SUM M • 2015ER K AC Y WO U L • SIMPL © Savoie Mont Blanc / © Gilles Lansard P P S S RE NDERF PRESS PACK Summer 2015 INTRODUCTION AND MAPS . MOUNTAIN BIKING . . . . . . . CYCLING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONTACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P2 P4 P8 P 11 SUMMER 2015 Savoie Mont Blanc Tourisme is the tourist board of the Savoie and Haute Savoie departments in France. Covering two thirds of the French Alps, Savoie Mont Blanc is one of France’s most important tourist destinations, all year round. Of the total visitors to Savoie Mont Blanc, 33% come in the summer (62% in winter, and 5% at spring and autumn). Last summer, 77% of the clientele was French, and 23% was foreign. 16% of the foreign clientele was British. It is the second most important clientele in the summer after the Netherlands. Savoie Mont Blanc is a family-friendly destination, offering a wide range of sporting activities for children of all ages and adults. Savoie Mont Blanc also offers fantastic food and wine. Easy access Savoie Mont Blanc in the summer By plane In the summer, several airlines fly to Lyon and Geneva direct from the UK. Lyon: www.lyonaeroports.com Geneva Aiport: www.gva.ch Car rental companies are a good alternative for those travelling by plane and offer good prices. By train Savoie Mont Blanc’s two main cities, Chambéry and Annecy, are easily accessible by train. Chambéry is a 2 hours and 50 minutes train journey from Paris and Annecy is a 3 hours and 50 minutes train journey from Paris. http://uk.voyages-sncf.com • 4 large lakes: Lake Geneva (Lake Léman), Lake Bourget, Lake Annecy and Lake Aiguebelette. • 2 natural regional parks: Bauges and Chartreuse • 1 national park: Vanoise National Park • 14 national and regional natural reserves • 2 geoparks: Bauges and Chablais Activities • 14,190km of marked hiking tracks • 6,323kms of marked cycling itineraries By car From Britain, use the A6 or A39 motorways to quickly and easily head towards the French Alps. The Savoie and Haute Savoie’s towns, villages, valleys and ski resorts are easy to get to, whatever the time of year. • 2,797km of mountain bike marked tracks vers le Che • 107 parapenting sites • 284 equipped rock climbing sites • 48 Via Ferrata routes vers • Calais - Chambéry: 874 km (543 miles) Chenit • 120 canyoninglesites • Calais - Annecy: 822 km (510 miles) • 63 ‘parcours aventures’ (Go Ape) • 13 golf courses B • 75 swimming pools • 90 beaches © OT Flaine SUI SSE vers St-Claude c a L Savoie Mont Blanc Regions Espace culturel de la Chataignière Nyon Jardin des Cinq sens THONON-LES-BAIN Yvoire Nernier P.2 PRESS PACK • SUMMER 2015 • www.savoie-mont-blanc.com Chapelle N.-D. du Lac Messery Excenevex Musée de la Préhistoire Musée Départemental des Pompiers Pierres à cupules Anthy-surLéman Pierre des vers Yverdon 2/3 LAUSANNE vers Berne Morges Vevey L é m a n c L a Evian-les-Bains Yvoire Chens-surLéman AIN le R hôn e Archamps C St-Jeoire la Rochesur-Foron Orange B O N E S Rle Petit-Bornand- S Y A V Ole Bourget- du-Lac vers Lyon St-Albande-Montbel Lépin- Aiguebelettele Pont-dele-Lac le-Lac Beauvoisin A R R A St-Gervais- les Houches les-Bains Combloux S MA ’ Praz-sur-Arly L Aillon-le-Jeune A Naves Bonneval la Léchère Doron Is de Boz T A N E R Champagny- Méribel les Allues la Chambre St-Martinde-Belleville Pa MéribelMottaret St-Colombandes-Villards Jarrier les Bottières St-Jean-deMaurienne la Toussuire l’Arc le Corbier St-Jeand'Arves St-Sorlin-d'Arves o an is V la e la Dent Parrachée d 3684 m A U R I E N N E Aussois Orelle Modane Valmeinier tunnel Valfréjus de Fréjus Pointe de la Sana 3436 m Bonneval-sur-Arc e Bessans LanslebourgMt-Cenis Termignon SollièresSardières Bramans c ’Ar l Pointe de Charbonnel 3752 m lac du Mont Cenis Rochemelon 3538 m la Norma Valloire vers Turin Aiguille d'Arves 3510 m N ITALIE 10 km ©latitude-cartagene 2011 P.3 les Karellis Val-d'Isère Grande Motte 3656 m al Pointe de la Grande Casse 3855 m Val-Thorens St-Michelde-Maurienne Albiez-Montrond Pic de l'Etendard 3468 m 0 M n on ati Pralognanla-Vanoise rc les Ménuires Tignes en-Vanoise Courchevel Pic du Frêne 2805 m Ste-FoyTarentaise E I S T A la Plagne ITALIE la Rosière les Arcs PeiseyVallandry Montchavinles Coches el Bozel Bridesles-Bains la Tania Valmorel la Rochette tunnel du Mont Blanc Mont Blanc 4810 m Séez Isère Villaroger la Côted'Aime PlagneMontalbert Moûtiers e èr SUISSE I N A Albertville R T B E A U F O Isère Aime Chamouxsur-Gelon T vers Aoste, Milan Graniersur-Aime Aiguebelle M U N Beaufort-sur-Doron Arêches St-Pierred'Entremont vers Grenoble F D O Hauteluce Grésysur-Isère Montmélian ISÈRE SI les ContaminesMontjoie N.D.de Bellecombe Aillon-Margériaz Chartreuse Aiguille du Midi 3842 m l'Arve Bourg-St-Maurice St-Alban-Leysse St-Pierred'Albigny la Ravoire Challes-les-Eaux naturel régiona Parc l de Mercury L ChamonixMont-Blanc Servoz Y Passy Megève Cohennoz ConsSte-Colombe Ugine des Bauges la Féclaz lac Cognin d'Aiguebelette Argentière I le Revard CHAMBÉRY Flaine A Seythenex le Châtelard la MotteServolex Novalaise les Echelles St-Françoisde-Sales Vallorcine le Buet 3099 m Crest-Voland Héry-sur-Ugine V A N A B L A S D R St-Genixsur-Guiers N Aix-les-Bains Aéroport de ChambéryAix-les-Bains A I E GN UTA CHA Y A P A T le Rhôn A e Doussard Faverges t V Montmin naturel régiona l Parc urge e Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval les Carrozd'Arâches Cordon Flumet Talloires Duingt Col du Grand Saint-Bernard Samoëns Morillon Sallanches la Giettaz Manigod Menthon-St-Bernard nn Albens Thônes Veyrier-du-Lac cy St-Jorioz Alby/Chéran u Bo Yenne A Seynod Sévrier d' A Ruffieux Y la Clusaz ANNECY lac d vers Belley Annecy-le-Vieux Cran-Gevrier V S le GrandBornand St-Jean-de-Sixt Meythet la c vers Ambérieu Culoz Martigny le Reposoir les-Glières vers Sion Gd Mont Ruan 3047 m Taninges N Mont- Scionzier Saxonnex Brizon Champéry les Gets Cluses Seyssel Rumilly le-Prazde-Lys Mieussy G Thorens-Glières R H Ô N E AIN I Avoriaz Morzine D le Rhône Viuz-enSallaz Sommand Monthey 2433 m St-Jeand'Aulps Montriond Bonneville Cruseilles Frangy U Arbusigny la ChapelleRambaud G H A U T O V E N E I S A les Brasses ve Bellegardesur-Valserine Reignier Bossey C B A H Châtel I S L A Mont de Grange le Biot Bellevaux HabèrePoche r l'A St-Julienen-Genevois vers Bourg-en-Bresse la Chapelled'Abondance Abondance F Annemasse SUISSE Aigle Mégevette Ambilly Ville-la-Grand Gaillard GENÈVE Bernex Douvaine Bons-enChablais GenèveCointrin Publier Anthy-surLéman Excenevex Messery Gex Thonon-les-Bains L Nernier S Divonneles-Bains St-Gingolph Thollon-lesMémises B Nyon Montreux NC SUISSE PRESS PACK • SUMMER 2015 • www.savoie-mont-blanc.com HAUTES-ALPES Savoie Mont Blanc © Smit MOUNTAIN BIKING News trails Mountain biking is the second most popular summer sport in Savoie Mont Blanc (after hiking). The number of people who mountain bike in Savoie Mont Blanc has doubled in the last three years*. (*) - Observatoire Savoie Mont Blanc Tourisme / TNS Sofrès. Albanais Les Chemins du Soleil is a mountain bike track leading from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean Sea. The part in the Albanais, between Annecy and Aix-les-Bains, is newly marked. The Albanais is becoming a popular destination for mountain bikers with six new circuits opening this spring, making a total of 234km of marked tracks. GPS can be hired at La Maison du Vélo in Rumilly. Les Menuires Dégage à Moutiers (Get off in Moutiers) is a new black single track in Les Menuires, with a vertical descent of 1,900m! Accessible on Tuesdays and Thursdays, by taking the Saint Martin 2 cable car, the track starts at the top of Tougnète and takes between two and four hours to descend, with some technical parts. Bikers can return to Les Menuires from Moutiers by bus. www.lesportesdumontblanc.fr www.lesmenuires.com P.4 www.saintgervais.com © Savoie Mont Blanc -Smit © Savoie Mont Blanc / Lansard 400KM OF TRACKS Espace VTT Les Portes du Mont-Blanc has a total of 400km of tracks, including 100km downhill. From Praz-sur-Arly to Sallanches, via Megève, Combloux, Cordon, Demi-Quartier, La Giettaz and Magland, this huge area has 50 circuits. Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc Saint Gervais Mont-Blanc has two new mountain bike circuits. The first one, on the Mont d’Arbois, is a fun 1.5km tour. With gentle bumps and turns, wooden modules, and other surprises, it is a good circuit for families, and accessible by lifts. The second one is a 5km downhill run, from Mont d’Arbois to Bettex. Graded blue, it is a beautiful run crossing forests and pastures. PRESS PACK • SUMMER 2015 • www.savoie-mont-blanc.com MOUNTAIN BIKING HAPPY BIRTHDAY © Monica Dalmasso To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Tignes’ Bike Park, with its partner Commencal, is organising Commencal Days. There will be equipment tests and entertainment, during the day and into the night, under the light of the full moon. A concert, Live Tignes, will end the celebration. When it opened 10 years ago, the Bike Park had 5,900 MTB runs through it; in 2014 there were 140,000. More and more resorts are creating safe and easy areas and runs to attract beginners and families. Valmorel, which already has six runs, has a new learning area. Les Carroz has created a 3km family run on the bike park. In Châtel, a new family run will be created on the bike park. Starting near the Rochassons chairlift, the 3km run will go gently down the pastures, at the foot of the beautiful Mont Chèsery. Les Albiez, in the Maurienne Valley, has France’s highest BMX terrain. There is a new 4km blue run in Les Houches, a new green in Pralognan-la-Vanoise and two new easy downhill runs in La Plagne Centre (green and blue). Special trainings La Rosière In La Rosière, Bike Academy offers five-day downhill-mountain biking training camps for children from seven to 12 years old, and teenagers from 13 to 16 years old. With two and a half hours of tuition every day, they will learn or improve their downhill technique. It costs €125 for children and €175 for teenagers. It includes bike hire, protective kit, an instructor and a diploma at the end of the five days. Les Gets In Les Portes du Soleil, Les Gets Bike School is a new school offering a five-day course in downhill and freeride biking for experts. It cost €160 for 5 afternoons, lift pass included. www.lesgetsbikeschool.com Les Menuires The Bureau des Guides in Les Menuires organises Enduro training for adults and teenagers (over 14). Over two half days and a full day, bikers will practice downhill on single tracks, using the lifts to go up. It costs €72 per person. NEW: Trilogie des Aravis pass This new pass combines hiking, downhill mountain biking and a lunch in the mountain. Hike up to Les Crêtes du Maroly and a mountain hut where you can enjoy a delicious lunch with a 180-degree view over the beautiful Aravis range, before heading downhill on your bike! It costs €44 per person and includes lunch, mountain bike hire and transfer of the bike up to the mountain hut. Active Mountain shop © Agence Zoom - Thibaut www.twinner-legrandbornand-chinaillon.fr P.5 PRESS PACK • SUMMER 2015 • www.savoie-mont-blanc.com © Savoie Mont Blanc - Lansard NEW: Tour du Val d’Arly This new 40km tour can be done over two days and costs from €149.50 per person for the lift pass and a night’s half-board accommodation. And if you don’t feel fit enough you can hire an e-bike. There are two circuits adapted to e-bikes, one for adults and one for families, and costs from €239 per person per day, including full board and equipment hire. www.valdarly-montblanc.com © Savoie Mont Blanc - Smit GIRLS ONLY Ex pro Céline Gros, who won 49 medals on the World Cup circuit, has created a women’s mountain biking school, VTT CG Riding, in Morzine-Avoriaz. She offers one-to-one and group training for expert riders, as well as fun rides for women, called Entre Filles Only. In La Rosière, the shop La Grange à Ski organises tours for women only. E-Mountain biking © Vianney Thibaut / Agence Zoom Montchavin-les-Coches, Megève, Morillon… more and more resorts have electric mountain bikes to hire. Tour du Roc d’Enfer with electric mountain bikes: a three-day tour, starting from Praz de Lys, with overnight accommodation in mountain guesthouse. The route goes from mountain pass to mountain pass, on tracks adapted to e-mountain bikes. There is a circuit for adults and another one for families with children aged 15 years. The tours can be booked between May and October. From €239 per person, equipment included, full board. Vecteur Montagne: André GENIN 06 03 52 36 64; vecteurmontagne.com vecteurmontagne@wanadoo.fr P.6 PRESS PACK • SUMMER 2015 • www.savoie-mont-blanc.com Albanais La Maison du Vélo in Rumilly (in the Albanais region) organises two- or three-day tours on electric mountain bikes through the beautiful villages of the Albanais. It costs €320 per person for two days and includes electric bike hire, the instructor, and full-board accommodation. Contact : La Maison du Vélo Chemin du Moulin 74150 RUMILLY Tél. 04 50 01 68 11 www.lamaisonduvelo.com © La Clusaz - C. Diais MOUNTAIN BIKING Events RACE WITH FRIENDS FOR A CHALLENGE Roc des Alpes 12–14 June, La Clusaz MC Race 4-5 July, Combloux a 140km ultra-marathon and 7000m of difference in altitude www.rocdesalpes.com Pass’Portes du Soleil + salon 26-28 June, Morzine-Avoriaz www.passportesdusoleil.com WATCH THE PROS Transmaurienne Vanoise 5-9 August (it was previously the Transmaurienne Sybelles) UCI Trial World Cup 22-23 August, Albertville www.transmaurienne.com HAVE FUN La Diamant VTT 23 August, Les Saisies ALPINE BATTLE 22-23 August, Les Gets Enduro orienteering race www.sports-lessaisies.com La Nuit de la Ramaz 5-6 September, Praz de Lys Sommand www.prazdelys-sommand.com P.7 http://mb-race.com/ PRESS PACK • SUMMER 2015 • www.savoie-mont-blanc.com www.lesgets.com © Agence Zoom - Pallot CYCLING N Events EW LE TOUR DU LÉMAN will officially open on 6 June 2015. It is a 180km cycling track around Lake Geneva, which can be done in three or four days. A third of the circuit is in Savoie Mont Blanc. Le Tour du Léman is linked with the ViaRhôna circuit (the ViaRhôna is a cycling itinerary going from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean Sea). 102nd Tour de France Savoie Mont Blanc will host three beautiful stages of the 2015 Tour de France. The Tour will be in the Maurienne Valley from 23-25 July. On 23 July, the peloton will start in Gap and finish in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, tackling the 18 impressive hairpins of Montvernier. On 24 July, the cyclists will go from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to La ToussuireLes Sybelles, before covering 110km on 25 July, from Modane to Alpe d’Huez. The Criterium du Dauphiné will take place from 7-14 June, and most of its itinerary will be in Savoie Mont Blanc. Created in 1947, it is seen as warm-up to the Tour de France. The 2015 Criterium starts in Albertville and finishes in ModaneValfréjus. Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc hosts the peloton on the last night. On 19 July, 15,000 cycling enthusiasts will take part in the 23rd Etape du Tour, between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and La Toussuire-Les Sybelles and following the route of the 19th stage of the Tour de France. The 2015 Etape is 142km long, with 4,609m of vertical and includes four cols: Chaussy, Glandon, Croix de Fer and Mollard. La Maison du Vélo in Rumilly offers a specific training day with two cycling instructors to learn how to manage this tricky itinerary. P.8 PRESS PACK • SUMMER 2015 • www.savoie-mont-blanc.com 1 Jour, 1 Col In its 5th year, 1 Jour, 1 Col, is a very successful event for all types of cyclist. The concept is simple – different passes are closed at different times so cycling enthusiasts can practice their sport safely, without cars passing them. The 2015 1 Jour, 1 Col starts on 21 June with the Col des Aravis. Eight other passes will follow, including for the first time the Col de Solaison. It is a challenging pass, with a final climb at 14%. It is free to take part in the 1 Jour, 1 Col events. 21 June: Col des Aravis 2 July: Col du Galibier 4 July : Col de Solaison 5 July : Col de l’Iseran 13 July : Col de la Croix de Fer 2 August : Col de Joux Plane 16 August : Col de la Ramaz 20 August : Col de la Madeleine 27 August : Col du Glandon www.1jour1col.com © Agence Zoom - Grosclaude CYCLING Tour of the Chablais Léman-Portes du Soleil 9-10 May The tour will cover 277.8 km in three stages. The first stage: 140 km, starting in Thononles-Bains and finishing in Evian-les-Bains, second stage a 12.8-km time trial between Abondance and Châtel, followed by a 125-km stage starting and finishing in Châtel. www.chatel.com La Toussuire Timed Hill Climb 6 June To launch the summer season, La Toussuire is organising a timed hill climb starting in Saint Jean de Maurienne where you can come and test yourself on the road followed by the Tour de France. Registration takes place on site in Saint Jean de Maurienne. 12th Time Megève Mont Blanc 7 June This year, the routes will start in Sallanches. Participants can choose between three circuits, including the Col de la Colombière and Col des Aravis. New formula for timings and rankings: the descents from the passes will not be timed, so rankings will be obtained by adding the times for the climbs only. This will make the descents safer and give riders more time to recover and enjoy the roads of Savoie. www.csportsmegeve.com Morzine-Haut Chablais Cyclo-sportive 21 June The 12th edition of this great cycling festival once again brings together cyclists of all levels. Participants can choose from two circuits through the Aulps Valley. Short P.9 PRESS PACK • SUMMER 2015 • www.savoie-mont-blanc.com course, 105 kilometres, 2,500 metres of height gain Long course, 155 kilometres, 3,750 metres of height gain www.valleedaulps.com “La Bourgui” Cyclo-sportive 14th edition - Look Challenge 26 July The Bourgui is a cyclo-sportive sponsored by Thierry Bourguignon (former French cycling Champion). Circuits: 127 or 80 km, 3250 or 1750 m of climbing. Participants will have to overcome a succession of descents and climbs as they ride from Saint Martin de Belleville to Les Menuires, via Moûtiers, Villargerel, Naves, Cevins, La Léchère, Doucy and Saint Laurent de la Côte. www.labourgui.com - fee: 20€ 11th Col de la Ramaz Hill Climb 16 August Cycle race counting towards the HauteSavoie “Trophée des Grimpées Cyclistes”. This event is one of the seven events that make up Haute-Savoie’s “cycle-climbing trophy”, a series of challenges on the département’s most beautiful passes. Start in Mieussy, finish at the Col de la Ramaz: 14 km Reception: Saturday 16th August from 13.00 to 14.00 at Mieussy village hall. The Madeleine Cyclo-sportive 16 August For the 12th year, the Madeleine Cyclosportive takes participants through the magnificent scenery of the Maurienne Valley and over some of the area’s famous passes, including the Col de la Madeleine. Five circuits of varying length and difficulty. fr.facebook.com/cyclosportive.la.madeleine © Xavier Spertini CYCLING SAVOIE MONT BLANC CYCLING APP This is the official app for finding out more about cycling in Savoie Mont Blanc. It includes a selection of itineraries for keen cyclists and families. The app provides: • Maps of waymarked itineraries, including high passes, circuits, long-distance cycle routes, greenways and cycleways, with practical information and route descriptions. • A list of the closest itineraries to where you are, based on a geolocation module. • Lists of cycle-friendly accommodation providers along your chosen route: hotels, campsites, bed & breakfasts, hostel-style accommodation, and holiday rentals. • The locations of useful services: tourist offices, bike shops, food shops, restaurants, bars, motorhome service areas. • A list of cycling clubs and specialist service providers. • Information about events, activities, and holiday packages. • Useful links for finding out if passes are open and the location of water fountains. • Tips on preparing for your ride. • The possibility of timing your climb. If you want to be able to access the app without an internet connection, just download your route before setting off. Keywords: Cycling, Savoie, Haute-Savoie, routes, circuits, passes, French Alps. Special trainings Based in La Clusaz, Alpines Cols offers cycling holidays and training camps with qualified coaches. From the resort, 13 passes are accessible, making it a perfect place to stay. Alpines Cols organises weekend or week training camps, with accommodation in two beautiful hotels in La Clusaz (Hotel Beauregard or Alpen Roc). http://alpinecols.com In the Maurienne Valley, La Toussuire hosts Les Semaines Cyclo, from 31 May – 6 June and from 6-13 June. These weeks are dedicated to training for l’Etape du Tour. The programme includes getting to know the circuit, physical training, massage and talks. P.10 PRESS PACK • SUMMER 2015 • www.savoie-mont-blanc.com La Rosière also hosts two Semaines Cyclo, from 18-25 July, and from 22-29 August. From €830 per person Maurienne Tourisme is offering a new five-day cycling tour for expert cyclists. The circuit includes some of the most beautiful cols: Madeleine, Glandon, Croix de Fer, Galibier, Iseran… Luggage is transferred by Maurienne Tourisme from one hotel to the next. The hotels all have the label ‘Qualité Cyclo Maurienne’, which guarantees specific services for cyclists (garage, workshop tools, washing area, etc). From €700, half board. P P S S RE M • 2015ER UK Montagnes Representation Nadine Carle-Edgar nadine@montagnes.uk.com 07905 25 24 60 France Savoie Mont Blanc Tourisme Céline Guillermin celine.guillermin@smbtourisme.com +33 (0)4 79 85 96 99 - +33 (0)6 83 13 36 07 @ SMBIntl f acebook.com/savoiemontblanc www.savoie-mont-blanc.com U L WO Y Contacts K AC • SIMPL SUM NDERF
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