Zyte Talents   

Zyte Talent is a one day race that starts in the French Alps before crossing into Switzerland for the final climb. At 125km long, it is not the longest race on the OCM calendar, but its relatively tough climbs will separate the climbers from those less able to climb.

The race starts from the skiing resort of Le Grand-Bornand. The first 12 kilometres is all uphill, reaching a height of 1613 m at the top of the Col de ...

Read more

Zyte Talent is a one day race that starts in the French Alps before crossing into Switzerland for the final climb. At 125km long, it is not the longest race on the OCM calendar, but its relatively tough climbs will separate the climbers from those less able to climb.

The race starts from the skiing resort of Le Grand-Bornand. The first 12 kilometres is all uphill, reaching a height of 1613 m at the top of the Col de La Colombière. It isn't a tricky climb, with an average gradient of 5.9%, but the last kilometre reaches a consistent of 9%, but the breakaway should not be caught on this climb if it has managed to form. The descent into Cluses is easy and at the bottom two groups should have formed and stability should reign as they hit the next climb of the day.

The col des Gets is a 12km climb at an average gradient of 4.7% with gradients reaching 9% around kilometre 6. This climb might drop some of the riders having a bad day and very little climbing ability. However, the extremely difficult downhill will provide an opportunity to chase back to support their leaders.

Once off the descent, the riders will immediately tackle the next climb. The col du Corbier is a very tough 7km climb, with an average gradient of 7.7% and at certain points, gradients reach 13%. Depending on the race, attacks from some of the favourites may start and the peloton will certainly be smaller at the top. The leading group will also start to break up with the stronger riders moving up ahead. The descent into Bonnevaux is extremely tough and riders dropped at the end of the climb will catch up if they take risks on the descent.

The penultimate climb is up to the col de Morgins. The first 8km are more of a false flat and only the last 2km are of any note, reaching 8%. The constant climbing and descending will begin to tire the breakaway will be caught, except for one or two who will stay away. The main group may have grown in size since the col du Corbier but many will slip into the autobus.

A short and tough descent will lead to the valley floor and the base of the final climb. The climb up to the small group of farmhouses at Javerne is 14km long with an average gradient of 9%. It is a tough climb but very steady. The attacks will start to dislodge the weaker climbers as they climb nearer the summit.

A section of 15% gradient will be the launchpad for an attack by the strongest climber and an attempt to close the gap on any leader. The final kilometre is almost flat so any riders coming up together will have to take one another on in a sprint finish. The line is hidden around one of the many corners in the road and timing the spring is everything.