La 3000 Express

The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur 🌞 share one of the most beautiful summits in France : La Meije (3 983 m above sea level 👆). Located in the Massif des Écrins 🌲, it is a peak particularly well known to climbers, the grand peak being considered one of the most difficult routes in the Alps. So of course, when you're offered a trail on La Meije, you don't run, you sprint! 🏃🏼‍♀️ The Pic du Mas de la Grave is located at no less than 3 020 m above sea level 😨. Making it the 3rd highest point in a race in France! 🇫🇷 Hang on tight! It’s going to climb! 🔝

Organizers have planned a pretty cool event with two disciplines : MTB 🚵‍♀️ (classic, of course, no electric 😉) and trail ! 🏃‍♂️ You’ll get to showcase the hard work you’ve put in, in relay or solo, on a course of 22 km with 1 400 mD+ 😰. Given the season the race takes place, remember to hydrate well 💦 : the setting is nice but the event is demanding, with a start at Chazelet at... 1 800 m above sea level 😶‍🌫️ ! The "3000 Express" is still accessible to everyone, well-marked... As long as you’re not discovering the sport that day! 😂 Up there, you’ll enjoy an amazing view of the Hautes-Alpes and the Isère. Along the route, you’ll meet hikers and shepherds 🐏, in a spectacular setting 😍. A truly nature 🍃 truly rejuvenating 🧘‍♂️, eco-friendly ♻️ and planet-friendly 🌏. If you’re not a bike enthusiast, you can choose to run the entire course on two distances. The first follows the same route as the Run&Bike, so you’ll tackle a trail of 22 km and 1 400 mD+ in one go 🥵. If that feels too long, there’s the "2000 express" : 10 km and 400 mD+ for a more accessible race 🫶.

And after the race, what do we do? The list of destinations around here is as long as an arm, so we could hardly be exhaustive! 📝 But more is more! Around La Grave, there are many pleasant towns, such as Les Deux Alpes or L'Huez inviting fans of skiing ⛷️ or hiking 🚶‍♂️. The bike lovers 🚴🏼 can head to the Col du Galibier (2 642 m above sea level), a famous Tour of France routeTour de France, split between Savoie and the Hautes-Alpes ⛰️.

The villages here are plentiful, starting with La Grave ! Gap and Briançon are also reference towns of the neighboring country Italy 🇮🇹. Saint-Véran is the highest commune in Europe (2 040 m above sea level) 😮. For a taste of culture, if you want a bit of rest, the area has plenty to offer. You can bring your family or friends to admire the Place Forte of the commune of Mont-Dauphin, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site 🏛️, the Fort Queyras or the Tour Brune in Embrun, a dungeon built in the 12th century! 🤯

If you dream of rivaling the greatest or simply speaking to the mountains, don’t wait to grab your bib! 🥰