LA TOUSSUIRE - LES SYBELLES SUMMER 2015 PRESS KIT Ski Resort opening from 31th may to 29th august 2015 www.la-toussuire.com PRESENTATION OF Toussuire Les Sybelles 02 Located at 1,800 m above sea level in Maurienne, La Toussuire is known as the world’s largest cycling domain. Summer and winter alike, enjoy a 360° view of the neighbouring uplands and an exceptional sunshine from the resort, ideally placed on a plateau. A cycling tradition is soon part of the history of this resort of Savoy, which is surrounded by mythi- cal passes and hosts professional and cyclosportive races. Partner with the AG2R LA MONDIALE professional cycling team, La Toussuire regularly hosts training sessions. Ideal terrain for cycling, La Toussuire has an accommodation network which offers a specific cyclo reception and organises timed ascension during summer. Also partner with the Fédération Française de Handball (French Federation of Handball), La Toussuire welcomes pro- fessional teams wanting to train at a high altitude. During summer, the mountain is soft and reachable. Summertime is favourable to outdoor activities and family relaxa- tion. The hiking trails allow visitors to discover the Alpine fauna and flora. The atypical patrimony of the uplands is part of the territory’s other specificities. Children and grown-ups will also be able to enjoy a lot of animations such as gastronomy, land, motorsports… There is something for everyone! ABOUT CYCLING 03 FOCUS ON LA TOUSSUIRE ASCENT The La Toussuire ascent is not officially part of the family of passes. Nevertheless, it does remain mythical. From Saint Jean de Maurienne to the plateau de La Toussuire, a grade separation of 1,239 metres and a total of 15 kilometers of turns lead to the alpine pastures which shelter the highest resort of Les Sybelles. This ascent has been particularly prized by French as well as Belgian people since the end of the 1970s. Later, this ascent was also taken three times during the Tour de France. The Danese Rasmussen won the stage starting from Bourg d’Oisans in 2006, after Floyd Landis’s terrible default. In 2012, the stage starts from Albertville and is won by the French racing cyclist Pierre Rolland. The same year, more than 5,000 non-professional cyclists crossed the finish line at La Toussuire resort, which hosted the first act of l’Etape du Tour. Two final stages of the Tour des Pays de Savoie (2009 and 2013) and the first final stage at a high altitude of the Crité- rium du Dauphiné (2011) complete this record. It took 84 years to build this road which can be climbed in the shape of a loop by Villarembert and Le Corbier. While in complete effort, the climber will not fail to look up to the splendid panoramas which surround the road: the Aiguilles d’Arves in the blue of the sky, the alpine pastures or the church of Fontcouverte in low-angle shot. From Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, go in the direction of the Vallée de l’Arvan, then La Toussuire. Total distance : 15.60 km Maximum Elevation: 1,690 m Medium Elevation : 1,128 m Grade separation: + 1,239 m - 120 m Medium Slope: 8.60% CYCLING HIT LIST OF LA TOUSSUIRE Tour de France 2015 + Etape du Tour 2012 + Etape du Tour 2006 Critérium du Dauphiné 2011 2008 2006 Tour des Pays de Savoie 2011 2010 2009 2008 Tour de l'avenir : arrival of stage 2014 HAUTE ROUTE : arrival of stage 2015 Miguel Angel Lopez, vainqueur du Tour de l’Avenir 2014 CYCLO EVENTS 04 May 30th to June 5th One week to prepare for the Etape du Tour! A cyclo training session for the general public is organised in partnership with the Chambéry Cyclisme Formation, the training centre of AG2R LA MONDIALE. A team of trainers, physiotherapists and mechanics will guide the participants and offer them a training schedule worthy of the best racers: reconnaissance of the route, physical tests, thematic meetings, massages. A full training schedule for one month will be given to each participant at the end of the training session. 12 people maximum - 8 people minimum Fees: €945 - lodging and meals not included Saturday June 6th Bike FestivaL Timed ascension of La Toussuire, starting from the rond-point de l’Opinel in St Jean de Maurienne at 3:00 PM. Tuesday July 14th Passing of Arvan Villards Arvan Villards has been striding along the mythical passes and roads of the mаѕѕіf dе l’Arvаn Vіllаrdѕ and Les Sybеllеѕ for over 15 years. August 27th Arrival of the 5th stage of the Haute Route Les Deux Alpes TO La Toussuire A race of seven days, joining Nice to Geneva, dedicated to non-professional racers. This international race is more than 800 km long. Mythical passes are climbed across the most popular playgrounds in the world of cycling. August 29th: Final stage of the Tour de l'Avenir in Jarrier TO Les Bottières This trial was created in 1961 and it is entirely dedicated to youngsters aged from 19 to 22. The Tour de l’Avenir is an international trial, regarded today as a Tour de France for young people. Many winners of the Tour de France appear on the hit list of the Tour de l’Avenir, among whom Felice Gimondi, Joop Zoetemelk, Greg Le Mond, Miguel Indurain and Laurent Fignon, who won au 12 Tour de France in total! A week celebrating the Tour de France 05 FROM 17th TO 24th juLY From July 17th, La Toussuire celebrates the Tour de France! Many animations are planned outside the great cyclo meetings! July 17th, 18th and 19th: Village of l’Etape Cyclo La Toussuire - Meet mountain experts, kit suppliers and discover local craftsmanship for three days in the village of l'Etape du Tour. There will be a site where the racers can collect their numbered, along with a lot of exhibitors and animations. July 19th: Cyclosportive for the general public - St Jean de Maurienne - La Toussuire Les Sybelles - L'Etape du Tour is a cyclos- portive race dedicated to non-professional cyclists. In this way, non-professional cyclists will have the opportunity to test themselves on one of the mountain stages of the Tour de France a few days before its passing. July 24th: Arrival of the stage St Jean de Maurienne - La Toussuire Les Sybelles. Pierre Rolland, winner of stage Albertville - La Toussuire (2012) Étape du Tour 2012 About Nature and Land in La Toussuire 06 Agricultural activity is noticeable in La Toussuire, where there is still a lot of livestock farmers and producers. By the way, alpine pasture is one of the main constitutive elements of the landscape. Holiday-makers will be able to discover this uncommon landscape and to walk up to its fauna and flora thanks to the network of arranged and marked hiking trails. Due to its particular geographic location, Maurienne has always been a valley of traffic and trade. A local specific coo- kery was born as time and influences went by. In this way, summertime is the occasion to showcase the products of our mountains, the daily occupation of the people who work there and the know-how of local producers and restaurant owners. Events August 1th to 8th FRENCH GASTRONOMY WEEK WITH MERCOTTE This thematic week revolves around cooking lessons, workshops for children, gourmet tours, visits of farms. This event will be sponsored for the third year in a row by Mercotte, Jury of the programme “Le meilleur pâtissier de France” (The best pastry chef of France) broadcast on the French channel M6. This year again, restaurant owners and local produ- cers will welcome holiday-makers and share their recipes as well as their know-how. From August 15th to 23rd week of Land and Patrimony This week is dedicated to the local patrimony and the discovery of life and traditions from ancient times. The farmers and craftsmen of the municipality will be partners of the event. The Championnat de France de chiens de berger (French Championship of sheepdogs) on August 21th, 22nd and 23rd will conclude the week. The championship gathers the best shepherds of France! On an obstacle course, the shepherd and his faithful companion will have to reproduce the practices that they do daily, during the usual leading of the herd on the farming. In this way, the qualities of the sheepdog will be showcased (obedience, leading skills, kindness, spirit of initiative). About Sports 07 As for mountain bike, the uplands offer more than 200 km of route and 38 FFC (French Cycling Federation) approved tours, to discover between forest trails, paths and alpine pasture. La Toussuire gives prominence to sports: air sports, by mountain bike or in-car, summer allows us to learn new activi- ties! Mountain bike accessible to everyone! Discover the uplands by electric mountain bike with a certified guide! Different tours are proposed to discover this sports practice! July 4th and 5th Rencontres Emotion Automobile in Les Bottières and La Toussuire A week-end to share automobile passion! Exhibition of collection cars, sports cars, rally, tuning, ATV, motorbikes... First times in exceptional vehicles as well as many animations. July 11th and 12th Sybelles Summer Fly The occasion to discover the domain of Les Sybelles by air during this friendly meeting of free flight! Paragliding, dis- covery sessions of paragliding school, scale modelling. Organiser: the Speed Belles’Air club. Find us on our social networks! Acces Autoroute A43 Exit Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne follow Vallée de l’Arvan on the D78 From Lyon : 2h From Grenoble : 1h15 La Toussuire From Chambéry : 1h Press contact Sophie Moret +33 (0)6 89 86 19 42 +33 (0)4 79 83 06 06 www.la-toussuire.com [email protected] © Alexis Boichard / Agence ZOOM - Clic Clac Photo - OT La Toussuire.