical services Timing stops

Saint Colomban des Villards110246Medical services
Saint Alban des Villards88253
Saint Étienne de Cuines45056.5Timing starts
D927 – D7443157.7
Sainte Marie de Cuines42058.5
D74 – RD100663.4
RD1006 (St Jean de Maurienne)46567.4
St Michel de Maurienne71281.4Water station
D902
Col du Télégraphe157092.9Water station
Valloire143097.9

Feed station Water station Medical services

Plan Lachat105.4Water station
Les Granges du Galibier109.4
Col du Galibier2642114.9

Feed station Water station Medical services

Col du Lautaret2057122.4Medical services
RD1091
La Grave1481133.4
Le Freney d'Oisans900149.4
Le Bourg-d'Oisans719161.4

Feed station Water station Medical services

D211
La Garde1000165.4
Huez1495170.5Water station
Alpe d'Huez1880174.4

Feed station Water station Medical services Timing stops

Organisation

Entry

Online entry on the event's official website is possible but demand greatly exceeds the limited number of places available (approximately 7000). In 2012, the event entry website received more than 6000 individual online applications in one day[1] and was forced to suspend further online applications. In 2013, entries for the Marmotte Gran Fondo event opened at midnight CET on 30 November. The site was intermittently unusable as the number of requests exceeded what it was capable of handling. Numerous bugs were also apparent as some users were only able to enter by registering as new users.

A limited number places are available to groups, organised sporting holiday companies and individuals who enter the Trophee de l'Oisans, a series of cyclosportive events held in the Oisans region over the previous week, starting with the Vaujany Master ride.

The start and timing

Owing to the sheer number of participants, a staggered start is necessary, with riders batched by race number and those with lower race numbers departing first. The first batch of riders depart at 0700 CET. Priority race numbers are given to a selected number of elite riders who have posted very good times in previous attempts or can provide evidence that they are capable of competing with the best riders. Non-elite riders that have posted good times in the past are also batched in the lower number range. Since timing does not begin until the rider has crossed the start line, theoretically there is no disadvantage to starting from the back of the field. However, since the faster riders depart first it is potentially advantageous to be batched in the earlier groups and take advantage of pelotons moving at greater speeds. In addition, the sheer number of participants can lead to congestion on the roads and at feed stations.

Electronic timing chips given to each rider record the finishing time and split times at various points around the course.

From 2010 the descent of the Col du Glandon was neutralised to discourage riders from descending too recklessly and endangering themselves and other riders. The descent would usually take about 30–35 minutes.

Facilities

Major feed stations are usually placed at the summit of the Col du Glandon, start of the Galibier climb (2 km outside Valloire), summit of the Galibier and at the foot of Alp d'Huez. Intermediary water stops are scattered throughout as are a limited number of temporary toilet facilities.

Statistics

Men's Winners

Year Winner Time Age category
2023 Loïc Ruffaut (FRA)05:49:0130-39
2022 Stefan Kirchmair (AUT)05:20:2030-39
2021 Kenny Nijssen (NED)[2]05:34:1930-39
2019 Antonio Garnero (BRA)05:34:5730-39
2018 Michiel Minnaert (BEL)05:39:3918-29
2017 Eddy Finé (FRA)05:42:4518-29
2016 Kenny Nijssen (NED)05:40:0118-29
2015 Stefano Sala (ITA)05:54:3040-49
2014 Peter Pouly (FRA)05:34:4430-39
2013 Bart Bury (BEL)05:32:0130-39
2012 Sander Armée (BEL)05:33:1418-29
2011 Michel Snel (NED)05:32:2330-39
2010 Michel Snel (NED)05:46:0630-39
2009 Bert Dekker (NED)06:09:0030-39
2008 Antonio Corradini (ITA)06:02:1230-39
2007 Andrea Ciavatti (ITA)06:00:5930-39
2006 Emanuele Negrini (ITA)05:50:3030-39
2005 Emanuele Negrini (ITA)05:49:4030-39
2004 Daniele de Paoli (ITA)06:03:5230-39
2003 Laurens ten Dam (NED)06:07:0418-29
2002 Bert Dekker (NED)06:39:5830-39
2001 Stefano Giraldi (ITA)06:12:4030-39
1999 Bert Dekker (NED)06:22:0018-29
1998 Didier Miranda (FRA)06:25:3430-39
1997 Bert Dekker (NED)06:40:1918-29
1996 Patrice Halgand (FRA)06:32:3618-29
1995 Tom de Jong (NED)06:43:1118-29
1994 Francisque Teyssier (FRA)06:24:4418-29
1993 Patrick Bruet (FRA)06:24:3730-39
1992 Laurent Brochard (FRA)06:43:5018-29
1991 Benoit Nave (FRA)06:20:0418-29
1990 Pascal Rota (FRA)06:30:2230-39
1989 Pascal Rota (FRA)06:27:4230-39
1988 Pascal Rota (FRA)06:23:3930-39
1987 Pascal Rota (FRA)06:29:5318-29
1986 Etienne Neant (FRA)06:37:3630-39
1985 Marc Criel (BEL)06:47:0130-39
1984 Fons Moors (BEL)06:58:5240-49
1983 Alain Gary (FRA)07:08:4940-49
1982 François Indalecio (FRA)07:21:1920-29

Men's Lanterne Rouge

Year Name Nationality Time Age category
2021James Knights GBR13:00:0430-39
2019Roland Mooren NED13:12:2650-59
2018Martijn Davenport GBR12:59:2850-59
2017Hidde Schwietert NED11:29:1318-29
2016Bill Smith GBR12:57:4367+
2015John Simpson[3] GBR14:34:3940-49
2014Torben Larsen DEN13:25:0460+
2013Siebe Vrieswijk NED14:17:3318-29
2012Sander Arends BEL14:12:3230-39
2011Lloyd Moore IRE13:50:0050-59
2010John MacDonald GBR13:43:2040-49
2009Ole Thomsen DEN13:19:3960-66
2008Bo Leerberg DEN13:42:3230-39
2007Geoffrey Woodhouse GBR13:52:1260+
2006Adam Witherington GBR13:55:0130-39
2005Jordi Moix ESP13:23:4340-49
2004Peter Glendawar JER13:21:3550-59
2003Alwin Siegersma NED13:49:4018-29
2002Philippe Rabut FRA13:52:2540-49
2001Yves Gachon FRA12:56:4418-29
2000Antoni Busquet AND13:23:5940-49
1999Christian Crampe FRA13:43:3950-59
1998Christiaan Kesselmans NED13:02:0850-59
1997Gilles Penot FRA12:03:3030-39
1996Laurent Morel BEL11:57:2718-29
1995Willem Feyen NED11:34:0240-49
1994Marco Manenti ITA12:56:5940-49
1993Willem van de Meent NED12:56:5950-59
1992Jean Gain FRA12:30:0060+
1991Carl Westra NED12:32:0240-49
1990Fernando Silvestre Dos Santos FRA12:21:1018-29
1989Pieter Gietermans NED12:56:5940-49
1988J.Luc Mason FRA12:11:0030-39
1987Phillpe Gilson BEL12:33:1130-39
1986Javier Fancisco Etxaide-Juantorena ESP11:56:1430-39
1985Maurice Paret FRA12:56:2850-59
1984Joseph Wislet FRA13:05:3130-39
1983Edouard Richard FRA13:58:3730-39

References

  1. ↑ La Marmotte popularity
  2. ↑ "EX-PRO AND MARMOTTE ALPES WINNER RAPHAËL ADDY SUSPENDED TWO YEARS FOR DOPING VIOLATION". GRAN FONDO DAILY NEWS. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  3. ↑ La Marmotte on a Brompton: http://www.brompton.com/News/Posts/2015/Journey-Marmotte Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
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