La Marmotte Alpes Cyclo Sportive is one of the toughest one-day sportives in the world.
174 km. Over 5,000 metres of climbing. Glandon, Télégraphe, Galibier — and a final ascent of Alpe d’Huez.
In this flyby route guide, I take you through the entire official La Marmotte Alps route, starting in Bourg-d’Oisans and finishing on Alpe d’Huez, explaining where the ride really breaks riders — and why pacing, patience, and route knowledge matter more than raw fitness.
On paper, La Marmotte is just a sequence of famous climbs.
In reality, it’s an endurance test that punishes impatience.
This video helps you:
Visualise the full La Marmotte route
Understand where riders lose time and energy
Spot the deceptive sections: false flats, long valleys, exposed descents
Prepare mentally for Galibier and the final climb of Alpe d’Huez
Whether you’re riding La Marmotte this year, planning it for the future, or just want to understand why this event is so feared — this flyby shows you exactly what to expect.
Route overview
Start: Bourg-d’Oisans
Allemond → Rivier d’Allemont
Col du Glandon
Saint-Étienne-de-Cuinnes
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne
Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne
Col du Télégraphe
Valloire
Col du Galibier
Col du Lautaret
La Grave
Finish: Alpe d’Huez (21 bends)
Distance: 174 km
Elevation gain: 5,000 m+
FlyOvercreated with
https://app.mapdirector.com/
Free GPX route
If you want the exact GPX file for this La Marmotte route, leave a comment below and fill ut yuor details here then I’ll share it with you.
La Marmotte Alps Route Guide – Flyby, Distance, Climbs & GPX
Related rides & preparation routes
If you’re in the area preparing for La Marmotte, check out:
My Allemond warm-up loop
The Pas de la Confession climb near Alpe d’Huez
Each video is designed to help you understand the route so you arrive confident — not guessing.
For calm, honest guidance on cycling in France, subscribe — more routes, flybys, and real-world advice coming soon.
I used the following equipment to record this video
INSTA360 – https://amzn.to/3OocaVg
INSTA ACE PRO 2 – https://amzn.to/4qMBP7I
LARGE TRIPOD – https://amzn.to/4aCpcGd
HOLLYLAND LARK A1 BLUETOOTH MICROPHONE – https://amzn.to/3ZJ3oUf
iGPSPORT BIKE COMPUTER – https://amzn.to/4r1Mg7D
Help support the channel and buy me a coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/morethan21bends
#LaMarmotte
#AlpeDHuez
#CyclingInFrance
#AlpineCycling
#CyclingRouteGuide
3 Comments
Excellent information here!
Great looking route, plan on trying it when we visit in July 2026.
Great video.
I'll do it for the first time this year (2026).
I'm a bit nervous because I know it's going to be very tough. My only target is to finish it.