Défi de l’Olympe
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The Défi de L’Olympe is an uphill challenge run out of Bride-les-Bains, France, in the Tarentaise valley below the popular ski village of Méribel. The Tarentaise valley sits about two hours from Geneva and roughly the same from Lyon. Both cities are accessible by train.
Runners have six hours to complete as many ascents as possible of a 3.5km long course with 520m of gain, through the forest-lined gorges that connect the spa town to the Les Allues plateau. Runners descend via gondola in about nine minutes, leaving your a bit more legs fresh for the next uphill push. Both solo and duo relay formats are available.
Brides-les-Bains is a traditional thermal spa town, and the race organization has leaned into that: the local thermal spas, called thermes, offer recovery packages to participants throughout the event weekend.
The valley is the heartland of the Beaufort region and is famed for the firm mountain cheese produced in the high grassy pastures and aged in the cool underground cellars of the local cooperatives. Beaufort cheese has been made here for over 200 years and carries an “AOC” designation, firmly cementing its status as a local delicacy.