Les Deux Alpe
Mountain biking
Having lived close
to and ridden Les Deux Alpes since 2007 I’m always amazed by how quite and
undiscovered by the huge British mountain bike scene this resort is. Compared
to the resorts of the Portes du Soleil which sometimes feels like a huge
British trail center, Les Deux Alpes in general has avoided the invasion of the
UK rider. This could have something to do with the extra traveling time from
airports. However with a new motorway section from Geneva to Annecy, the transfer
time from Geneva to Les Deux Alpes is now just 2.15 hours and Lyon is just 1h45.
With the recent launch of a new transfer company 'Chairlift' supplying direct transfers from these airports, getting to Les Deux Alpes just
got that much easier.
Les Deux Alpes
sets itself apart from Les Portes du Soleil by having incredibly long descents.
With an altitude loss of 2500meters from the glacier at 3200 meters to the
hamlet of Venosc at 700meters. In which there are 110km of
French Federation approved trails. These range from snow pack on the glacier to
technical lunar landscape, onto high speed berms through alpine meadows, before
the tight technical forest sections leading on below the resort level.
In recent years,
the Free Raid classic event has been joined by the world famous Crank Works
event attracting some of the best riders in the world. Different to its sister
and founding event in Whistler Canada, this event still remains relatively low
key and spectators are still able to rub shoulders and chat with all their
favorite riders right in the pit area.
The Mountain Of
Hell mountain bike event takes place annually in late July and is a mass start
derby bringing together professional and armatures all looking to concur this
grueling race. Starting at the top of the Les Deux Alpes glacier the race descends
for almost 25km with a drop of around 2500meters over glacial snow and ice, loose
rock, mud and tree roots before the finish line in Venosc.
Dates for the 2014
event have cause quite a bit of confusion due to a clash with the Mega Avalanche
in Alpe d’Huez. Contrary to earlier publications, the event will take place
over the weekend of the 18,19&20th July.
If you are looking for somewhere amazing to stay for this week or any other over the summer, take a look at Chalet Venosc located close to the bottom of the Venosc run. Here you can enjoy a luxury mountain bike holiday, with hot tub, sauna, games room and cinema room for an amazing price.
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