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 and with 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 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

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 dayLa Marmotte popularity 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 Alpe d'Huez. Intermediary water stops are scattered throughout as are a limited number of temporary toilet facilities.

Statistics

Men's Winners

YearWinnerTimeAge category 2023 05:49:01 30-39 2022 05:20:20 30-39 2021 05:34:19 30-39 2019 05:34:57 30-39 2018 05:39:39 18-29 2017 05:42:45 18-29 2016 05:40:01 18-29 2015 05:54:30 40-49 2014 05:34:44 30-39 2013 05:32:01 30-39 2012 05:33:14 18-29 2011 05:32:23 30-39 2010 05:46:06 30-39 2009 06:09:00 30-39 2008 06:02:12 30-39 2007 06:00:59 30-39 2006 05:50:30 30-39 2005 05:49:40 30-39 2004 06:03:52 30-39 2003 06:07:04 18-29 2002 06:39:58 30-39 2001 06:12:40 30-39 1999 06:22:00 18-29 1998 06:25:34 30-39 1997 06:40:19 18-29 1996 06:32:36 18-29 1995 06:43:11 18-29 1994 06:24:44 18-29 1993 06:24:37 30-39 1992 06:43:50 18-29 1991 06:20:04 18-29 1990 06:30:22 30-39 1989 06:27:42 30-39 1988 06:23:39 30-39 1987 06:29:53 18-29 1986 06:37:36 30-39 1985 06:47:01 30-39 1984 06:58:52 40-49 1983 07:08:49 40-49 1982 07:21:19 20-29

Men's Lanterne Rouge

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

References

External links La Marmotte cyclosportive official website.