You know the biking season has begun in the Alps when the annual ‘Passportes du Soleil’ takes place. This year the small Swiss hamlet of Champéry played hosted to the Bike Show and it’s 30 exhibitors, an open air concert and the 5th round of the Swisspower Cup.

It all took place under the Planachaux ski lift and with glorious blue skies. Cross country racers juggled for space with Passportes riders stopping for a food break and a chance to rest their hot brakes from the descent into Champéry.The ‘Passportes du Soleil’ let’s riders choose between 3 circuits through the Portes Du Soleil area of both France and Switzerland. The 30, 45 or the classic 75km routes are made easier using the 12 ski-lifts and enjoying over 6000m of pure downhill.  All types of trail are encountered from smooth doubletrack to tight, rocky singletrack and thanks to a good winter, snow can be sighted at the higher altitudes. 

The PDS can be completed in a day and appeals to all riders with hardtails mixing with downhill bikes. Riders can choose either Saturday or Sunday and a kids and women’s ride is also available. Creative minds can take part in either a photo and video competition.

The event heralds the summer season in the Alps when thousands of riders head for the mountains. In the Portes du Soleil region 7 resorts; Avoriaz, Châtel, Les Gets and Morzine in France and in Switzerland: Champéry, Morgins and Torgon all have lift assisted riding running until September. Cross country, freestyle and downhillers are all catered for in the many bike parks, downhill courses and cross country routes.

(written by WTB Rider Andrew Revitt) 

This entry was posted on Monday, June 30th, 2008 at 3:08 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.