First Col de la Loze 2022: the pass opens to cyclists
The Col de la Loze is open to cyclists
The Col de la Loze is open to cyclists
Since 2019, the Col de la Loze, which peaks at 2,304 m altitude, has been an essential summit for all fans of cycling. Its success was crowned by a memorable finish of stage 17 of the 2020 Tour de France. 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), is all the more popular because its last 5.8 kilometres are reserved exclusively for cycling. Like all the great passes, snow clearing of this cycle route began shortly after the end of the ski season. The last section of the route began to take shape amid the great walls of snow, a situation much coveted by cycling fans every spring. On this Saturday 7 May 2022, this first pass in the northern Alps peaking above 2,000 m altitude was finally accessible. For the occasion, a big sporting weekend was on the programme: not one, but two events were to be hosted by the resort, with cycling and paragliding.
More than 60 paragliders were to take off from the pass over these 2 days as part of a national paragliding competition, “Courchev’Ailes”, organised by the Free Flight section of the Courchevel Sports Outdoor club. Because of the unfavourable weather forecasts, the event unfortunately had to be cancelled, depriving spectators of a fine show. In the end, only the cycling challenge organised by the Cycling section of Courchevel Sports Outdoor could go ahead on Saturday 7 May, giving experienced or amateur participants the chance to take on this pass.
Nevertheless, the uncertain “weather” forecast put off a good many of them. In the end, those who were there benefited from a fine lull and some sunshine to complete the 17.3 km and 1,100 m of elevation gain of the First Col de la Loze 2022 before the rain returned in the afternoon.
Camille Udny and Félix Perrillat-Boiteux are the big winners
The race records held by Laura Deplanche in 57min36s and Arthur Blanc in 45min29s on this time trial from Courchevel Le Praz were not threatened. Among the women, having finished 3rd in the 2019 event, which started from Le Carrey (22.6 km / 1,510 m of elevation gain), the Chadam Cycling Team member Camille Udny took victory in a time of 1h03min49s. She finished ahead of Katia Bee (1h09min49s) and Alice Morel (1h13min05s).
Among the men, Félix Perrillat-Boiteux of team SQR won in 50min34s. The local of the day, Joris Simond, who suffered a puncture in the last kilometre, claimed a well-deserved second place in 53min19s. A faithful of the event, Nicolas Ougier of team ASC Macot La Plagne, completed the podium in 54min03s, coming close to his personal best of 52min59s set in 2021.
Despite the weather mishaps that prevented a truly grand celebration of this opening of the Col de la Loze 2022, the organisation was perfect, unanimously praised by all participants, who were able to refuel at a very generous barbecue alongside the hikers and ski mountaineers who came to join them at the finish.
Next events: Frappadingue on 10 July and Hoka XTrail Courchevel on 24 July.
