Short description
Every year the Marmotte Granfondo takes place on a tough course in the French Alps around Alpe d'Huez. We offer the choice of a variety of hotels in Alpe d'Huez. We offer guaranteed entry with choice of start pen, top-notch staff support, airport transfers, bike rental and overland bike transport from the UK. You will also benefit from our private food stations on the route. You can focus on the riding whilst we look after the rest.
The itinerary
Thursday - Optional early arrival day
We give you the option to arrive early today, ahead of your Marmotte weekend. If you are taking part in 'La Grimpee deL'Alpe, the individual time trial up Alpe d'Huez, please arrive today. We will offer transfers leaving Geneva airport at 14.00 and 19.00 today.
Friday - Arrival day and Grimpee de L'Alpe (time trial) day
Arrival day for all hotels is Friday and you can choose to make your own way to Alpe d'Huez or to book our arrival transfers.
Today you will have the additional option of participating in the Grimpee de L'Alpe, a 13km event to get your very own time climbing Alpe d'Huez. Ride your bike down to the start from the hotel and try to set a PB on the timed ascent of the Alpe. We advise to arrive a day early to ensure you don't miss this event.
Airport transfers from Geneva airport - £60 one way or £120 return
We operate airport transfers from Geneva airport. Even though the transfer is shorter from Lyon, there are far more flights available from Geneva. Please note that we reserve the right to cancel your airport transfer booking if you book a flight which arrives later than the advertised times or leaves too early on departure.
Departure transfers to Geneva airport are available on Monday at 07:00 and 10:00.
We will welcome you at Geneva airport and our transfer vehicle will transport you and your bike to Alpe d'Huez. We will be leaving Geneva airport at 14.00 and 19.00. If you take the late 19.00 transfer from Geneva and you are staying at a hotel with evening meals included then a cold buffet will be waiting for you on arrival. For those who are not staying at a hotel with evening meals included, we will propose a simple meal on arrival which can be paid for locally.
Saturday - Registration day
Registration will be on Friday between 14.00 and 20.00 and Saturday from 10.00 until 20.00. This will be at the Palais des Sports in Alpe d'Huez. There will be plenty of time today to build your bike and make some last minute adjustments if required. Our staff will be on hand to assist you. This morning we will do our race briefing at the Palais des Sports near the registration area.
Sunday - 2021 Marmotte Gran Fondo day
The date of the 2021 Marmotte Gran Fondo Alps has now been confirmed as Sunday 27th June.
Descent to Bourg d'Oisans
The start of La Marmotte is in Bourg d'Oisans so after an early breakfast you ride down to the start before undertaking the 170km of the 2021 Gran Fondo La Marmotte. In the morning it can be chilly on the way down to the start. We can collect the items you use on the descent from you. We will be located 100m before the roundabout at the bottom of the Alpe d'Huez descent. The bags will be kept and delivered back at night to your hotels. We will provide additional feed stops near the Col du Galibier (full feed stop) plus on the climb up to Alpe d'Huez (liquids and gels only)
Day bag service
You can give us items that you want to have available in the race when you stop at our Sports Tours support station so you don't have to carry it all the way with you. You have to use the bag we give to you for this purpose. This could be food, energy drink etc.
Additional feed stations
In addition to the official feed stations, we offer a feed stop near the summit of the Col du Galibier plus on the Alpe d'Huez bends. Bend 7 to be exact. Remember that the bends count down from 21 to 1. We will have a selection of food and drinks. At the Galibier feed station, we have your day bag for you with any of your own food and drinks that you'd like to use.
After you finish, simply ride back to your hotel and put your feet up. If you have made use of the overland bike transport service or if you have rented a bike from us then your bike will be collected from you this evening.
Monday - Departure day
We will be running airport transfers today back to Geneva airport.
Geneva airport to Alpe d'Huez - 3 to 3.5 hours
It takes around 3 hours to complete the journey to the airport. Departure transfers to Geneva airport are available on Monday at 07:00 and 10:00. The first Geneva bus will leave at 07:00 from Alpe d'Huez so please book flights after 12:00. The other bus leaves at 10.00 for flights departing after 15.00.
N.B. Please note that if you are booked on the first transfer and you miss it through your own fault then we can't guarantee that there is space on the next one.
Key information
- Highlights
- 3 or 4 nights at your chosen hotel in Alpe d'Huez
- 3 or 4 breakfasts including an early one on Marmotte day
- 3 or 4 evening meals (if you book a hotel which includes this)
- Bike storage at your chosen hotel
- All hotel taxes
- A Sports Tours International cycling jersey made by Castelli
- A safe pair of hands from our own staff
