ON THE ROAD 2022 - Haute Route Magazine

ON THE ROAD HAUTE ROUTE

Welcome Letter

For the first time ever, we have created an all-encompassing magazine to celebrate the Haute Route event season 2022. We look back at some highlights from the season and most importantly, take a moment to celebrate our riders!

Discover exclusive interviews with some of our 2022 riders, who tell their personal stories of triumph, overcoming obstacles and those all-important moments of crossing the finish line.

We hope you enjoy the read and that it inspires you to keep spinning, season after season.

Thank you, The Haute Route Team

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Haute Route 2022: A Season to Remember

We take a look back at another successful season at the Haute Route and our highlights from each event.

The Noman Campaign: Racing to prevent 5% of all cancers

We talk to the Co-Founder and President of Haute Route official charity partner, the NOMAN campaign, Tristan Almada, who shares their goal of beating HPV cancers.

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Meet the Haute Route Team

Get to know a few of the familiar faces of the Haute Route team, from logistics to feed station managers.

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2022 Season Pictures

Discover the best of the season captured by our professional photography team.

Racing to the top of the women´s General Classification

New Zealander, Georgia Perry tells us how taking on the Double Crown this season made the perfect honeymoon for her and her husband.

A Fresh Perspective on the Haute Route Series

Dutch cyclist Simon Schmoutziguer takes a look back at his first-ever Haute Route event.

The Feminisation of Cycling: It´s Just the Beginning

We discuss the representation of women in cycling today with Majorie De Goumoens.

5 Quick Fire Questions with Haute Route Ambassador, Ian Hennessy

Haute Route ambassador, Ian Hennessy tells us what it means to be an Haute Route ambassador and what he’s most looking forward to next season.

A Season to Remember

As we take a look back at the Haute Route 2022 Season, there are a plethora of highlights that come to mind. As traveling restrictions lifted and the world resumed to “normal” as we now know it, this was a comeback season for many. So, we were finally able to welcome back riders from all over the globe – New Zealand, Australia, U.S.A and Brazil to name but a few.

The season began with one of the most iconic course in cycling, Alpe d´Huez. 3 days, 21 legendary switchbacks and countless memories, this was the season kick-off we were all waiting for. Once again, we were reunited with old friends, plenty of new riders and our global partners and even a brand-new Haute Route boutique.

With the season in full swing, it was time for the Haute Route Pyrenees. As always, this destination brought out the best in our riders. We can’t help but think it was the beautiful landscapes and stunning scenery that truly created such a positive, infectious atmosphere to this 5-day adventure.

Next on the agenda, the legendary Haute Route Alps. For many, this was a challenge like no other – 7 grueling stages and record high temperatures made it incredibly testing. We watched you reach new heights and push your limits like never before and it was an absolute pleasure in doing so. As always, we adapt our courses every year, and have taken on board the challenges of the Haute Route Alps 2022 and have adapted the course accordingly for next season. For those who continued straight onto the Haute Route Dolomites, we applaud you! The Italian Alps brought even more iconic roads to the table, and nothing beats the charming Italian cities we were all lucky enough to explore!

In an Haute Route first, we traveled to Davos for the grand finale of the season. A moment to explore the hidden gems of Switzerland and fantastic host city to discover.

As another successful season comes to an end, we’d like to take a moment to celebrate and congratulate all our riders, without you none of this would be possible.

Meet the Team

There´s a lot that goes on behind the scenes of every Haute Route event, and 2022 was no different. Take a moment to meet just a few of the familiar faces from the Haute Route team. From the individuals who manage all logistics, the person behind the all-important mid-race car and the wonderful staff keeping our riders fuelled at the feed station.

Michel

Role: Mid-race car

Worked at Haute Route for: 11 years

Main responsibilities: Michel acts as the eyes of the Race Director, driving the midrace car on each stage. His role is to ensure the safety of the riders from the middle of the race. He also takes the medical coordinator with him to enable him to maintain a central position in the peloton.

Jennifer

Role: Feedstation Manager

Worked at Haute Route for: 4 years

Main responsibilities: Jennifer manages the Haute Route feed stations. She ensures that the feed stations are set up correctly and most importantly, that we have enough supplies for all our riders so they are fueled up for the race!

Mickael

Role: Logistics Manager

Worked at Haute Route for: 1 year

Main responsibilities: Mickael coordinates the setting up of the Haute Route villages, start and finish lines, and manages all logistics related to the smooth running of the event.

Laurent

Role: Race-opening car and Marshal’s manager.

Worked at Haute Route for: 9 years

Main responsibilities: Laurent is responsible for the recruitment and management of the marshals present on the course to guarantee the safety of the riders. He also has the responsibility of checking the roads prior to the race start to ensure that the road is safe (e.g. that marshals are in place, there are no signaling problems, traffic, etc.) before the peloton arrives.

Juliette

Role: Athletes Services Manager

Worked at Haute Route for: 7 years

Main responsibilities: Juliette is responsible for all the Athletes throughout their entire Haute Route journey; from the time of their registration, the lead up to the race and during and after the events. Juliette and her team look after every rider to ensure they have the best experience possible.

A Fresh Perspective on the Haute Route Series: Community, Support & Iconic Courses

From cycling around his hometown in Holland to taking on legendary climbs and the open road on the Haute Route Pyrenees, Simon Schmoutziguer takes a look back at his first-ever Haute Route event and tells us why he will be back next year.

up to something. I felt like I needed something to work towards and a goal in mind – the Haute Route Pyrenees became exactly this!

In Holland I rode a lot with my close friend and Haute Route ambassador Ruben Kranendonk and he was the one who convinced me to register for the Haute Route Pyrenees. Before I met Ruben, I had spent some time on the Haute Route website and social media, so I did know quite a lot about the events already and thought “this looks really cool, maybe one day I will join one!”

And then I was riding with Ruben more and more and he gave me all the details about the Haute Route and said “You need to come with me, the Haute Route is awesome!” – and I am so glad I did!

Also, during the Covid period and lockdown, as we know there were no events and nothing much to do! And I remember watching the first marathon after Covid in Amsterdam where I live, and it was so great to see a sports event finally taking place, people were cheering, having a great time so it encouraged me to sign

Can you describe your experience at the Haute Route Pyrenees?

I decided to spend two weeks in Italy prior to the Haute Route Pyrenees. As you know, in Holland we do not have any big mountains to train in! So, I took this opportunity to practice on some big climbs before my first Haute Route event – let’s just say it was a big shock and I really started to feel nervous!

When you register for your first Haute Route event, you would have watched the videos and footage from previous events, but you never really know what it is actually going to be like until you experience it. So the day before the race began, I started to think “How am I going to survive this?!”

Then on registration day, we all went down to the Haute Route Village and suddenly something in me switched. I was able to finally meet everyone – the team, and fellow riders who were going to

What influenced you to sign up for your first Haute Route event?

be with me for the week; and it was then I felt a sense of encouragement, especially knowing I was going to be well taken care of by the Haute Route team – that was step one, complete!

What I really liked too was the first rider briefing in the auditorium. This and the bike concierge service really made me feel fully supported right from the beginning. I knew I just needed to focus on riding and nothing else – this is a pretty good feeling!

I also enjoyed starting each stage at the start line with every rider. It was a neutralised area where we were altogether and there’s a great atmosphere amongst us. What was really cool too is that the locals even came out to support us on the roads, there was such a good vibe!

On the first stage there were three of us riding together. We just focused on the riding at first rather than the race element, this meant I could get a feel for how the first stage would go, but for me this was also the toughest day! Especially climbing the Col du Pourtalet at the very end, the first 5 kilometers I really struggled, but I knew this was all part of the journey and it was such an incredible experience. When I was climbing legendary cols and riding through the valleys I felt like a true professional racer!

On an Haute Route event you have a team on every corner of the road, safety race cars and escorts, a team to clear the roads of any obstacles and more – you don’t get this at any other event, unless you’re a professional. That’s the biggest difference – every corner of the road is looked after, you can basically close your eyes whilst riding knowing everything will be looked after – and that’s a pretty nice feeling to have! Like I said previously, I didn’t know what to expect on my first Haute Route, but the way that the event was organised was even more professional than I expected.

Amazing! I think everybody makes a lot of friends at events. There are so many riders from all over the world – U.S.A, Mexico and Australia – it’s very cool! You all take on the experience together, suffer together, celebrate together. On every Haute Route stage you start to get to know everyone you’re riding with, we created this group vibe and made friends with so many riders.

Everyone has this shared passion for cycling, so we encourage each other and connect together. It works really well, not just during the race, but at the

village, post-stage meals and even after the event has finished. We actually now have a Whatsapp group together and are planning a trip to San Sebastian to train as we want to take on the Haute Route Davos together!

What I really like too is the diversity of riders on the Haute Route. You have superfast riders who finish each stage in no time at all, but then you have the other riders in the peloton who take longer and have less time to relax at the end of each stage. But this is what’s really cool to see – riders know that the race and journey is worth taking the hardship and hours riding even

How did you find the Haute Route experience different from any other races you’ve participated in?

How would you describe the Haute Route atmosphere and sense of community?

in the heat! And the fact that you know everything else is being taken care of and you don’t need to think about it helps a lot!

Can you describe how you felt at the finish line of each stage?

I always found the start of each final climb of the day the most difficult, but then you reach a feed station and take the opportunity to re-energise and I was ready to go again! An then you can actually see the finish line and I started to think to myself “I just need to get up there!”. When

I was around 50 m away from the finish line, I could see everyone cheering me on and all the other riders I´ve met across the five days waiting for me, and I started to relax. That moment you reach the finish line is amazing!

I felt very proud to complete five-days in the Pyrenees. Before I started I had my doubts, but as the week went on and I accomplished every stage I started to realise my body is capable of a lot more than I originally thought!

Will you come back next year?

Yes, definitely! I will obviously come back for the awesome landscapes, routes and riding, but also for the other riders and the organisation! Being a first timer like myself, you meet people who are doing their second, third, fourth, etc Haute Route event and you understand why riders come back year after year. It’s the people that make it what it is – you come back for the people so you can experience the races together.

The Noman Campaign: Racing to prevent 5% of all cancers

I started the NOMAN campaign with my sisters Justine and Camille after tirelessly supporting our mother Paulette as she navigated a difficult diagnosis of advanced HPV-related cancer.

Given the spread of disease, the best treatment option at the time was chemotherapy first administered to patients in the 1970s. When she passed away, aged 53, we were completely devastated. But her incredible spirit spurred us to understand how we could help prevent HPV from ending someone’s life early again. This inspired us to start the NOMAN campaign.

The NOMAN campaign is more than a race, it is a call to action. Our goal is to eliminate the 5% of cancers worldwide

caused by HPV. The virus is the cause of some of the fastest-increasing cancers in the world today. Like polio, smallpox, and other infectious diseases in the past century, we have a solution. We can prevent HPV cancers by vaccinating both girls and boys against HPV.

NOMAN participates in challenging endurance events to raise awareness about HPV and specifically its connection to men. We’ve rowed across oceans and cycled Europe’s most challenging mountains to get the word out and we’re honoured to be working with the Haute Route as their official charity partner for three seasons now.

Understanding HPV and the vaccination

For those who don´t know, HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus and is the causal agent of 5% of all cancers worldwide. HPV is highly contagious and is spread through skin-to-skin contact, primarily sexually but you can also get it through kissing. Over 80% of people will have at least one type of HPV at some point in their lifetime. While many people infected by HPV will not experience any issues, if the virus does not resolve or isn’t found early, it can lead to serious diseases, requiring treatment with antiquated chemotherapy treatments, disfiguring surgery, or worse.

Co-Founder and President of the NOMAN campaign, Tristan Almada shares what the NOMAN team stands for and their plans to achieve their finish-line goal of beating HPV cancers.

Awareness around HPV, and in particular HPV cancers in males, remains very low. Less than 50% of people are aware of the link between HPV and cancer. Only 1 in 3 know that HPV causes cancers in men. We have the means to end the suffering caused by this devastating virus. Vaccination against HPV is one of the greatest opportunities we’ve had to prevent cancer in decades.

There is a safe and effective vaccine, which protects against the most common cancer-causing strains of HPV and everyone is eligible for this. The younger a person is when vaccinated, the more effective the vaccine.

While successful vaccination programmes for girls were initiated in many countries, much less has been done to vaccinate boys. It is critical that we vaccinate females, but programs that leave out males - who also get HPV and HPV cancers - will lead to further suffering and disease in those who are not vaccinated.

Protecting all children against HPV equally is the only way we will end HPV cancers. Our current focus is achieving 100% of girls and boys vaccinations in Europe by 2030.

The Noman mission and how the Haute Route can help

Our mission is to go out of business and we can achieve that by eliminating HPV cancers. We’ve accomplished a lot in 10 years: over 40 countries are now vaccinating both boys and girls against HPV, up from 0 when we started. We even received an award from US President Joe Biden for our efforts.

While it’s nice to be recognised, we would not have made it this far without the support of friends, family, and likeminded individuals and organisations.

Haute Route’s ethos echoes that of NOMAN’s: BIG goals, perseverance, and teamwork. Since moving to

Switzerland, I have raced Haute Route events for the past four years with fellow NOMEN, participating in several 3-day events, always wearing NOMAN’s ochre yellow.

We were excited when Haute Route included the new team format. It dialed up both the collaborative and competitive aspects of the sport, bringing all of the NOMEN closer together. Riding in a mixed gender team to reach a shared goal, communicates what NOMAN is all about.

NOMAN’s primary aim is to use Haute Route’s incredible platform to raise as much awareness as possible, but I still try to show up every year in good shape… It’s a race and we want to win!

Remembering those iconic, grueling switchbacks from the Haute Route Alpe d´Huez 2019, I was eager to see how much I could improve. I learned from NOMAN how much one can accomplish with consistency and time. I enlisted the support of Liam Holohan, a former pro cyclist, turned performance coach, and took a scientific approach to both training, nutrition, and recovery—particularly sleep. I challenged my body in new ways, doing a 7-day ski-touring trip in the Arctic Circle in April. When it was time to tune-up for Haute Route Alpe d´Huez 2022, I was physically fit and mentally fresh.

Haute Route Alpe d´Huez 2022 was my strongest Haute Route to date, placing 14th. We were fortunate to have great riders on the team including the 2nd woman in the General Classification, Rebecca Richardson. Working incredibly well as a group, the NOMAN team was thrilled to place first in the mixed-team competition.

Remembering longtime Haute Route rider, Richard Butterfield

Richard Butterfield was a long-time Haute Route rider and played an integral part of the NOMAN community. Despite a challenging diagnosis of advanced HPV-related head and neck cancer, 3 surgeries, and 30 rounds of radiotherapy, Richard – a father of three – last year competed in several European Haute Route events – cycling 52,000 metres of ascent and 1700km in distance. These efforts raised critical awareness and an incredible £30,000 for his supported causes, including NOMAN.

Through Haute Route, I was connected to Richard and his enduring spirit. In Richard’s own words, “I wanted to give hope to people living with cancer that life isn’t over after treatment, though it can sometimes be a little harder, or a little shorter. I also want to raise awareness of the need to get an early diagnosis – it really could make a difference.”

He passed away last month, but we will never forget his incredible legacy.

Donate today: https://www. nomancampaign.org/donate Find out more about HPV: https:// www.nomancampaign.org/hpv-facts

2022 SEASON IN

PICTURES

Pictures Benjamin Becker Laurent Salino

“On an Haute Route event you have a team on every corner of the road, safety race cars and escorts, a team to clear the roads of any obstacles and more – you don’t get this at any other event, unless you’re a professional. “

The Feminisation of Cycling: It´s Just the Beginning

I got into cycling through taking part in triathlons, almost 8 years ago. I was a synchronized swimmer in my teens, and once I got into the adult world I realised it was time to look for a new sport. After having practiced fitness for a few years I turned to triathlons where I was looking for a sport with a more friendly atmosphere and one where I could evolve according to my needs and my availability, whilst training with other sportsmen and women. I initially found it difficult to find a sport that I could start for the first time as an adult...

I initially found it difficult to find a sport that I could start for the first time as an adult. Eventually, I started taking part in triathlons by chance after swimming at the same pool for several years with triathletes. When I first attempted a triathlon there were certainly a few surprises in store for me...

As a swimmer my body needed some time to adapt, and I initially found myself injured frequently. It was a difficult period, but I learned a lot about myself - how to train correctly, but also when and how to ease off. This allowed

me to evolve into this sport and to blossom afterwards on longer and longer distances.

When Covid came along, I had to readjust my lifestyle, like everyone else, due to the cancellation of races, as well as changes in my professional life as a nurse and nursing teacher. It became difficult to keep up my attendance, especially as my sporting objectives remained uncertain. I then gradually started to gravitate towards the practice I liked the most as a triathlete and to concentrate on what worked best for me personally - the bike.

That’s when I started long-distance cycling. I was already cycling in various forms, exploring the roads on my racing bike or traveling with my husband on our gravel bikes, but I had never yet gone beyond 220km in one ride. In my triathlon practice I had already demonstrated my love for endurance, so I relentlessly pursued longer and longer races. In the summer of 2020, I set off on my first ultra-endurance cycling event with a 350km course and over 7000m of climbing. It was then that I knew I had finally found the discipline that suited me!

Today I cycle in different ways. I commute on an old cilo that belonged to my mother-in-law that I converted to a fixed gear. I have a gravel bike that I use to get away from the asphalt roads and traffic, to travel or to enjoy a bit of coolness on hot days. I have a mountain bike for fun in the forest or in the mountains with my husband and a friend; and finally I have a road bike on which I pedal the majority of the time. I participate in different types of events, ranging from rather short gravel races, cyclosportives on the road or even gravel or road races over longer distances ranging from 300km to 1300km.

I find it hard to name a specific one, as I try to find the positive in all the moments I have been lucky enough to experience, especially the more difficult ones. For me, pride in long-distance cycling is built on the journey, not just on the final result. Today, for example, I am very proud that I was able to overcome some of the difficulties I encountered during my last race. Indeed, the first

When did you start cycling and how did it become such an integral part of your life?

What type of cycling do you practice today?

What moment(s) in your career so far are you particularly proud of?

Majorie De Goumoens’ shares her journey from triathlons to ultra-endrance cycling and discusses how there is still a lot more progress to be done for women in the sports world.

day allowed me to discover all kinds of things and I had to draw very deeply on my resources to succeed in refocusing myself, and to take the road again the next day. At the time it was a really difficult phase to go through but, today I am very proud of it.

There’s a lot of talk about the feminisation of sport and the feminisation of cycling today. It is true that women are less represented than men in all the races I have done. I often hear encouragement for women to take up cycling more. This is positive, but I hear a form of guilt-tripping. A lot of people say to women: “Come out in greater numbers!

Come out in greater numbers! Go for it.” However, I think that the movement should not only be initiated by women.

I can only speak from my point of view, and from those that have sometimes been shared with me, and it is true that we have a lot of effort to make for the feminisation of sport. And when I say “we” I am obviously talking about women AND men.

The difficulty is that this movement calls on all of us to accept that we need to deconstruct our representations. Without becoming an informed “feminist”

What do you think about the place women hold in the sports world today and in cycling specifically?

(because I know that this word often scares people). It is nevertheless necessary to ask ourselves more questions about our relationship with the other. For example, when we talk about the presence of women in races, rather than telling women that there should be more of them, we should ask ourselves what prevents them from being present. There are many causes of this and they are of different kinds. Whether it is access to infrastructure, the time available to organise family life, the budget, but also the feeling of security, equal treatment, and so on...

Difficulties are encountered at different levels and begin even before starting to train. For example, I myself discovered the difficulty of finding a pair of shoes adapted to my needs. When I started cycling 8 years ago, it was common not to find women’s cycling clothes or to find a shoe smaller than size 42, or simply not to be able to access the advice of the salesmen. For example, I heard “yes, ma’am, it’s normal not to be comfortable in a cycling shoe, you’re not trying on

ballerina slippers” when he was offering me a shoe 3 sizes bigger than mine, for lack of anything better.

The change must then take place at different levels to hope to see more women in training and also in races.

comeback in 2022.

All of these examples show that there is a great deal of mobilisation to support the cause of women’s cycling. At present, many initiatives are emerging in this direction and for this I am delighted, but there is still a long way to go. I think that we all stand to gain from seeing more and more women on the bike, and I think that this is developing through the richness of the approaches proposed.

At the moment, many people are mobilising for the feminisation of sport, and cycling in particular. I am very proud to be part of the action plan led by the City of Lausanne to fight against gender stereotypes in sports, where I represent cycling. There are also many other projects such as Fast&Female, in which I also participate, recently initiated by Swiss Cycling to promote the place of women in cycling, whether at an amateur or confirmed level. Or the French project Donnons des Elles au vélo, which has been working for 7 years to see the women’s Tour de France finally make a

Indeed, there is not one “type of woman” but a multitude of women with different profiles and needs. So let’s continue to talk about it and propose actions that allow each of them to identify themselves, and to find what they are looking for. I am also happy to see more and more men working for the feminisation of cycling, because for me this cause cannot be achieved by maintaining a separation between men and women.

How do you think women can be better supported in cycling?

After the return of Paris-Roubaix Women and the arrival of the Tour de Suisse Women in 2021, I am delighted to see the return of the Tour de France Femmes in 2022, more than 30 years after the last Tour de France for women in 1989. This year we also have the chance to host the first edition of the Tour de Romandie Féminin. The return or birth of these races shows us the progress being made in the feminisation of cycling. Even if, once again, there is still a long way to go before we can benefit from the same infrastructures as those enjoyed by men. I think that these races will give greater visibility to women cyclists. This will allow many women, but also younger girls, to identify themselves and perhaps dream of taking over one day.

I think that both men and women feel performance pressures. However, I think they are not always of the same nature. I am often told that as a woman it is easier, because there is less competition in the races, and therefore we are automatically ranked higher than men where the competition is tougher. However, this kind of remark completely overshadows the reasons mentioned above which try to explain the difficulties women face even before entering a race.

When I take part in a race or cycle ride with a group of mostly (if not exclusively) men, I feel a lot of pressure. The other participants often don’t speak to me during the first few kilometres or even the first few hours. I have to prove myself, to finally gain the respect of the others and start to get to know them. Unconsciously, I give myself the mission to represent women by showing the world what we are capable of. I know that if I fail, or make a fool of myself in any way, people will tend to say “that was too hard for a woman” rather than just saying “that was too hard for you”. And I may be told that I don’t need to represent women, that I’m shopping for myself. But society is like that, and it’s the kind of society that fills our daily lives with these kinds of presuppositions. That’s why I think that the feminisation of cycling necessarily implies a deeper deconstruction of the representations of each and every one of us.

What do you think about the arrival of the Tour de France Femmes?

Do you think the pressure to perform in cycling is different for women and men?

Racing to the top of the women´s General Classification on an unforgettable Haute Route Honeymoon

New Zealander, Georgia Perry tells us what it was like to race in both the Haute Route Alps and Haute Route Dolomites, alongside her husband and their best friend.

My husband and I (Alex) decided to do an Haute Route event for our Honeymoon! We were pretty keen on doing the Haute Route Alps, and it was actually Alex’s idea to do the Double – Haute Route Alps and Haute Route Dolomites – and naturally I jumped onboard straight away!

It was funny during the events as other riders learnt that we were on our honeymoon; I would be halfway up a difficult climb, and someone would ride past and yell “Hey, honeymooner!!” or “Some honeymoon, eh?” and I couldn’t help but laugh!

Our team was a pretty ‘off-the-cuff’ decision! James, a great friend of ours, was in Belgium while we were riding the Haute Route Alps. We were sending him daily updates over Snapchat, and I think it was about day 4 or 5 that he told us that he was so jealous, and he had emailed the Haute Route team asking if there were any remaining spots for the Dolomites!

As soon as he was confirmed, we quickly registered as a team; me and Alex had been watching ‘Kings of Malibu’ take the stage as the mixed team winners every day in the Alps, and thought why not give it a go in the Dolomites? We had nothing to lose!

How did it feel to ride as a team in comparison to riding solo?

Personally, I loved the feeling of being in a team. We obviously weren’t riding together as the lads were miles up the road – but it gave me extra motivation on the harder days, trying to not lose as much time to another female rider, Luise Valentin (who was also part of a team) each day like I was in the Alps! And it was awesome to experience something like this with one of our best mates!

Why did you sign up to an Haute Route event?

You signed up as a team for the Haute Route Dolomites. When did you

start riding together, how did you decide to become a team?

Oh my gosh, yes! I mean, I knew it was going to be hard, and I thought I felt prepared for the double. But Stage 1 of Alps was incredibly tough – 181km, 4,200m elevation, and a mega hot day, I think it took me almost 8 hours. I went full gas the first hour and pretty much exploded and was just surviving. After day 1 me and Alex both were thinking ‘how the hell can we manage another 11 days like this?’ The end of the Haute Route Dolomites seemed like an eternity away. But the first 4 days were definitely the hardest – and the Alps Time Trial ‘recovery day’ came just at the tipping point for me, and I felt a lot better for the rest of the stages!

What were your highs and lows during both events?

There were lots of amazing moments, despite the grueling times! One would be getting to watch Alex painfully finishing up Col de la Loze. He was making some strange noises on the steep parts! Another highlight was riding with friends I had met from Haute Route Pyrenees 2019. These events are unforgettable experiences to share with others, and I think it brings you so close to people when you are coping through the lows and celebrating the highs together.

I have many highlights from Dolomites! I thought the Gavia was stunning, and really enjoyed riding it. The first stage, Stelvio day, was very special, because the Stelvio has been one of Alex’s biggest reasons to want to come over to Europe; so, finishing up there and celebrating an awesome day up the top with him and James was pretty

special. Also Stage four, finishing up Passo Falzarego and seeing my mum with 1km to go, who had flown over from New Zealand the day before and hired an E-bike to ride up to the finish! And Alex won the stage that day! So, the wine tasted good that night in celebration.

I experienced many lowlights… but we all must go into these events knowing we are about to suffer! I think this is why we do it, to make the highlights feel even better! My most difficult day was riding into Meribel on day 4 of the Alps. It wasn’t a hard climb on paper, but by that stage I’d covered over 26 hours in 4 days and every single pedal stroke was a test. I don’t know what got me to the top, I guess just knowing that I was going to get there eventually, no matter how slow I was climbing! Fergus, the event speaker, was at the finish line, chipper as ever and he kindly pointed out the gelato shop right on the finish line, which was a real lifesaver!

Thank you! I didn’t really plan to be competitive at all; I’d won Haute Route Pyrenees back in 2019, but I knew that Haute Route Alps brings out all the top dogs! And knowing we were doing both meant we were really thinking of the long haul. But starting the Haute Route Dolomites, I felt better than starting the Haute Route Alps – acclimatised, perhaps?! I felt like I had learnt how to ride the climbs steadily, and that resulted in me being a lot higher on the results sheet.

Was it a challenge taking on back-to-back races with the Haute Route Alps and Haute Route Dolomites?

Congratulations on achieving the top 3 women´s General Classification on both races! Tell us how that felt? Did you come to the Haute Route events planning to race competitively?

5 Quick Fire Questions with Haute Route Ambassador, Ian Hennessy

Haute Route ambassador, Ian Hennessy tells us what it means to be an Haute Route ambassador and what he’s most looking forward to next season.

emotional journey where you experience highs and lows, but definitely complete it without regrets.

I would say that the Haute Route Pyrenees. Perhaps I wasn’t as well prepared as I could have been (I had some setbacks in the weeks leading up to the race) and I found it quite tough. However, the support and camaraderie of my fellow competitors and friends pulled me through the event.

Sign up and commit yourself to do it. You will not regret it!

Being an Haute Route Ambassador means a lot to me, as the events are very special. Joining the team means I can provide rider feedback to the Haute Route team, and this information flow improves the events and rider experience. My aim is to support riders from my region to understand the preparation required to complete an Haute Route and how much fun and how rewarding these events are. I have found that many people are interested but doubt their own ability. I hope to instill the confidence they need to enter and achieve something they were not convinced they could do.

Haute Route events are challenging, but most importantly, they are so rewarding to complete. The Haute Route team provides plenty of advice available on training, nutrition and how to manage a multi-day event. I would strongly recommend discussing your plans with an ambassador or riders who have experienced an event before as it will give you confidence in your approach and guide you on what to expect.

The Haute Route Dolomites! I was there in 2021 and can’t wait to return. The race is hard, and the climbs are difficult, but it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and the natural beauty of the environment makes the challenging climbs so worthwhile.

The atmosphere is very special – riding in a peloton with moto outriders, full neutral support, hundreds of volunteers along the route directing traffic and supporting the riders. It is as close as amateurs can get to experiencing what professional cyclists do. It’s wonderful.

For me, the whole process of completing an Haute Route is a physical and

What is your advice or anyone who is considering signing up for their first Haute Route event in 2023?

How would you describe the Haute Route atmosphere on events?

What was your favourite event of the season and why?

What does it mean to you to be an Haute Route ambassador and what do you hope to bring to the team?

Which Haute Route event are you most looking forward to in 2023?

Thank you

We´d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the Haute Route 2022 season. From our wonderful riders to each member of staff on and off the road. Your dedication, loyalty and commitment to the Haute Route is hugely appreciated. To our global partners, incredible road staff, safety and medical assistance teams, race team, photographers and the entire Haute Route team, congratulations on another amazing season. We look forward to welcoming you back next year!

The Haute Route Team

PHILIP

NATALIE

HUSCHENBETT

MATTHEW HARTLEY PETER DIXON SANDRO HAESLER CARLOS PEREA LAURA PATRIKAINEN CONOR BEHAN FABIO DE ARRUDA MARTINS CHRISTOPHE FERNANDEZ RICHARD NOBLE CATERINA BALASSO MICHAEL VAN WOUDENBERG ARI GARAS RAWDHA ALFALASI SANDRO GILL BRITEZ COSTA PETER COLLINS PAUL DIRKS NICK LE COCQ PAUL CANNON PETER ROWLEY MANUEL SAMANIEGO JOHN BLACK PAUL MCRAE

AURELIE ARBES MARIO QUINTANA RICARDEZ VINICIUS ANDRADE DARREN MCGRATH STAFFAN HELLBERG CHRISTIAN PALAO SAMIR BOUFADISS

MATT BUTTERWORTH JAMIE MURRAY ROB PETTITT ANDREW HANNEMAN ALEJANDRO CORTINA GARETH JAMES MINH DIEN PHAM MATTHIAS

HABERER DANIELE SCHENA PAUL SKINNER BRAM VAN MONTFORT NICHOLAS BUNYARD DAVID PICHLER ANDREAS LANDOLT MORAY BROWN FERNANDO MARTINEZ AINARA BENAVENTE BABACE CELLAN MICHAEL DOUGLAS PORTER HENRY FISCHER FILIPS DUHOVNIJS VALERIA CIARNUTO CRYSTEL MATTHEY MIKE MILLAR TIM THIJS GUILLAUME FARVACQUE NICK TOMLINSON MARTIN KACEROVSKY MATTHIAS VANDEPITTE ANDREW COLVIN GRÉGOIRE MASNOU VAN CHAPPELL NICOLAS BECCHETTI MARLOES CRIETEE DAVY VAN IERSEL MARINE GUALINO ALEX STEWART MARK EDELMANN JACQUES VANDER NICOLAS CHANGEA HELGA KADAR PAUL SUTCLIFFE LUCA VERGALLITO KEITH JACOBS FRANCK JEANNE MARC STRITTMATTER RICK ARTHUR VICKY GOUNARI RALPH CARTER ALAN COOPER PIERRE SCHILFARTH THOR O’BRIEN MARK ELDING KEVIN SIMPSON ALEXEY BOGDANOV JOHN THOMAS KEN-HSIUNG LEE HEIDI JOHNSON-FRY MARCO CARNOT LINA-KRISTIN SCHINK VITTORIO IANTORNO JONATHAN TOPPS JEAN-MICHEL CHATARD ANTONIO GARRIDO OLLERO WILL JUILLAGUET LUIS ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ ELIZONDO ELIAS CHAVIRA ERIC

KOYTCHA JAIME

IAN JONES PHILIP WASEEN MICHAEL FARRELL

MIGUEL ARTURO PÉREZ NAHUM RODOLFO GIL MARCELO JUNQUEIRA NIGEL WILLERTON CHRISTIAN WENAWESER

ADNAN CETIN SONJA DÖPP OMER KHAKWANY TONY BOZZIO MICHEL BONNET ALAMY CANDIDO VINCENT PERRIN THOMAS MARTIN ALLAN COUTTOLENC

JENNIFER BRUMBAUGH KENNY NIJSSEN ALAN EYLES MARCELA JACOBO CHAVARRIA NICOLAS HOLZER STEVEN QUARTZ SEBASTIAN RUBIO SOPHIE HERZOG ADOLFO NUNES ANDREW BAVERSTOCK ANDREW GLYNN JIM RILEY IVAN BONET PATRICK LITTLE KENJI YAGI CRISPIN TOWNER ROBERT MEEDER PETER KEARNS LUIZ

CAPELATI HOLLY

CARSTEN

STAHLKE DARREN MARSHALL GILLES ESPOUY RAFAEL AVENDAÑO PAVEL KOCHETKOV ROGIER VAN DER VOORT CLÉMENT VERGER GARY BULL SCOTT NOLAN MICHAEL NYDEGGER LUC CHOUINARD PIERO LORENZINI MARK BRYANT LUIS CRISTOBAL STIJN WESSELINK DAVID WILSON MARY BALFE

CHEVALLIER DANIEL RIDGWAY CORINNE WARIDEL JASON SOESMAN MARK FAIRWEATHER MATTHEW PHILLIPS CHARLIE SYKES MARK WATSON ARTO SORVOJA SOFIA BARRANTES FEDORA BALOIU ADRIANO SINOPOLI SIMON MASEFIELD CORENTIN POTIÉ JONATHAN PARR BEN COOKE WILL CRANE STEFAN NEUDING MANFRED VISCHJAGER JEAN-CLAUDE PANISSET ERIK DE TURCK KIM-MORGAINE LOHSE CARI HIGGINS OLIVIER PERRIN MARCOS VILLALOBOS MUÑOZ ANDREW REID MICHELE NEGRI JULIE LACREVAZ MARISOL PLATA NICOLAS ALFONSO SOBERO SEAN COX HENRI LYYRTÖ RUPERT GUINNESS ROMAIN PICCOLO DAVID COLE JOHN BUENAVENTURA DIDIER STOECKLI MARTIN REIHER MIKE HANNAY DANIEL FLEURENCE NICHOLAS HARTMAN ALEKSEI

MATT ARMSTRONG KATHRYN SIMPSON JAMES ELLIOTT CHESHER MATTHEW RAMUS JAMES CROFT JORGE ZEPEDA RUBEN PIETER KRANENDONK JASON MCLAUGHLIN PINCHETTI PIERRE-EMMANUEL GALLEGO JOSE DIAZ LANCE MITAMURA IVAN GAVKA BASTIAN ROSE EMMA COLE FORD MICHEL CHOCOL PHILIP GRAHAM SAULI HAAHTELA ADAM MASTERS LEE ROBERTS WALTER DE MATTOS FRANCESCO MANUEL BONGIORNO ALEX FAESEN OBBE TUINENBURG FABIO TUGNOLI TIMOTHY FLOTT ĽUBOŠ BARTAKOVIČ SVEN

TUPLING LAWRENCE GOMES ALICE MOREL FABRICE LEMAIRE ANNA RAPTIS MARK DRINAN PRISCILLA CHAMORRO

KETTYLE LIOR DELGO FLORIAN WILLERT SIMON CRISP XAVIER CAMPOS NANCY PORTER GERNOT WOLFRAM BOYLING FREDRIK NORMAN DANIEL BAUCH JULIEN SAUVIGNE

CHRISTOPHER KAKOULLIS ENGIN YILMAZ GORDON

SHEEHAN CHARLES SINTON DAVID ROBINSON LOUIS COMOLET CRISTIANO BARAN JEF SCHODTS BRUCE SMART PETER FLICK SEBASTIAN MORRISON PAUL FOX DARREN DE JONG KIM NØRGAARD

ANDREASEN MAURICIO BRICENO JAMES JOSLING JUAN HERNÁNDEZ CHRISTOPHE BOURGES BRUNO LOUREIRO PHILLIP PARLE BEN GIBBS STEVE JAMES CLIVE GOADBY ALEXANDER LANDT JACK LOWE PJ CHAMPAULT BRUNO CALMELS FEDERICO

GUTIÉRREZ LICHTLE JOSE A GONZALEZ OLIVIER SECHEYRON TROTTER JEAN-FRANÇOIS BACMANN PAUL BARRIE CARLOS PETRICIOLI MATT PICOZZI AARON GIBBONS-PLOWRIGHT ANDREY NOSOV ALAIN GALISSARD MICHAEL KNIBB NED FISCHER ANDREW BISHOP KATIA GARCIA ERLIEN WUBS CHRISTOPHER LYNCH STUART MANN FLETCHER WILLIAM SHAUN ROLLS ALEX RUIZ CHRISTOPHER BEARDSLEY PHILIPPE DENIS RAFA NAVARRO ISABEL KING MARK

FORBES GUNN ADRIAN SHAW CHRISTIAN GRASMANN DORON LIPSHITZ PIETER MAES TOMAS BERG RICCARDO GIULIO ACUTO IDO GREEN IAN BRUEGGEMANN GYL JOHNSON TRISTRAM BISHOP LUIZ CARLOS FONTES LIMA FILHO LUÍS SEQUEIRA TONY PEREZ GERRY WAIN MIKE BUNTING TOM DONNENWIRTH JUSTINE BAILLEUL FLORIS LIESHOUT COLIN BATES HANSJÖRG LENZ ATE MEKKES BART DE TEMMERMAN RASTISLAV ŽBODÁK KOEN DE LAET MEREDITH LORING LARS VIEBROCK PIETER DU TOIT GUY WESTMACOTT RIKARD OSMUNDSEN MARC VAN DEN BROEK MATTIJS SLEE JOEL ALLEN JORG DECRESSIN JUSTIN MENHENETT NICOLAS COLOMBO CALABRESE JULIEN LEGENDRE SALIM KIPKEMBOI LUIS ANTONIO HERMIDA GARRIDO NICHOLAS FISK SIMON CROFT DANIEL FEIKIN VEDRAN CORLUKA SEBASTIAN GOMEZ GONZALEZ FILIPPO GENNARI MATT DWINNELL SAM TANKARD JASPER CARPAIJ ERIC ZUFFEREY ANDY KARABATSOS PAUL DAVIS CARSTENS HANNAH SAITCH ADAM BOOTH VICTOR ALVES ERNESTO DE MORAES LEME NETO MICHAEL MORS MICHAEL CLEMENTS BONITA GRIFFITH JULIAN OSTERWALDER MICHEL ANDRÉ

HARROLD MICHAEL

COCKINGS KEVIN ARMSTRONG

WEIGAND

KALDAN HEUSER NICOLAS SCHILFARTH JUSTIN TEUTSCH STEFFEN

MICHAEL TALBERT ANTONIO MARQUES ROBERT DOWNEY JAMES HARVEY KAREN COULTER BRUNO CRISTO FABIO GALLOTTI JOOP STANDAERT ROB CAUNE ALEXANDER PIRRIE CRÈVENAT ALEXANDRE ANDER MARIN ALBARRAN ALEX HEANEY PETER BÜTIKOFER SCOTT HUNTSMAN JAKOB VAN DER WIER JUHO ALA-PEIJARI JEAN-CHARLES GIANNINI JEAN-MICHEL ROSSERO GAVIN GILBERT JOHANNES KLEISER DAVID MULLANEY QUENTIN KOFFEY LIONEL ISSACK RORY COOKE MIKE ELLIS MICHAEL DEPALMA NICK JEFFRIES JACCO GRINWIS GIJS BAX SERGIO GARCIA SALGADO MICHAEL POULSEN TATSANA NILAWARD EVA NOUGIER GUILLAUME PEREK BENJAMIN SHARP THOMAS OLSSON TIMEAS

JANINE MEYER ADRIAN TAN ROY SHASHUA GK LEE EDUARDO GOMES ALVES PEIXOTO ALEX LUNDIE SEP OUTTIER KRIJN VERSCHRAEGEN WILLIE DUNCAN TIM HARRIS PAUL RONAN MICHAL GALKA JOSHUA TOH ALEX HARRIS MARCO PALFENIER RAOUF CHEBRI JEAN GABRIEL SPENNATO BASTIAAN BOSCHKER MATTHEW COOPERWILLIAMS CHARLES WANG RUDOLF

GILDEMEISTER ANDREAS TIMPERT JOHN POWER MARTIN GERMANN CLAY ALLISON PETER CORNISH ADRIAN ROLLINS CHRISTIAN MATTHEWS DEREK REFORMAT STANLEY

MARKLAND LUIZ GUILHERME QUEIROZ DE MORAES IAN GAFFNEY MARK FINSEN YAIR NATURMAN JEREMY BOARDMAN MATTHIEU VAN VEEN NUNO MATOS TORBEN ANDERSEN

BEN PETERS PATRICK REBHOLZ MARK CONSUGAR PAVEL VITOUS JANA

EBBERN

TOON VAN HOUDT RUTGER HASSINK MATTIAS NYMAN DAVID HUMBERT

ASHTON MARK LEEMEN PHILIPPE CURUCHET BUSTO LOUIS DUNNE THIERRY GENOVESE GUILHERME DE AZEVEDO LUKE FENNEY CRAWFORD

ALEX DE’ATH MARTIN GIRALDO KEITH BEATTIE THOMAS BITTAR DOMINIK HOESLI CHRISTOPHER O’CONNOR ALISON JONES JEROME COLSON

BASENACH ANDY TOMLINSON AIDAN MEAGHER LONERGAN HARRINGTON MARIO VILLAFANA JASPER JONGERIUS DOMINIQUE DEMONCHY THOMAS BUNDGAARD RICHARD WILLIS PETER ALLAN MATTHIAS WYSS JESPER NICHOLAISEN RICHARD SCALES JEROME LE BRIS ALEXIS BRADBURY JOHN WAKEFIELD EAMON GORMAN FELIX REINEMO ALEXANDRU NICOLAE GAIRN REID MATHIAS SCHINZEL LAURA ANDERSON THOMAS CAUSSÉ JENNY REESE JACOB ØRNDRUP MARK OBRIEN

ERIC DE ROCQUIGNY CHRISTINA GURI ELMQUIST MATTHEW MAGUIRE MICHELE ANTONIOLI JENNIFER SHARP LINDSAY BLOUNT BARBI BROCHU SCOTT HUTCHINSON

NICOLA LUCIO CIANCAGLINI CHRISTOPHER MYERS CHRISTIAN OLSSON JESPER SØRENSEN PAUL GRAVES FERNANDO DIAZ DE LEON EDUARDO ZUNIGA ARTEM KAZACHKOV

PÉREZ

ROE RIBEIRO EDWARD

DEV MARISCAL PREECE HOLMES

CHARLES ANTONIO SERGEY KUZNETSOV MATTHEWS OLIVER JAENICKE DELZAIVE GEORGE WHYTE STUART ELLIOTT JAMES CRISTIANO COLE DANIEL FRANCESCO SVEN KRAFT CHAMORRO WOLFRAM SAM SHEEHAN SEBASTIAN DIEGO ALEXANDER BEN ANDREY STUART

The Haute Route 2023 Calendar