Big loop

Departing from Villars, the route takes participants into the heart of the Vaud Alps. The 102-kilometer loop links the pastures of Villars, Les Diablerets and Gryon, through gravel sections and quiet mountain roads.

The route leaves Villars on the asphalt road before the first slopes appear on a 4×4 track towards Les Chaux in the Gryon ski area. Along the way, you'll pass the Solalex and Frience refuges, where it's a good idea to grab a bite to eat on a Sunday outing. You then head for Taveyanne, a hamlet listed as a historic monument. Shortly before the summit of the Col de la Croix, you branch off in the direction of Ensex, where a pretty singletrack and then a gravel road take you to the Col de Bretaye, the highest point of this route.

You then descend along a forest road until you reach the resort of Les Diablerets and its Sports Park. You then climb up towards the authentic village of La Forclaz, before a long, steep descent takes you back to the plains. In Aigle, on the doorstep of the UCI headquarters, a completely flat section begins along the Rhône, 15km long. A clever mix of small farm roads, forest roads and easy singletrack requires regular changes of pace.

To reach the finish line in Villars, you first climb towards Panex on the forest gravel road to Les Ecovets. These last 15 kilometers of ascent are already shaping up to be the judge of this UCI Gravel World Series alpine event.