Tour d´Aigle   

Aigle is a small village in the relative foothills of the Rhone valley alps. The Tour d'Aigle starts in the village, among the vineyards that nestle on the southern slopes of the hills. The race visits the area after the grapes have been picked, with autumn taking the baton from summer. For cyclists though, the last of the summer sun is not to be enjoyed in this quiet area, instead they are forced to partake in a gruelling 113...

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Aigle is a small village in the relative foothills of the Rhone valley alps. The Tour d'Aigle starts in the village, among the vineyards that nestle on the southern slopes of the hills. The race visits the area after the grapes have been picked, with autumn taking the baton from summer. For cyclists though, the last of the summer sun is not to be enjoyed in this quiet area, instead they are forced to partake in a gruelling 113 km one day race that ends on the start line in Aigle. The riders set out from Aigle along undulating roads towards the nearby village of Bex where the climbing will begin.

The first climb is 17km long and will take the riders from Bex to the Col De Bretaye. The first 8km takes the riders up 760m at an average gradient of 9.5%. The next 5km are very shallow though and come as respite before it ramps up again in a 6.8km hill with gradients of 10.5% as average. This very narrow road in densely forested areas cause havoc with the riders. Some team cars can be stuck being the struggling remnants of the peloton for a long time and a badly timed puncture could spell trouble for a favourite.

The descent off of the col is particularly dangerous, especially if it has been raining. The narrow roads and sharp bends make it a necessity for the riders to be confident at descending in order to remain in the front pack after 11km of this tough section. The race may all come back together again as a flat valley road will take them to the bottom of the next climb. The climb is 9.2km long with an average gradient of 8.5%, taking the cyclists to the highest point on the course at the Berneuse rocks at 2045m.

The route then makes use of an old trail up to the rocks that has been covered in tarmac for the race. Once used for donkeys taking food up to the refuge, which became the revolving restaurant in future years, the descent is hazardous and the best descenders will take a lead into the final stretch of flat road. Even so, the majority of riders will be back in the lead group as they enter Aigle after this mammoth journey. The winner will come from this group in most editions, with the occasional break away succeeding.

The winner will not be the best sprinter, for they shall be dropped on the first climb, many quitting before the finish line was in sight. The winner will have to be able to climb well, descend without a doubt in his mind about his abilities, before choosing the right moment to launch the sprint. The winner will receive the best of the wine that has come from Aigle in the ceremony, but he will not have been able to enjoy the late summer sun in the same way as the spectators have, as the sun sets over his throne.