The profile of the Marmotte bike race.

Each year, in late June or early July, the French Alps and Alpe d’Huez play host to one of the world’s greatest cycling events: la Marmotte. La Marmotte (named for the furry mountain creature that is the symbol of the Oisans region) is a 174 kilometre ride that starts in the town of le Bourg d’Oisans and ends on the summit of Alpe d’Huez. In between, it travels over some of the Tour de France’s most famous cols: la Croix de Fer, Telegraphe, and Galibier.

Essentially, la Marmotte is a chance for avid bike racers—and mere mortals—to take on an alpine stage of the Tour de France. Although it is not widely known in the United States, la Marmotte is one of the world’s biggest one-day cycling events, attracting as many as 7,000 cyclists from France, Holland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and elsewhere. In 2003, out of 4,516 finishers, only seven were American!

In 2003, the winner of la Marmotte, a Dutchman, finished in 6 hours and 7 minutes. The last finisher, also from Holland, took almost 14 hours. So, as you can see, la Marmotte welcomes both those who “race” and those who “ride.” In essence, la Marmotte is very much like the California Death Ride or El Tour de Tucson: You ride at your own pace and create your own level of challenge. During the same week as la Marmotte, the region also sponsors two shorter races in the Trophee de l'Oisans competition, including the ultimate in coffee shop bragging rights: the time trial up Alpe d’Huez known as “la Grimpée de l’Alpe.”

What you should be capable of in order to participate: