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

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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.

Location Altitude (m) Distance (km) Information
Le Bourg-d'Oisans 719 0  
La Paute 730 2
Rochetaillé 711 7
RD1091 – D526
Allemont 820 10
Le Rivier 1254 20
D926 – D927 1907 35.5
Col du Glandon 1924 35.7

       

Saint Colomban des Villards 1102 46  
Saint Alban des Villards 882 53
Saint Étienne de Cuines 450 56.5  
D927 – D74 431 57.7
Sainte Marie de Cuines 420 58.5
D74 – RD1006 63.4
RD1006 (St Jean de Maurienne) 465 67.4
St Michel de Maurienne 712 81.4  
D902
Col du Télégraphe 1570 92.9  
Valloire 1430 97.9

     

Plan Lachat 105.4  
Les Granges du Galibier 109.4
Col du Galibier 2642 114.9

     

Col du Lautaret 2057 122.4  
RD1091
La Grave 1481 133.4
Le Freney d'Oisans 900 149.4
Le Bourg-d'Oisans 719 161.4

     

D211
La Garde 1000 165.4
Huez 1495 170.5  
Alpe d'Huez 1880 174.4

       

Organisation

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Entry

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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

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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 [citation needed] 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

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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

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Men's Winners

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Year Winner Time Age category
2023   Loïc Ruffaut (FRA) 05:49:01 30-39
2022   Stefan Kirchmair (AUT) 05:20:20 30-39
2021   Kenny Nijssen (NED)[2] 05:34:19 30-39
2019   Antonio Garnero (BRA) 05:34:57 30-39
2018   Michiel Minnaert (BEL) 05:39:39 18-29
2017   Eddy Finé (FRA) 05:42:45 18-29
2016   Kenny Nijssen (NED) 05:40:01 18-29
2015   Stefano Sala (ITA) 05:54:30 40-49
2014   Peter Pouly (FRA) 05:34:44 30-39
2013   Bart Bury (BEL) 05:32:01 30-39
2012   Sander Armée (BEL) 05:33:14 18-29
2011   Michel Snel (NED) 05:32:23 30-39
2010   Michel Snel (NED) 05:46:06 30-39
2009   Bert Dekker (NED) 06:09:00 30-39
2008   Antonio Corradini (ITA) 06:02:12 30-39
2007   Andrea Ciavatti (ITA) 06:00:59 30-39
2006   Emanuele Negrini (ITA) 05:50:30 30-39
2005   Emanuele Negrini (ITA) 05:49:40 30-39
2004   Daniele de Paoli (ITA) 06:03:52 30-39
2003   Laurens ten Dam (NED) 06:07:04 18-29
2002   Bert Dekker (NED) 06:39:58 30-39
2001   Stefano Giraldi (ITA) 06:12:40 30-39
1999   Bert Dekker (NED) 06:22:00 18-29
1998   Didier Miranda (FRA) 06:25:34 30-39
1997   Bert Dekker (NED) 06:40:19 18-29
1996   Patrice Halgand (FRA) 06:32:36 18-29
1995   Tom de Jong (NED) 06:43:11 18-29
1994   Francisque Teyssier (FRA) 06:24:44 18-29
1993   Patrick Bruet (FRA) 06:24:37 30-39
1992   Laurent Brochard (FRA) 06:43:50 18-29
1991   Benoit Nave (FRA) 06:20:04 18-29
1990   Pascal Rota (FRA) 06:30:22 30-39
1989   Pascal Rota (FRA) 06:27:42 30-39
1988   Pascal Rota (FRA) 06:23:39 30-39
1987   Pascal Rota (FRA) 06:29:53 18-29
1986   Etienne Neant (FRA) 06:37:36 30-39
1985   Marc Criel (BEL) 06:47:01 30-39
1984   Fons Moors (BEL) 06:58:52 40-49
1983   Alain Gary (FRA) 07:08:49 40-49
1982   François Indalecio (FRA) 07:21:19 20-29

Men's Lanterne Rouge

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Year Name Nationality Time Age category
2021 James Knights   GBR 13:00:04 30-39
2019 Roland Mooren   NED 13:12:26 50-59
2018 Martijn Davenport   GBR 12:59:28 50-59
2017 Hidde Schwietert   NED 11:29:13 18-29
2016 Bill Smith   GBR 12:57:43 67+
2015 John Simpson[3]   GBR 14:34:39 40-49
2014 Torben Larsen   DEN 13:25:04 60+
2013 Siebe Vrieswijk   NED 14:17:33 18-29
2012 Sander Arends   BEL 14:12:32 30-39
2011 Lloyd Moore   IRE 13:50:00 50-59
2010 John MacDonald   GBR 13:43:20 40-49
2009 Ole Thomsen   DEN 13:19:39 60-66
2008 Bo Leerberg   DEN 13:42:32 30-39
2007 Geoffrey Woodhouse   GBR 13:52:12 60+
2006 Adam Witherington   GBR 13:55:01 30-39
2005 Jordi Moix   ESP 13:23:43 40-49
2004 Peter Glendawar   JER 13:21:35 50-59
2003 Alwin Siegersma   NED 13:49:40 18-29
2002 Philippe Rabut   FRA 13:52:25 40-49
2001 Yves Gachon   FRA 12:56:44 18-29
2000 Antoni Busquet   AND 13:23:59 40-49
1999 Christian Crampe   FRA 13:43:39 50-59
1998 Christiaan Kesselmans   NED 13:02:08 50-59
1997 Gilles Penot   FRA 12:03:30 30-39
1996 Laurent Morel   BEL 11:57:27 18-29
1995 Willem Feyen   NED 11:34:02 40-49
1994 Marco Manenti   ITA 12:56:59 40-49
1993 Willem van de Meent   NED 12:56:59 50-59
1992 Jean Gain   FRA 12:30:00 60+
1991 Carl Westra   NED 12:32:02 40-49
1990 Fernando Silvestre Dos Santos   FRA 12:21:10 18-29
1989 Pieter Gietermans   NED 12:56:59 40-49
1988 J.Luc Mason   FRA 12:11:00 30-39
1987 Phillpe Gilson   BEL 12:33:11 30-39
1986 Javier Fancisco Etxaide-Juantorena   ESP 11:56:14 30-39
1985 Maurice Paret   FRA 12:56:28 50-59
1984 Joseph Wislet   FRA 13:05:31 30-39
1983 Edouard Richard   FRA 13:58:37 30-39

References

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  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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