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With nearly 900 participants over the weekend, the Trilogie de Maurienne once again established itself as a leading event with an international reach.
Source: CP
Part of the Cyclo’Tour Rotor and Gran Fondo World Tour challenges, the Trilogie de Maurienne holds a prime spot on the sporting calendar. The first challenge brings together more than 9 rounds across 7 events throughout the season in France. The second follows the same recipe but changes the location of the events, since they take place on 5 different continents.
Despite the current health situation, the easing of restrictions allowed many French and foreign riders to come and (re)discover the largest cycling playground in the world, the Maurienne. With more than 10 nationalities represented, everyone was able to enjoy the charm and pleasure of rolling their wheels over the roads of the Maurienne.
Three days, three atmospheres…
After a first timed day on Friday, held on the slopes of the Col du Chaussy and the Madeleine, the participants met again on Saturday for another timed climb, this time to take on the Télégraphe and the Galibier. This very specific race format, where only the climbs are timed, allows everyone to push their limits and measure themselves on dedicated segments. The famous Madeleine and Galibier passes, two Alpine giants, wore down the morale and bodies of the participants before the final sprint.
First day
Under a cool morning dew, the 200 starters of this first day set off from La Tour en Maurienne towards the legendary Col de la Madeleine. Despite minds still clouded by the dreams of the night, an electric atmosphere hung over the start line. The participants, each more motivated than the next, set off with vigour in the first kilometres of the Col du Chaussy. There was no time to warm up the legs and let the temperature rise: the significant elevation gain on this first long climb opens up gaps and stretches the peloton.
Only after swallowing the 15 kilometres of climbing of the Col du Chaussy could the participants bring their heart rates back down and rehydrate thanks to the liquid feed station offered by the organisers at the summit. On this first day, only the climbs were timed, allowing everyone to recover and descend safely to the next challenge.
The Col de la Madeleine in sight
After about ten kilometres of descent, the participants picked up the road to the Col de la Madeleine. With bodies already tired from those first kilometres, it was time to get the machine going again and tackle the long 16 km climb to Saint François Longchamp, with the Col de la Madeleine in sight.
With more than 1,100 m of elevation gain on this last section, the participants dug into their final reserves to reach the summit. Through green alpine pastures and surrounded by the steep slopes of the Cheval Noir and the Grand Pic de la Lauzière, the participants arrived at the top in a trickle. After an intense effort over 16 km, the participants were rewarded with a panorama of Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles d’Arves, emblems of the Trilogie de Maurienne.
With an average speed of more than 21 km/h, Thomas LEMAITRE won the men’s race, followed closely by Julien BERARD and Bruno MOREL. With a 1h30 climb, the leading trio was twice as fast as the last finishers, who crossed the line after 3h30 of effort.
In the women’s race, Alyssa LURQUIN took first place after 1h58 of effort, ahead of Alice MEIGNIÉ and Nathalie FAVREAU.
Second day
At 9 a.m. this morning, 200 riders set off from La Tour en Maurienne on a neutralised 15-kilometre section towards the town of Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. After waiting for all the participants, the official start could be given! In their sights: the Col du Télégraphe, then the legendary Col du Galibier.
The steep gradients and numerous hairpins did not dampen the riders’ motivation!
So, after a first section in the shade of the trees, the first difficulties were overcome with courage by the participants. This first part of the course stretched out the peloton and opened up gaps. It was at the Col du Télégraphe that the riders were able to get their strength and breath back at the liquid feed station offered by the organisers. After a neutralised section of the Col du Télégraphe as far as the exit of Valloire, allowing everyone to cross the Station Village safely, the competitors found themselves strung out at the foot of the Galibier.
The Col du Galibier as an outlet… or as a penance!
Despite bodies already well tested by the first timed section, all the participants tackled this legendary ascent of the Galibier. With 18 km to cover and more than 1,235 m of elevation gain to swallow, this second part promised some good moments on the bike. Between pleasure, excitement and fatigue, feelings and sensations were mixed on this ascent of the Galibier. Even if the leading group overcame this difficulty with vigour and speed, for the rest of the peloton and the last participants, this final stretch proved mentally and physically painful.
All of that was quickly forgotten once the finish line was crossed, at the summit of the Galibier. Facing the legendary pass sign and surrounded by a grandiose panorama, the participants quickly found their smiles again. Just one feeling remained: pride at having climbed, once more or for the first time, one of the best-known road passes in the world.
In the men’s race, Aurélien DOLEATTO (1:25:52) was the fastest, ahead of Thomas LEMAITRE and Bruno MOREL. With only 2 minutes between them at the summit, the leading trio climbed the day’s two difficulties in under 1h30. In the women’s race, Alice MEIGNE (1:56:19) won ahead of Florence LE GALLIC and Alyssa LURQUIN after 2h of timed climbing.
Third day
The Maurienne triptych came to an end this Sunday under a radiant sun, with the 3 routes of the Mollard, the Arvan and the Arvan Villard. The Mollard route (55km | D+1 250m) headed towards Villargondran before taking on the 52 hairpins of the climb to Albiez-Montrond and the Col du Mollard.
The Arvan route (85km | D+3 100m) headed towards the merciless Col du Glandon before reaching the Col de la Croix de Fer. With the Aiguilles d’Arves in sight, the riders also reached the Col du Mollard before finishing their epic with the Opinel roundabout and the Montée de la Toussuire. A bodybuilt version of the Arvan route, the Arvan Villard route (120km | D+3 650m) follows the same roads as its little brother, but gives riders a more gradual warm-up with a long flat section to loosen up.
Worth noting were the victories of Jocelyn GUILLOT (04:12:37) and Alyssa LURQUIN (05:23:28) on the Grand Parcours, and of Damien JEANJEAN (03:20:41) together with Florence LE GALLIC (04:15:57) on the Moyen Parcours.
For all the participants, the finish at La Toussuire was a real deliverance and the end of a weekend full of effort and emotion. These were efforts that were accepted but also chosen by participants, who did not forget to appreciate the beauty of the landscapes and the commitment (marshals, feed stations, etc.) of each village passed through.
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