La Marmotte Gran Fondo 2023

Thursday 22nd June 2023: Optional early arrival day

Please make your way to Alpe d'Huez today or make use of our optional airport transfer from Geneva airport where our team will meet you. The transfer takes 3 hours from Geneva. Please arrive today if you would like to do the Alpe d'Huez Time Trial tomorrow (Grimpee de L'Alpe).

Optional Airport Transfers

Fly into Geneva where our team will meet you. The transfer takes just over 3 hours from Geneva. Our transfer times will be :

Geneva Airport

• Transfer 1 : Depart Geneva Airport at 11.00 (for flights arriving by 10.00)

This evening we will meet in Smithy's tavern for our group meal night which is bookable as an extra at £25 per night.

Friday 23rd June 2023: Arrival day 

Please make your way to Alpe d'Huez today or make use of our optional airport transfer from Geneva airport where our team will meet you

Optional Airport Transfers

Fly into Geneva where our team will meet you. The transfer takes just over 3 hours from Geneva. Our transfer times will be :

Geneva Airport

• Transfer 1 : Depart Geneva Airport at 11.00 (for flights arriving by 10.00)
• Transfer 2 : Depart Geneva Airport at 16.00 (for flights arriving by 15.00)

Our hotel

We are staying at your choice of our hotels in Alpe d’Huez. Your stay will be for 3 or 4 nights and will be on a bed and breakfast basis so with breakfasts included. You will have an early breakfast on Marmotte day. You have the option to come and join us at our meal night at Smithy’s tavern. For £25 per person per night, you will get a basic but copious two course meal plus the opportunity to socialise with your fellow Marmotters.

Guided ride

If you are on the earlier arrival, we will run a short (but punchy) guided ride down Alpe d'Huez, over the Balcons and back up the Sarenne departing Alpe d'Huez at 14.30.

This afternoon you have the opportunity to go to the expo to collect your race bib for tomorrow. This afternoon and early evening, our tour leaders and bike mechanics are available for you. The evening is free for you to eat out in one of Alpe d’Huez’s many restaurants or you can join us at our meal night in Smithy’s Tavern.

Saturday 24th June 2023 : Preparation day

After breakfast and preparing the bikes, we will take you on a supported, guided ride that takes in the Vilard Reculas climb which is the easiest way to get back up to Alpe d’Huez. We will descend down to Bourg d’Oisans, ride along the valley floor and climb back up to Alpe d’Huez.  

We’ll be back at the hotel in the afternoon for you to rest and get prepared for tomorrow. This evening our bike guides will do a race briefing to run through Marmotte day logistics and of course the route.

The evening is free for you to eat out in one of Alpe d’Huez’s many restaurants or you can join us at Smithy’s for the meal night where there will be plenty of carbs on offer.

Sunday 25th June 2023 : The Marmotte

We have an early start this morning. Early breakfast is arranged in the hotel restaurant.

2023 Gran Fondo La Marmotte

The Marmotte start is done in waves. You will be allocated a start pen with a time that you have to enter the pen plus a start time. Previous editions have started between 07:00 and 08:30. The Marmotte is a race with one cut off point. You need to have passed the start of the Alpe d’Huez climb in Bourg d’Oisans before 18.00 otherwise you will be eliminated from the race. If you’re eliminated your bike will go on a bike trailer and you will be transported to the finish in Alpe d’Huez.

Once you finish in Alpe d’Huez, there’s no need to worry as you are staying near the finish.

This afternoon and early evening we’ll assist you with re-packing your bikes ahead of travel.

The evening is free for you to eat out in one of Alpe d’Huez’s many restaurants or you can join us at Smithy’s for the meal night. After the meal we’ll have a celebratory get together at Smithy’s bar to celebrate your achievement.

Monday 26th June 2023 : Departure

After breakfast we offer our optional transfer back to Lyon or Geneva airport. If you book on to one of our transfers, they will operate as follows :

Geneva Airport

• Transfer 1 : Depart Alpe d’Huez at 07.00 (for flights departing after 12.00)
• Transfer 2 : Depart Alpe d’Huez at 10.00 (for flights departing after 15.00)

Medical certificate

Please note that you need a medical certificate to take part in the 2023 Marmotte Gran Fondo -  Marmotte Medical Certificate

Time limits

There are 2 points on the route with a time limit. If you don't get there before the below times then your number will be taken from you and your name will not feature in the event's official rankings.

• Time limit 1: 16:00 top of the Galibier
• Time Limit 2: 18:00 bottom of the Alpe d'Huez climb

Registration

The race is open to all male or female riders that are at least 18 years old. Participation is subject to provision of a medical certificate: a certificate of fitness to practice competitive cycling (certificates for other types of sports such as triathlon, duathlon, athletics, etc. are not valid)

How to book

Please make your booking by clicking the orange book now button. Please ensure that you select the correct room type for all members in your party plus all the required extras. When you book, we will require a deposit to confirm your place. 

Payments

We offer all our customers a payment schedule where you pay in instalments without fees. When you confirm your booking, we will take a deposit payment. Subsequent payments are taken automatically. The cost of the event entry is non-refundable.

Marmotte Rules

The full set of rules for the 2023 Marmotte Gran Fondo should be read, and can be downloaded from here.

How to get to Alpe d'Huez

Flying plus transfer from the airport

The nearest airport to Alpe d'Huez is Grenoble Isere airport but there are virtually no international flights here in the summer. Your nearest option is Lyon followed by Geneva. The transfer from Lyon takes about 1.45 hours and from Geneva about 3 hours. Even though the transfer is slightly longer, Geneva offers a larger selection of airlines and better prices.  Once at the airport, you can take our airport transfers or if the times don't suit, you could rent a car and drive.

Train

Lyon Airport has a TGV station. Grenoble also has a train station but you'd need to make your own arrangements from there by renting a car or booking a private transfer which can be costly. There are also buses that go from Grenoble and Lyon to Alpe d'Huez.

Driving

From the Uk driving from Calais to Alpe d'Huez will take about 9 hours and cost in the region of £75 in tolls one way. Once in Alpe d'Huez there's plenty of free parking.

Alpe d’Huez

One of the most iconic climbs of the Tour de France and of cycling in general. The 21 hairpin bends up to the ‘Ile au Soleil’ are on every cyclist’s bucket list. A popular ski resort in the winter, the resort turns into a cycling mecca in the summer. Apart from the Marmotte, other events in June/ July 2022 include: the Haute Route Alpe d’Huez, the Etape du Tour, the Megavalanche and the Alpe d’Huez Triathlon.

Alpe d’Huez featured in the Etape du Tour for the last time in 2011 with a 109km stage from Modane/ Valfrejus. It last featured in the Tour de France in 2018 when Geraint Thomas was victorious. Geraint Thomas became the first British winner at Alpe d’Huez on the occasion of the 30th finish in the ski resort of the Oisans. He was also the first rider to win a road stage to Alpe d’Huez with the yellow jersey. He outsprinted Tom Dumoulin, Romain Bardet, Chris Froome and Mikel Landa to extend his lead in the overall ranking.

For training, Alpe du Zwift on Zwift is a fairly accurate representation of the climb so ideal to get stuck into over the winter!