GFNY announces GFNY Orcières

Discover the wonders of the Hautes-Alpes during the GFNY Orcières cycling event. The 158 km course with a positive elevation gain of 4400 meters, traverses breathtaking landscapes. The race starts from the Orcières Merlette 1850 station, where you will ride in a neutralized peloton until the foot of the first difficulty of the day: the climb to Ancelle. Then, you will continue your route towards Lake Serre-Ponçon via Chorges and Saint-Apollinaire, offering spectacular panoramas of the Écrins National Park and Europe’s largest artificial lake. There, you will encounter a 25 km loop on well-known roads of the famous Embrun triathlon and the upcoming Tour de France, with sometimes very steep passages. Back in Chorges, get ready to face the highest point of the day: the Col de Moissière and its magnificent mountain road. Then, follow the Chaillol road, followed by the demanding return via the Serre Eyraud road, before reaching the finish line at Orcières Merlette, perched at an altitude of 1850 meters. This course promises you a real adventure and a great challenge on the magnificent roads of the Hautes-Alpes and Champsaur. Participate in this event, take up the challenge, and discover breathtaking landscapes throughout the course.

The GFNY Orcières Medium course will take you through the magical roads in the heart of the Hautes-Alpes. It covers 75 km and has an elevation gain of 2000 meters.

The neutralized start will be from Orcières Merlette 1850 towards the foot of the Ancelle climb. You will then join the long climb of Chaillol before taking on the final challenge of the Orcières Merlette 1850 climb via Serre Eyraud.

The Hautes-Alpes are known for their breathtaking landscapes, and the Champsaur is no exception. You will be able to admire majestic mountains, verdant valleys, and crystal-clear high-altitude lakes throughout your journey. The Champsaur is also famous for its unique mountain hedgerows, which add a touch of rustic charm to the natural beauty of the region.

About Orcières

Orcières Merlette 1850, a resort in the Hautes-Alpes located in the Champsaur valley, is a paradise for cyclists who will take advantage of the exceptional climatic conditions. The fabulous passes and climbs at the gates of the Ecrins National Park position Orcières as a privileged base camp for setting out to conquer many climbs. Lovers of ”la petite reine” will get their calves in for as the climb to Orcières is renowned for its technical and sporty nature, with a 7% gradient in over just 7 km. It hasn’t finished surprising cyclists, even the most seasoned!

The resort hosted 5 Tour arrivals (1971, 1972, 1982, 1989, 2020). However, it was the 1971 stage that will go down in history, with the victory of Spaniard Luis Ocaña, ahead of Eddy Merckx “the Cannibal”, by almost 9 minutes, before taking the yellow jersey. This stage remains the most memorable of the Tour’s arrivals in Orcières. Like the one in 1989, during the time trial at the Gap – Orcières, Greg Lemond took over the yellow jersey from Laurent Fignon on the climb!

In winter, the resort is famous for its sunny ski area up to 2725m and its offer of off-ski activities.