Crans-Montana Marathon Bike

The many small, idyllic lakes in and around the mountain village of Crans-Montana characterise the first section of the route. It undulates gently on Alpine roads and single trails. The descent to Les Marolies takes you over the famous “Nationale” slope, which has been hosting international ski races since the 1970s. The route slowly winds out of the ski resort, away from lifts and cable cars, and plunges into the forests of Courtavey and Colombire. The panoramic views of the Rhone Valley and the surrounding 4,000-metre Valais peaks accompany you almost throughout this section.

The Cabane de la Tièche marks the highest point of the Marathon Bike route. It’s worth stopping for a break here and taking in the view of the surrounding peaks: The Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Matterhorn and Dent Blanche create an impressive, glaciated horizon on the opposite side of the valley.

The descent takes you into the wild La Tièche glacial valley, which is surrounded by a striking rock basin. La Tièche is a headwater, with gushing mountain streams, waterfalls, extensive pastures, forests and unspoilt nature. The landscape changes on the long technical descent. The initially dense fir forest becomes an open area of pines with a dry climate, as many people would recognise from the Mediterranean region. Larch forests dominate to begin with, and then sunny vineyards and small wine-making villages.

Wine-making culture is a long-standing tradition in the region. The landscape features carefully placed drystone walls and sunny slopes. The villages – with their historic buildings, vaulted cellars and narrow passageways – have maintained their original character. The loop ends at the Etang de la Moubra lake. The route is technically and physically challenging but rewarding, with a great deal of variety and a range of landscapes – a real marathon experience.