31 January 2024
Skip the first stage. Next Stop Millet Tour du Rutor Extrême
A few days before the start, the official announcement came like a thunderbolt: the Altitoy Millet organising committee has officially cancelled the Pyrenean edition of the debut stage of La Grande Course, the prestigious two-year ski mountaineering circuit that will come to an end with the award ceremony at next year's Mezzalama Trophy.
"The team of course setters tried everything until the last minute: proposing new routes in different sectors, changing locations," confirmed the organisers of the race originally designed between the Pic du Midi and Grand Tourmalet, "but the snow conditions did not guarantee the safety of the racers and volunteers. The absence of snow cover, in fact, does not ensure the continuity of the routes and its hardness makes the progression of the runners too dangerous both in the uphill and downhill sections'.
Hence the painful but inevitable decision to raise the white flag. The challenge of the most beautiful and spectacular races of the 'old continent' will therefore return to thrill its approximately 3,000 members starting next month with the classic format: lots of passion and an 'old style' skialp proposed and revisited in a modern key.
In the sights for winter 2024 are Millet Tour du Rutor Extrême and the Patrouille des Glaciers. The LGC season will then be in full swing, on the weekend of 23 - 25 March, with the most technical of the Italian ski mountaineering races. In the three stages of La Thuile, Valgrisenche, and Arvier, the Millet Tour du Rutor Extrême will propose some high altitude and real off-piste sections: 7,500 metres of positive height difference, 30 setup changes, 105 km, 60 of climbs, 45 of free rides, 6 of ridges and couloirs with passages over 3,000 metres are the numbers of a race that has become a myth, tradition, and legend.
A unique opportunity to experience at first hand an event that combines sport with the promotion of the region and its food and wine excellence.
The month of April will also feature a top event: La Patrouille des Glaciers and its 57.5 km 4386 mD+ of Alpine ride. The PDG 2024 will be run on the night of 19-20 April.
No doubts, no uncertainties. Just a few more weeks to train to the best of your ability, then it will be time to clip the number to your backpack and off you go. The most beautiful races of the 'old continent' are ready to give you unforgettable emotions.
