The Eidelweiss 48km and 3000m of ascent
Have a look at the
map of the route.
A tough but beautiful route marrying Provence with the Alps. The course starts in the centre of Gap in the pretty 'Place aux Herbes'. As soon as you leave the town you are greeted with steep slopes aptly named Creve Coeur (heart stopping) and then you continue along paths up to the Charance area. For 4 kms the paths alternate between wide tracks, steep single track paths and short tarmac sections. Important to keep an easy pace!!
It should take about 25 minutes for the front runners and about 40 minutes for the average runners to get to Charance. Charance is where you will finish the race in a few hours!
From Charance there is a welcome gentle section following the canal which then takes you up to the paths above the canal with a series of short climbs and flat sections taking you to the Chapelle de Sauveterre (around 10km). Here there is a short tarmac section (200m) before heading up for the big climb up to the Charance ridge. Here you are really in the mountains with steep single track paths and rocky ground. Most people will walk this section and it is necessary to use your hands in places to negotiate the terrain.
After arriving at the ridge you have some of the best km of the race to enjoy. Beautiful views over the Champsaur valley to the Ecrins in front of you with the Gap valley to your right. The up and down of the ridge takes in the Pic du Cuchon, Pic de Charance, Breche de Charance (first refreshment stop), Montee Coste Plane, col Guiziere, tete Guiziere and a final climb up to the high point before descending off piste down the Cote Gelee to the right. This is a technically easy descent and it is possible to let yourself go for a bit of recuperation!
From La Riviere you take a path on your left with short ups and downs taking you to the hamlet of Chau and then the village of Rabou.
After Rabou you enter a different world! The routes takes you along the famous sentier des Bans. After a rocky path for 2 km you arrive at a steep drop off where the trail carves itself around the cliff face. Although vertiginous it is not as risky as it looks!
The real danger awaits you a bit further round in the scree and rocks under this exposed passage. You need to be careful not to fall here as there is a risk of ending up in the river 200metres below. Thankfully this technical passage is quickly over and you find yourself at the end of the valley in the lost village of Chaudun (third refreshment station), abandoned by its inhabitants over a 100 years ago.
After this break another steep climb awaits you to take you up to the sentier de ronde a beautiful traverse around the bowl of this valley. It is reasonably flat but technical in places.
The final climb up from here is steep with very technical sections and will be protected by personnel and equipment. It brings you up to the Pic de Gleize at 2100m the highest point of your trail. And from here on it is downhill all the way to the end!!
The descent to the Col de Gleize is quite delicate and care is needed but after that you have 7 or 8 km of gentle easy running so let yourself go!
