Alpine Gravel Challenge

The Alpine Gravel Challenge is the second last qualifier event for the UCI Gravel World Championships with a challenging course starting in the town of Monthey in the valley for a 100km course towards Champéry with a first passage near the finish line after 30km before entering a 15km loop through France with a 50/50 paved/unpaved surface.  The first 30km are mainly on the road, but once Champéry has been passed for the first time, the majority is on gravel!

The 70km course skips the first uphill climb from Monthey to do the same final 70km starting and finishing in Champéry.  65% of this course is pure gravel.

With a total elevation of almost 4000m, this is one of the most challenging courses in the UCI Gravel World Series with a first long 17.5km climb right from the start at 425m of elevation at 6.2% average.  Once Champéry has been passed for the first time, a second 16km challenging climb at 6.5% average, this time mainly on gravel is bringing riders to the French border and the highest point on course at 2096m above sea level.

In the second half of the race, two more climbs of 13.6 and 5.6km get riders back from France into Switzerland.  The last 10km towards Champéry or in downhill on paved roads.

The 70km course skips the long first climb for a total elevation of 2500m.

The Dents du Midi is a striking mountain range located in the Valais canton of Switzerland. Renowned for its breathtaking beauty and challenging alpine terrain, the Dents du Midi region is a popular destination for mountaineers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts.