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It was under a magnificent blue sky and an autumn sun that a brand new edition of the Megève Mont-Blanc Cycling took place this weekend. 800 cyclists gathered this weekend of September 11 and 12, 2021 in Megève, the capital of mountain cycling, for four events.
Source: Press Release – Photos: @David Machet
This year, the Megève Sports Club wanted to shift gears, write a new story for this event, a pioneer of mountain sportives, with new events and new courses. The challenge was met with beautiful moments of sport, sharing, and emotion!
The kick-off was given with “L’Aventurière” – the newcomer to Megève Mont-Blanc Cycling – a Gravel event of 75 km with the fabulous landscapes of the Beaufortain and Mont-Blanc massif as a backdrop, before giving way to the flagship event “L’Originale”, a sportive of 75, 100 or 165 km, not forgetting the “champions in the making” aged 5 to 14.
A truly friendly and festive cycling celebration, made possible thanks to the hundred volunteers and the Megève Sports Club!
Two days, two atmospheres…
The “Gravel” event kicked off this cycling event on Saturday! Designed and created by Nicolas Roux, this new course of 75km and 2,720m of positive elevation gain, consisting of 70% dirt roads and 30% asphalt, lived up to all its promises, leaving no respite for the committed participants. The beauty of the landscapes, the sumptuous plateaus predestined to welcome Gravel riders, the sun touching the peaks of the Beaufortain and Mont-Blanc, the technicality and diversity of the route were appreciated by all. Enough to ensure the longevity of this hybrid event, in tune with the times, for future editions!
In terms of results, the event was won hands down by Bruno Morel in 3h31mn07 who, from the very first kilometers, took the lead of the race. He finished 27mn ahead of David Molli. The podium was completed by Baptiste Pouvesle.
Note the presence of a distinguished guest: the mixed relay biathlon world champion, Antonin Guigonnat, who quietly lined up at the start and finished with a strong 5th place in 4h14mn16.
>>> See results
Saturday was also punctuated by young champions in the making, who came to compete on one of the 5 courses designed for them. With a distance of 500m for the youngest (aged 5 and 6) up to a 5km hill climb for the older ones, they fought an unparalleled battle under the applause and proud gaze of their parents!
>>> See results
Sunday, it was time for the flagship and historic event of the weekend: L’Originale. A classic sporting event that underwent a real facelift, with new distances – 75km, 100km and 165km – and this famous unprecedented passage above Ugine via the Col de l’Arpettaz (never before used in an official competition). But the real novelty of this event is above all freedom! Because we all know that in sport, there are good days and bad days, days when the body doesn’t follow and days when you feel like you have wings.
While all participants got on their bikes at the same starting line, this Sunday at 8:00 am, in the heart of the village of Megève, under a cloudless sky, some chose to cross their finish line after 75km, others chose to shift gears for the 100km loop, and the bravest pushed the limits, giving a last (well, several) pedal stroke up to 165km! A real sporting challenge for the 700 cyclists who came to sweat it out!
At the starting line, we noticed the presence of the Mayor of Megève, Catherine Jullien-Brèches, who lined up for the 75km loop and finished with an honorable time, ranking her first in her category!
Romain Champenois was the first to cross the finish line after 75km in 2h46mn29. He finished 5mn28 ahead of Laurent Brun and 5mn31 ahead of Niels Perrin. The first female, Lise Favre, ranked 33rd overall and finished in 3h33mn34.
On the 100km loop, the top 3 finished in a close sprint! In the first 2 places, we find 2 brothers: Lubin and Gauthier Monteil who crossed the line respectively in 3h30mn04 and 3h30mn08. Bastien Flammier completed the podium in 3h30mn37. Note the excellent 7th place of Megève local Antoine Socquet-Juglard, who was also the course marker and opener for the Gravel event on Saturday.
Finally, Loïc Ruffaut completed the 165 km in 6h00mn11, winning this event. He surpassed Cédric Richard and Damien Tarantola.
>>> See results
Traditionally organized in spring, the Megève Sports Club is already working on the next edition of the Megève Mont-Blanc Cycling scheduled for June 11 and 12, 2022. Registrations open in December on https://
A final word from the Director of the Megève Sports Club, Stéphane Picot:
“Our greatest satisfaction is the exceptional weather this weekend! I am very happy with the Gravel race, the feedback on this new event is incredible, the course really appealed. We know we have touched a very promising new discipline! We will also remember the nice nod to the presence of Antonin Guigonnat who is a finisher. Starting next year, the idea is to emphasize this spirit of freedom, by offering the race in a touring version, without a timer. The course, which delighted all participants, will remain similar. We also have great ambition for the kids’ races. This year we welcomed about fifty children, we are committed to really progressing!
For the sportive, the feedback is so positive that we already want to project ourselves 9 months ahead, to share smiles again with all participants. We are necessarily a little disappointed with the number of registrations, but this is an understandable situation explained by the delicate health situation and a busy back-to-school calendar. The goal would be to return to 1,500 participants in future editions. One thing is certain, this edition reinforces our belief in this principle of freedom of format (timed or not), of freedom of distances where the battle is not against the clock, but against oneself to become a Finisher!”
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