La Marmotte


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, 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 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 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. The route was 176km, including 5,200m of climb.
LocationAltitude Distance Information
Bourg d'Oisans7190
La Paute7302
Rochetaillé7117
RD1091 - D526
Allemont82010
Le Rivier125420
D926 - D927190735.5
Col du Glandon192435.7
Saint Colomban des Villards110246
Saint Alban des Villards88253
Saint Étienne de Cuines45056.5
D927 - D7443157.7
Sainte Marie de Cuines42058.5
D74 - RD100663.4
RD1006 46567.4
St Michel de Maurienne71281.4
D902
Col du Télégraph157092.9
Valloire143097.9
Plan Lachat105.4
Les Granges du Galibier109.4
Col du Galibier2642114.9
Col du Lautaret2057122.4
RD1091
La Grave1481133.4
Le Freney d'Oisans900149.4
Bourg d'Oisans719161.4
D211
La Garde1000165.4
Huez1495170.5
Alpe d'Huez1880174.4

Organisation

Entry

Online entry on the event's official website is possible but demand greatly exceeds the limited number of places available. In 2012, the event entry website received more than 6000 individual online applications in one day 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 .

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, 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
201905:34:5730-39
201805:39:3918-29
201705:42:4518-29
201605:40:0118-29
201505:54:3040-49
201405:34:4430-39
201305:32:0130-39
201205:33:1418-29
201105:32:2330-39
201005:46:0630-39
200906:09:0030-39
200806:02:1230-39
200706:00:5930-39
200605:50:3030-39
200505:49:4030-39
200406:03:5230-39
200306:07:0418-29
200206:39:5830-39
200106:12:4030-39
199906:22:0018-29
199806:25:3430-39
199706:40:1918-29
199606:32:3618-29
199506:43:1118-29
199406:24:4418-29
199306:24:3730-39
199206:43:5018-29
199106:20:0418-29
199006:30:2230-39
198906:27:4230-39
198806:23:3930-39
198706:29:5318-29
198606:37:3630-39
198506:47:0130-39
198406:58:5240-49
198307:08:4940-49
198207:21:19Unknown

Men's Lanterne Rouge

YearNameNationalityTimeAge category
2019Roland Mooren13:12:2650-59
2018Martijn Davenport12:59:2850-59
2017Hidde Schwietert11:29:1318-29
2016Bill Smith12:57:4367+
2015John Simpson14:34:3940-49
2014Torben Larsen13:25:0460+
2013Siebe Vrieswijk14:17:3318-29
2012Sander Arends14:12:3230-39
2011Lloyd Moore13:50:0050-59
2010John MacDonald13:43:2040-49
2009Ole Thomsen13:19:3960-66
2008Bo Leerberg13:42:3230-39
2007Geoffrey Woodhouse13:52:1260+
2006Adam Witherington13:55:0130-39
2005Jordi Moix13:23:4340-49
2004Peter Glendawar13:21:3550-59
2003Alwin Siegersma13:49:4018-29
2002Philippe Rabut13:52:2540-49
2001Yves Gachon12:56:4418-29
2000Antoni Busquet13:23:5940-49
1999Christian Crampe13:43:3950-59
1998Christiaan Kesselmans13:02:0850-59
1997Gilles Penot12:03:3030-39
1996Laurent Morel11:57:2718-29
1995Willem Feyen11:34:0240-49
1994Marco Manenti12:56:5940-49
1993Willem van de Meent12:56:5950-59
1992Jean Gain12:30:0060+
1991Carl Westra12:32:0240-49
1990Fernando Silvestre Dos Santos12:21:1018-29
1989Pieter Gietermans12:56:5940-49
1988J.Luc Mason12:11:0030-39
1987Phillpe Gilson12:33:1130-39
1986Javier Fancisco Etxaide-Juantorena11:56:1430-39
1985Maurice Paret12:56:2850-59
1984Joseph Wislet13:05:3130-39
1983Edouard Richard13:58:3730-39