Derailleur Logo

Race Guides

Gran fondos, sportives and challenge rides across Europe

Select Country

Select Race

Toerversie Amstel Gold RaceGranfondo La Fausto CoppiL'Étape du TourL'EroicaLes 3 BallonsLiège–Bastogne–Liège ChallengeMallorca 312Granfondo Internazionale Nove ColliÖtztaler RadmarathonParis-Roubaix ChallengeColnago GF Mont VentouxGFNY La VaujanyGFNY CannesGranfondo ColnagoLa Stelvio SantiniHaute Route AlpsHaute Route DolomitesMarmotte Granfondo AlpesMarmotte Granfondo PyrénéesSportful Dolomiti Race
Gran Fondo · Race Guide

GFNY La Vaujany

A high-Alpine GFNY event in the Oisans combining Col de la Morte, Col d'Ornon, Alpe d'Huez and a steep summit finish in Vaujany.

Pace the early climbs conservatively and keep a low gear for the final 14% ramps into Vaujany.

Best for

  • ✓Experienced climbers
  • ✓Riders wanting Alpe d’Huez without a lottery
  • ✓Strong club riders comfortable with mountain days
  • ✓Riders who like summit finishes
  • ✓Confident descenders

Watch out for

  • !Open roads with live traffic
  • !Route changes year to year
  • !Steep late summit finish
  • !Limited accommodation in Vaujany
  • !Afternoon mountain storms

D-Score™

D4

Epic

Entry

Direct online entry via GFNY

or Medium route

Route

151 km

3,914 m climbing

Terrain

Mountain

Smooth alpine tarmac

Month

June

Annual event; route and distance can change by year

Temperature

Needs verification

Valley to summit

Roads / Format

Open to traffic with rider priority and moto marshals

Mass start with Long and Medium route options

Participants

Needs verification

Per edition

GPX

Download

Route files

View French Alps tours
Official race website Vaujany Tourism

Derailleur verdict

An accessible-entry but genuinely hard Alpine gran fondo whose final summit finish punishes anyone who spends too much on Alpe d’Huez.

Best for

  • •Experienced climbers
  • •Riders wanting Alpe d’Huez without a lottery
  • •Strong club riders comfortable with mountain days
  • •Riders who like summit finishes
  • •Confident descenders

Not ideal for

  • •Riders uncomfortable in live traffic
  • •First-time mountain sportive riders
  • •Anyone needing deep accommodation supply in the host village

Entry

Entry options

Main MethodDirect online entry via GFNY
Lottery oddsNone
Entry difficultyLow to moderate; no lottery
AlternativesMedium route · Entry until sold out
Guaranteed entryDirect entry while places remain
RegistrationRegister through GFNY.cc

Register early for the lowest tier and confirm the current route before booking travel.

Tours and packages

No GFNY La Vaujany-specific tours listed yet

Explore French Alps cycling tours and providers, or get notified when race packages are added.

View French Alps tours

View providers (Coming soon)

Get notified (Coming soon)

Route difficulty and ride feel

Route options

RouteDistanceClimbingD-Score
Parcours Moyen60.8 kmNeeds verificationN/A
Long Parcours151 km3,914 mD4

Key demands

SurfaceSmooth alpine tarmac
Road tatusOpen to traffic with rider priority and moto marshals
Main challengeRepeated Alpine climbing ending with a steep summit finish
Descending riskMedium-high — technical descents off Alpe d’Huez and Villard-Reculas
Traffic exposurePresent throughout on open roads
Bunch densityModerate, spreading quickly on early climbs

Four distinct climbing efforts define the Long route. Alpe d’Huez is the marquee ascent, but the final five kilometres into Vaujany are the decisive late-race test.

Route, climbs and pro-race roads

Several climbs on this route appear in Giro d'Italia history. The full route includes seven major passes.

ClimbLengthAvg gradientWhy it matters
Col de la Morte15.1 km6.7 %Longest early climb on the Long Parcours.
Col d’Ornon11.1 km3.8 %Second climb before the valley transition to Alpe d’Huez.
Alpe d’Huez13.8 km8.1 %Famous 21-hairpin ascent shared by both routes.
Final climb to Vaujany5 km7.2 %Steep summit finish after Alpe d’Huez, with ramps reaching 14%.

Gearing & fuelling tools

Every rider has unique gearing and nutrition needs. Below are tools we find useful for working these out before race day.

Planning and logistics

Best base

Vaujany

Nearest airports

Lyon–Saint Exupéry · Geneva · Grenoble

Car hire

Useful for reaching the village and alternative bases

Book ahead

Book early because Vaujany has limited capacity

Consider Bourg-d’Oisans or Alpe d’Huez if Vaujany is full; confirm road access and shuttle arrangements.

Weather and mountain conditions

June Alpine weather can shift from warm valleys to cool, windy or stormy conditions at altitude.

Valley temperatureMild to warm; exact range needs verification
Summit temperatureCooler and windier at altitude
Rain / stormsAfternoon thunderstorms are possible
Weather changesFast in the mountains
Surface conditionsSmooth paved roads, potentially wet after storms
Main riskStorms and temperature drops on high descents

What to consider packing

  • Light rain layer
  • Gilet
  • Arm warmers
  • Gloves
  • Sun protection

Event feel

Event size

Mid-size GFNY event; exact participant count needs verification

Field level

Competitive Long-course field with recreational Medium option

Atmosphere

International GFNY mountain-event atmosphere

International mix

International

Bunch intensity

Moderate at the start and low on climbs

First-timer

Use the Medium route unless already comfortable with multiple major climbs and a steep summit finish.

Training profile

You should be comfortable with

  • Comfortable with 4+ hour mountain days
  • Confident on open-road descents
  • Able to climb repeatedly without overpacing
  • Prepared for variable Alpine weather

Preparation priorities

1

Sustained climbing

Prepare for Alpe d’Huez plus the summit finish into Vaujany.

2

Steep-gradient strength

Train for the final ramps into Vaujany, which reach 14%.

3

Endurance base

Build toward a five-to-six-hour mountain day.

4

Descending confidence

Practise technical descending around Villard-Reculas and Pas de la Confession.

5

Road awareness

Train confidently on open roads with live traffic.