La Marmotte

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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.

Contents

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'Oisans 7190 Farm-Fresh stopwatch start.png
La Paute7302
Rochetaillé7117
RD1091 – D526
Allemont82010
Le Rivier125420
D926 – D927190735.5
Col du Glandon 192435.7

RM-050 Food sign.png Drinking water sign.png Blue ambulance icon.svg Farm-Fresh stopwatch finish.png

Saint Colomban des Villards 110246 Blue ambulance icon.svg
Saint Alban des Villards 88253
Saint Étienne de Cuines 45056.5 Farm-Fresh stopwatch start.png
D927 – D7443157.7
Sainte Marie de Cuines 42058.5
D74 – RD100663.4
RD1006 (St Jean de Maurienne)46567.4
St Michel de Maurienne71281.4 Drinking water sign.png
D902
Col du Télégraphe 157092.9 Drinking water sign.png
Valloire 143097.9

RM-050 Food sign.png Drinking water sign.png Blue ambulance icon.svg

Plan Lachat105.4 Drinking water sign.png
Les Granges du Galibier109.4
Col du Galibier 2642114.9

RM-050 Food sign.png Drinking water sign.png Blue ambulance icon.svg

Col du Lautaret 2057122.4 Blue ambulance icon.svg
RD1091
La Grave 1481133.4
Le Freney d'Oisans 900149.4
Le Bourg-d'Oisans 719161.4

RM-050 Food sign.png Drinking water sign.png Blue ambulance icon.svg

D211
La Garde 1000165.4
Huez 1495170.5 Drinking water sign.png
Alpe d'Huez 1880174.4

RM-050 Food sign.png Drinking water sign.png Blue ambulance icon.svg Farm-Fresh stopwatch finish.png

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 [ 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

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

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

Men's Lanterne Rouge

YearNameNationalityTimeAge category
2021James KnightsFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR 13:00:0430-39
2019Roland MoorenFlag of the Netherlands.svg  NED 13:12:2650-59
2018Martijn DavenportFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR 12:59:2850-59
2017Hidde SchwietertFlag of the Netherlands.svg  NED 11:29:1318-29
2016Bill SmithFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR 12:57:4367+
2015John Simpson [3] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR 14:34:3940-49
2014Torben LarsenFlag of Denmark.svg  DEN 13:25:0460+
2013Siebe VrieswijkFlag of the Netherlands.svg  NED 14:17:3318-29
2012Sander ArendsFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL 14:12:3230-39
2011Lloyd MooreFlag of Ireland.svg  IRE 13:50:0050-59
2010John MacDonaldFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR 13:43:2040-49
2009Ole ThomsenFlag of Denmark.svg  DEN 13:19:3960-66
2008Bo LeerbergFlag of Denmark.svg  DEN 13:42:3230-39
2007Geoffrey WoodhouseFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR 13:52:1260+
2006Adam WitheringtonFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR 13:55:0130-39
2005Jordi MoixFlag of Spain.svg  ESP 13:23:4340-49
2004Peter GlendawarFlag of Jersey.svg  JER 13:21:3550-59
2003Alwin SiegersmaFlag of the Netherlands.svg  NED 13:49:4018-29
2002Philippe RabutFlag of France.svg  FRA 13:52:2540-49
2001Yves GachonFlag of France.svg  FRA 12:56:4418-29
2000Antoni BusquetFlag of Andorra.svg  AND 13:23:5940-49
1999Christian CrampeFlag of France.svg  FRA 13:43:3950-59
1998Christiaan KesselmansFlag of the Netherlands.svg  NED 13:02:0850-59
1997Gilles PenotFlag of France.svg  FRA 12:03:3030-39
1996Laurent MorelFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL 11:57:2718-29
1995Willem FeyenFlag of the Netherlands.svg  NED 11:34:0240-49
1994Marco ManentiFlag of Italy.svg  ITA 12:56:5940-49
1993Willem van de MeentFlag of the Netherlands.svg  NED 12:56:5950-59
1992Jean GainFlag of France.svg  FRA 12:30:0060+
1991Carl WestraFlag of the Netherlands.svg  NED 12:32:0240-49
1990Fernando Silvestre Dos SantosFlag of France.svg  FRA 12:21:1018-29
1989Pieter GietermansFlag of the Netherlands.svg  NED 12:56:5940-49
1988J.Luc MasonFlag of France.svg  FRA 12:11:0030-39
1987Phillpe GilsonFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL 12:33:1130-39
1986Javier Fancisco Etxaide-JuantorenaFlag of Spain.svg  ESP 11:56:1430-39
1985Maurice ParetFlag of France.svg  FRA 12:56:2850-59
1984Joseph WisletFlag of France.svg  FRA 13:05:3130-39
1983Edouard RichardFlag of France.svg  FRA 13:58:3730-39

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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