The Transmaurienne Vanoise: Alpine MTB in its Purest Form
The Transmaurienne Vanoise is one of the oldest, most prestigious multi-day mountain bike celebrations in Europe. Nestled in the dramatic Savoie region of the French Alps, this week-long festival takes place against the colossal backdrop of the Haute Maurienne Vanoise valley. Rather than catering exclusively to elite racers, the event is a multi-format mountain biking showcase designed to let every tier of rider experience the rugged grandeur, high-altitude pastures, and technical singletrack of the French-Italian alpine borderlands.
The event is defined by its deep variety, offering distinct operational “modes” that run concurrently across the mountain playground. Riders can challenge themselves against international UCI-graded fields, take on self-navigated ultra-endurance loops, or enjoy a fully supported, relaxed holiday format. The host villages—primarily centered around the mountain strongholds of Aussois and Val Cenis—transform into high-energy race villages complete with trials exhibitions, children’s balance-bike challenges, and sunset DJ sets.
The Event Pillars:
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The Competition Modes: The pinnacle competitive tier is divided into two crown-jewel challenges named after their daunting vertical profiles. The Parcours des 9000 is the flagship elite race (carrying official UCI XCM categorization), testing riders over five distinct race stages—including a high-intensity Olympic Cross-Country (XCO) format loop. For ambitious amateurs looking for an honest alpine challenge with slightly abbreviated climbing profiles, the Parcours des 6000 serves as the perfect counterpart.
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The Ultra Mode: For pure adventurers, the event features a self-navigated, GPS-reliant border-crossing odyssey. Teams of two have a maximum of 50 hours to conquer an uncompromising route that loops directly through the French and Italian high-alpine ridgelines, testing remote backcountry self-sufficiency.
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The Randonnée (Touring) Modes: Operating completely “à la carte,” the festival’s touring tier strips away the timing chips in favor of Alpine exploration. Cyclists can select anywhere from a single day to a full week of riding, choosing between demanding sports itineraries, family-friendly valley paths, or specialized e-MTB and Gravel tracks (introduced to celebrate the valley’s diverse gravel network).
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Iconic High-Country Visuals: The true draw of the event is its spectacular route design. Tracks guide riders through legendary stone forts like the Fort de l’Esseillon, past the turquoise waters of the high-altitude Mont Cenis lake, and straight through historic stone-house hamlets like L’Écot, giving every mile an unforgettable sense of place.
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