Presentation of the Tour des Stations, August 7, 2021

This sportive grows every year. With five routes on offer, including the Efondo for Gravel and electric MTBs, the Tour des Stations is now eagerly awaited by many cyclists. The diversity of its routes allows it to adapt to everyone.

By David Polveroni – Photos: tourdesstations.ch

Having participated in the Marmotte event in 2019, I particularly appreciated the quality of the organization: aid stations, signage, safety, but also the atmosphere, a little bit like the Tour de France with El Diablo, or even professionals, locals like Reichenbach or… Contador, the event’s patron, who will be there again this year.

Let’s get back to the routes. For the past two years, the starting point, Le Châble, has been located near the finish in Verbier (hmm, hmm: a small common point with Contador!), which simplifies logistics for all participants.

A finish that is fictitious since the stop-chrono for all routes is at the Col de La Croix de Coeur, common to all routes.

The Tour des Stations, as its name suggests, goes around the Valais resorts… This represents a whopping 242 km and 8850 m of elevation gain, with 11 climbs: an Everesting.

It is possible to do it solo or in a team, with three-person relays taking place at Mayens de la Tour and St Martin.

The Marmotte, on a more classic format of 133 km and 4700 m of elevation gain, “cuts” through the valley after the Col de Lein to rejoin the ultra route in Sion.

Finally, for muscle bikes, there is a route of 74 km and 2850 m of elevation gain with the Col du Lein and the finish at La Croix de Coeur.

To conclude, a route for electric bikes is offered, 35 km long with a little less than 2000 m of ascent. Please note, this route is reserved only for GRAVEL AND MTB bikes!

To discover all 11 climbs offered as well as their profiles, nothing beats the Road Book provided by the organizer:

https://tourdesstations.ch/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TDS_E-RoadBook_2@2021.pdf

Also noteworthy this year: Alberto Contador will open the Bambinofondo!

The race will take place on Friday, August 6, 2021, starting at 5:00 PM in Le Châble, for children between 5 and 12 years old.

The 3 categories are as follows:

MEDIO U6 (2014-2017) at 5:00 PM: 2 laps – 1000m

GRAN U10 (2012-2015) at 5:30 PM: 5 laps – 2500m

ULTRA U12 (2010-2011) at 6:00 PM: 8 laps – 4000m

Once again, I have excellent memories of 2019 despite execrable weather where I had to race solo, always out of sync with the lead group, losing no less than 5 minutes in the first (neutralized) descent. Gravel sections, quite steep before returning to the finish of La Croix de Coeur, make this event atypical.

We expect a good crowd and a high level of competition in these events. Plan for a 36×30 minimum.