ACT 1 - EIFFAGE COL DE LA LOZE TIME TRIAL - Sunday 12 May 2019

First cycling competition on the Col de la Loze!

A new col reserved for cyclists has been born in the Alps: the Col de la Loze at 2,304 m altitude. This 7th highest pass in France, ranked in the top 3 of the Savoie passes behind the Iseran (2,764 m) and the Galibier (2,642 m), will quickly become a must-visit place for cycling enthusiasts, with its last 5.8 kilometres reserved exclusively for cycling. Like all the great cols, snow clearing of this cycle route began shortly after the close of the ski season. Very quickly, the route took shape in the middle of the mountain with its great walls of snow, so popular with cycling fans every spring. This Sunday 12 May 2019 will be forever etched in memory because it marks the start of a new epic for the resort of Courchevel, with the official opening of access to the Col de la Loze and the organisation by the club Courchevel Sports Outdoor of the first cycle race with a finish at its summit.

This first round of the "Eiffage" Col de la Loze time trial was run in a "surreal" atmosphere, as most of the competitors summed it up, conditions that discouraged a good number of potential participants from coming to the start but that will leave unforgettable memories for the 73 entrants who had the merit of braving the cold and a steady wind in the last kilometres of the climb. The sun made its appearance with the last riders and, to round off this first round in style, everyone could enjoy a hearty Savoyard aid station complete with a barbecue and a good cauldron soup before the prize-giving ceremony.

This competition will be run over 3 rounds (Sundays 12 May, 30 June and 28 July) on 2 courses:

- the "Eiffage" trophy, with its 22.6 km and 1,510 m of elevation gain starting from the Carrey roundabout

- the "Felt" trophy over 8.6 km and 580 m of elevation gain starting from Courchevel 1850.

At the end of each round, a ranking will be drawn up for each trophy, followed by an overall ranking that will evolve with each climb, retaining the best time achieved by each participant, as in the "Millet Ski Touring Courchevel". At the end of the final round, the best climber’s polka-dot jersey will be awarded to the men’s and women’s record holders of each Trophy, together with prize money.

Eiffage Trophy: Florian Hudry and Catherine Juillaguet, first on the rope.

1h08min20s will be the reference time to beat on this 22.6 km climb with 1,510 m of elevation gain, a performance to be credited to Florian Hudry, a member of the Japanese continental team "Interpro Cycling Accademy". In the thick of preparing for the Tour of Japan, which begins next Sunday, Florian said at the finish: "I came to prepare for the mountain stage that will end at the summit of Mount Fuji. Its profile is almost identical to that of the Col de la Loze. I really loved the changes of pace on the last section. The course and the scenery are magnificent, with top-notch organisation."

Swann Juillaguet (Courchevel Sports Outdoor) takes second place in 1h12min11s, closely pressed by Nicolas Christin (Echirolles Triathlon), third in 1h12min37s.

Among the women, the leader’s polka-dot jersey belongs to Catherine Juillaguet, who sets the first reference time in 1h43min43s ahead of Melanie Batchelor (1h46min07s) and Caroline Rainieri (1h49min57s).

Josed Termens Nadal and Laura Deplanche, leaders of the Felt Trophy

Winner of the "Dynastar X3 Courchevel" triathlon on 14 April, Laura Deplanche confirms her good winter form by taking the polka-dot jersey in a time of 31min22s. Alice Niemaz (39min42s) and Eve Bouvard (40min50s) complete this first podium.

Among the men, an international podium: the Spaniard Josed Termens Nadal of team Premium Energy dons the polka-dot jersey with a time of 29min22s ahead of Eric David in 29min26s and the Englishman Richard Sumpter, winner of the 33 km of the Hoka One One XTrail Courchevel 2018, in 29min54s.

To immortalise this first official competition, the mayor of Courchevel, Philippe Mugnier went to the summit on touring skis to present each participant with a souvenir certificate.