During a landmark year for the Haute Route in 2018 both of the flagship 7-day events in Europe are returning with revamped and rejuvenated courses that are sure to please amateur riders from across the globe.

The Haute Route Alps returns to its original North to South route, now starting from the mountain town of Megève and finishing on the Mediterranean seafront in the city of Nice. The Haute Route Pyrenees will both start and finish in France’s city of cycling, Pau, whilst also visiting numerous host towns and showcasing the best cols the Pyrenees has to offer.

Notable highlights in the Alps will be the queen stage on day 2 that features the Col de la Madeleine and a summit finish on the Col du Télégraphe, as well as the shorter stage the following day that totals 3750m of climbing over 107km and a summit finish in Les 2 Alpes. Riders in the Pyrenees will be treated to a double dose of the notorious Col du Tourmalet, new cols like the Col de Portet and a return to the exquisite Cap de Long.

Announcing the routes for two memorable weeks of Haute Route riding, race director Jean-François Alcan expressed his excitement about the new routes through the Alps and Pyrenees: “I think both courses do their best to showcase the brilliance of these two fantastic mountain ranges,” he said, “we feel they will appeal equally to Haute Route veterans and to new riders alike. The Alps event retains its classic appeal with a host of world renowned climbs, and the Pyrenees event offers an intimate experience in one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world.”

“We’re excited about some of the novelties that the riders will experience in both the Alps and Pyrenees,” he added, “there are some new climbs such as the Côte de Domancy and Col de Romme in the Alps, and the imposing Col de Portet in the Pyrenees. Having both ascents of the Tourmalet in the space of 24 hours also promises to be something quite special.”

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Watch the 3D course fly-through videos for the Alps and Pyrenees.

Stage 1: Pau - Pau (151KM, 2,700M+)
Cols : Labays 1,354m / Bouesou 1,010m / Marie-Blanque 1,035m
Stage 2: Pau - Hautacam (122KM, 3,900M+)
Cols : Aubisque 1,709m / Soulor 1,474m / Spandelles 1,378m / Hautacam 1,525m
Stage 3:  Argelès-Gazost - Col de Couraduque (117KM, 3,300M+)
Cols: Lingous 575m / Tourmalet 2,117m / Couraduque 1,367m
Stage 4: Argelès-Gazost - Col de Portet (103KM, 4,000M+)
Cols: Tourmalet 2,117m / Hourquette-Ancizan 1,564m / Portet 2,215m
Stage 5: TT Saint-Lary Soulan - Cap de Long (23KM, 1,400M+)
Col: Cap de Long 2,170m
Stage 6: Saint-Lary Soulan - Peyragudes (130KM, 3,300M+)
Cols: Azet 1,580m / Port de Balès 1,755m / Peyresourde 1,569m / Peyragudes 1,600m
Stage 7: Peyragudes - Pau (124KM, 1,400M+)
Col: Aspin 1,489m
See the map here.

Stage 1: Megève - Megève (111KM, 2,900M+)
Cols: Aravis 1,487M / Colombière 1,618M / Romme 1,291M / Domancy 790M / Côte 2000 1,495M
Stage 2: Megève - Col du Télégraphe (157KM, 3,650M+)
Cols: Saisies 1,660M / Madeleine 2,000M / Télégraphe 1,566M
Stage 3: Valloire - Les 2 Alpes (107KM, 3,750M+)
Cols: Galibier 2,642M / Sarenne 1,999M / Les 2 Alpes 1,652M
Stage 4: Les 2 Alpes - Saint-Véran (111KM, 3,250M+)
Cols: Lautaret 2,058M / Izoard 2,360M / Saint-Véran 2,030M
Stage 5: TT Guillestre - Risoul (14KM, 900M+)
Col : Risoul 1,865M
Stage 6: Risoul - Auron (112KM, 3,200M+)
Cols: Vars 2,109M / Bonette 2,715M / Auron 1,691M
Stage 7: Auron - Nice (175KM, 3,000M+)
Cols: Couillole 1,678M / St Raphaël 876M / Vence 963M
See the map here