L'Ultra Cycling Tour de la Vanoise

From Val Thorens, riders can select a 32 km direct ascent up the Belleville valley or ultra-distance road routes of approximately 315, 320, or 400 km. L'Ultra Cycling Tour de la Vanoise is a mid-July road cycling event held in Savoie, French Alps, starting and finishing in the high-altitude resort of Val Thorens. It is designed for mountain cycling rather than flat-road speed: the long route involves about 8,860 m of climbing over 320 km, and participants can compete individually or share the effort in a relay. The course incorporates roads from the Tour de France, leading participants over significant Alpine cycling passes such as the Iseran, Madeleine, Chaussy, Loze, and the final ascent back to Val Thorens. The route connects the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys, with relay exchanges for the 320 km race located in Bessans, Haute Maurienne. The event was introduced as a new option on the French ultra-cycling schedule, subsequently received the French Cycling Federation's Golden Trophy Label, and is part of the Estivales du Velo program. It attracts solo endurance cyclists, relay teams, and riders aiming for the shorter yet demanding Val Thorens climb.