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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.

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 Telegraphe, Col du Galibier and the final ascent of the legendary Alpe d'Huez. 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 176km, including 5,200m of climb.

Location Altitude (m) Distance (km) Information
Bourg d'Oisans 719 0 Timing starts
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

Feed station Water station Medical services Timing stops

Saint Colomban des Villards 1102 46 Medical services
Saint Alban des Villards 882 53
Saint Étienne de Cuines 450 56.5 Timing starts
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 Water station
D902
Col du Télégraph 1570 92.9 Water station
Valloire 1430 97.9

Feed station Water station Medical services

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

Feed station Water station Medical services

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

Feed station Water station Medical services

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

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 the 30th of 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

Year Winner Time Age category
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 Inoalecio (FRA) 07:21:19 Unknown

Men's Lanterne Rouge

Year Name Nationality Time Age category
2016 Bill Smith  GBR 12:57:43 67+
2015 John Simpson[2]  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

  1. ^ La Marmotte popularity
  2. ^ La Marmotte on a Brompton: http://www.brompton.com/News/Posts/2015/Journey-Marmotte
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