Alps Epic 2024 – Did anyone else enter in the end

Hi All,

Back in autumn there were a few threads about stage races this coming summer and a few people said they had entered or were planning to enter the alps epic.

Was wondering if anyone pulled the trigger? I did a similar event a couple of years ago and found a few others from the uk that travelled to it and was hoping to try and make contact with some other participants for this event.

It seems to be very quiet on the socials from a participant POV

Cheers

Guess that’s a no then!

Bump!

Just stumbled across this post. Yes, myself and a few other people from North Wales are racing it. Mixture of solos (myself) and pairs.  It’ll be my first stage race after almost exclusively doing short events for years (CX, XC, occasional marathon, TTs).

Looking forward to it!

I thought this one would have died a death! I have really struggled to find much info on the event

Thanks very much for replying, have you managed to sort out how you are getting to the start and back?

The transport leaves before the first flights from the UK arrive on the Friday morning. The train from Marseille looks like it will get in after registration finishing on the Friday as well

Ah. Yes – we’ve booked flights in and out on the thursday before and thursday after. Hiring a van from Marseille airport to take us and the bikes there and back. Its more time off than l wanted, but its the only way we could do it logistically, unless we drove there and back, which would have been a huge tasks after racing for 5 days!

I’m going also via Marseille Thurs to Thurs. If you get the more expensive accomodation option, transport from Marseille airport is included. Pricey enough but worth it for us for simpler logistics

Nice to hear a couple more people are going. My French is rusty and was worried I might be the only native English speaker!

It also quite reassuring that no one else has found a simpler route, I investigated sleeper trains, flights to Turin etc but it’s all looking like a faff. Thursday night from Gatwick it is then!

Is everyones training coming along nicely??

Sorry for the sporadic updates!

Training coming along nicely. XC at Llandegla this weekend, then the Gralloch in a few weeks. Starting to feel good.

The start list came out yesterday. Looks like 5/6 Brits, including four of us from North Wales!

I’m No.67 btw…

I missed this update!

Glad it’s going well. It finally dried out a bit down south so in addition to the usual turbo slogs I have been getting out a bit and managed a pretty decent 65k ride last week. Got some time this week and next off work to try and get some longer outdoor session in.

Am just trying to get my medical certificate sorted. GP refused but luckily I did a 200 mile ride last summer with a Dr and he think that means I am probably fit enough to enter!

Just checked the start list… I am number 66

Used these previously for med certs

https://www.sportsmedicalcertificates.com/

My understanding is that you only need the medical cert if you do not have a UCI (or UCI-affiliated – presumably BC is?) license. I just sent a photo of my UCI license.

Any opinions on best tyres to bring ?

I’m using Mezcal Barzo combo currently but wondering if I should have something faster and/or tougher on the rear. I won’t be using inserts because I’m unfamiliar and don’t want to try something new at this late stage. Will carry on plenty of plugs and CO2’s plus tube.

I plan on using maxxi ardent tr exo.

mainly because this is what is on the bike now and what I used for a similar multi  day event a couple of years ago. No punctures over 550km although I am not the most aggressive rider but am 82kg so not a lightweight.

Hey guys!

How was this year’s Alps Epic?

I am already wondering about entering for 2025. Could this year’s participant comment on the route / difficulty / organisation of the event?
Thanks!

Just stumbled upon this thread again. I did it this year.

To answer your questions, I thought the routes were fantastic, and pretty difficult. The organisation was very good, I thought. There was extreme rain the day before we arrived and the organisers were scrambling, dealing with washed away trails etc. They managed to re-route and get GPX files out to everyone every evening. The first day felt a bit chaotic with an extra few hundred doing the French Marathon Champs also but considering all that they did a great job. The race mechanics were great too.

I found the descents challenging but doable. I had no experience with alpine switchbacks and I don’t love exposure. The rain made some trails trickier for sure.

The total amount of climbing and technical trails meant average speeds were pretty low so factor that into training. I wasn’t thrilled with my performance, maybe back to back days and altitude hit me harder than I anticipated.

I’d recommend it. Any questions just ask.