Save the date: The Alps Epic 2016 mountainbike race

From the 3-9th July 2016 France will host the ALPS EPIC, a 5-stage mountain bike marathon race exploring the legendary trails of the French alps. Here’s everything what you need to know about this truly epic event.

The race format is similar to other international events, with racers competing in teams of 2 over technically and physically demanding stages averaging 50-70km with 2000-3000m climbing and descending. With a prologue and five stages to cover, the firm emphasis is on quality singletrack. Each year, the Alps Epic will race a new section of the ‘Grande Traversée des Hautes-Alpes’, a long distance bike trail traversing the breath taking and ever changing mountains of the department of Hates Alpes, in the southern alps.
For the inaugural 2016 edition, the ALPS EPIC will follow a route beginning with an urban prologue, followed by 5 stages of 50-70km. The itinerary is pure mountain biking in its truest sense, from Briançon to Embrun via the Queyras with a backdrop of glaciers, alpine fortifications (UNESCO world heritage listed in the case of Vauban), natural parks, legendary mountain passes (Izoard…) and the lac de Serre-Ponçon.

Several race categories will be contested : senior and masters in men’s, women’s and mixed pairs, with prize money from 2016. The event is already part of the Fédération Française de cyclisme (FFC) calendar for 2016 with a view to UCI recognition in 2017.
The organisers are offering a race package that is truly top-notch, with all inclusive packages of the sort normally reserved for the top pros. They will be delivered with the ‘French touch’, assuring an abundance of facilities, comfort, service and good times for racers from the entire world over. The event will also be an officially recognised ‘eco-event’ right from the start.

Two formulas are proposed for the first edition:

• The Blue Package, where racers enjoy the beautiful nature of the Hautes Alpes, sleeping in the Alps-Epic camp.
• The Black Package, where racers are lodged in the finest accommodation at each overnight stop and enjoy the best of the local produce, creating an experience full of charm, comfort and an authentic welcome.

Every entry will include timing with live tracking, food and drink stations during the stages, savoury snacks after the stages, bike washing and lubing service, full workshop support (parts payable), post-stage massage, secure bike storage, kit transport between stages, entry to opening and closing ceremonies, return bus to race start (without bikes), event t-shirt, finishers t-shirt and more surprise gifts.

For the inaugural edition 250 racers, including 50 special guests, will have the honour of racing a truly VIP edition of the race. From next year the organisers will open up entries to more racers and offer a wider range of entry packages.

Guest entries are awarded based on results via the project ‘Objective ALPS EPIC’. A partnership with other events has already been created. The men’s and women’s winners from both the Trans-Maurienne and the Ultra Raid de la Meije had the pleasant surprise of winning their 2016 ALPS EPIC entries. A general race classification will also be put in place for 2016.

Canyon have already come on board as event sponsors, with a focus on the perfect bike for this kind of event: the Canyon Exceed CF.
Squirtlube and the Mountain Bikers Foundation (MBF) are also supporting the event, helping us attain the award ‘eco-event’.

For more information about the Alps Epic 2016, check out their website: alpsepic.com

Words: Alps Epic PR Photos: Jean Luc Armand

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.