THE FORMAT
OVERVIEW
The TRANS-SAVOIE 50/50 is a 6-day point-to-point Enduro Aventure. It’s not a competition. There’ll be no overall podium, no ‘results’ and no time-based daily rankings. The focus with 50/50 is in discovering and enjoying some very special Alpine trails & scenery, together with a small group of like-minded individuals from all parts of the globe.
That said, when world-class singletrack points downhill in chunks of 1000m vertical descent at a time, there’s probably going to be more than a hint of rivalry between riding buddies and fellow mountain bikers. But with 50/50, this is not our primary goal or intention. We aware acutely aware of our limited privilege to even be allowed access to such a pristine natural environment in the first place; one which we must share respectfully with others..or as mountain bikers, risk losing that privilege forever.
Ridden or uplifted sections between ‘stages’ (Liaisons) are not timed and your order of start/finish each day is generally free-order (you start and finish each section at your leisure, within a given time window).
Our ‘stages’ – typically 4 to 6 stand-out sections of trail per day – are predominantly long, downhill single-track sections of technical trail. ‘Liaison’ sections (between ‘stages’) are a mixture of cruising singletrack and fireroad, mechanical uplifts (ski-lifts), some climbing – with very minimal off bike hiking/pushing.
In summary, its very much like a point-to-point Enduro race, but without the element of competition, and which a whole heap of shuttles and ski lifts thrown in to maximise the fun-parts.
It’s not a race. There’ll be no overall podium and no official daily ranking…
E-Bike or Regular (‘Analogue’)?
Increasing the focus on big-mountain adventure emphasises the personal challenge and joy of riding seemingly endless alpine singletrack for six days straight, with ski lifts and shuttles taking riders even further into the backcountry of loamy forests, high open pastures and exposed Alpine Ridgelines. The inclusion of E-bikes also enable riders who might struggle to complete all 6 big days back-to-back, rather than to introduce a different e-bike-specific route or to push the boundaries beyond what would be feasible without electric assistance.
Tackling some of the world’s best trails on a either regular or electric bike will be a personal choice with benefits to both options, but the communal achievement of completing this incredible 6-day Trans-Savoie Alpine journey will be shared by everyone, no matter your weapon of choice. Each day’s itinerary is carefully chosen so that modern e-bikes can complete a full day without charging or extra batteries….although some element of power management will be required.
To be clear on that point – a second battery is permitted if you are so-inclined to stay on full power all day, but you’ll need to carry it yourself (mid-day battery swaps are not part of our ethos of expedition-style self-sufficiency that we feel is integral to the event).
…but plenty of opportunity for friendly camaraderie, and some “special” stages will be timed.
ACCOMMODATION & CATERING
Based on feedback from the original tent-based, “move-camp-every-day” Trans-Savoie format, the new 50/50 adventure will follow a “clover-leaf” style route, moving base 3 times over the week – i.e. every other day.
Over the week, riders will spend approximately half of the week in dormitory-style accommodation (hostel, mountain training centre etc), and the other half under canvas, in one of our several Alpine partner-campsites (with full facilities).
Bedding is provided whilst staying in dormitories of 6 to 8 riders per room. On camp, each participant is provided with an individual tent and thick camping mattress and pillow, and a sleeping bag on request (should you not wish to bring your own).
We feel that this new “50/50” approach to accommodation and base-camp re-locations will retain the feeling of “journeying” and exploring a distinctly different part of our region for each of the 6-day,s but without the significant hassle of packing up and moving base every single day (not to mention the inconvenience of camping for the whole week…especially if bad mountain weather rolls in).
High quality catering is included & provided by local caterers, in association with a team of professionals who have many years’ experience in catering for hungry sportsmen and women.
Naturally, there’ll be plenty of cool beer and other refreshments available every evening, also included in the cost of your entry.
High quality catering is included
Provided by local caterers
MARSHALLING :: NAVIGATION :: SAFETY
Trans-Savoie is blessed to be supported by some of Europe’s most experienced volunteer Emergency Doctors and Mountain Medics on its crew, with many years of experience in wilderness terrain. These are backed up by a crew of dedicated, professional mountain event rescue who are contracted exclusively to the Trans-Savoie throughout the week and who provide rescue and safety to many of the Alps’ most extreme events.
However, the vast and often remote nature of the route (long point-to-point stages, way beyond the bike-park boundaries), dictates it impractical to closely marshall the entire itinerary. The route is clearly marked (signposted at all junctions) and requires no map-reading. A basic level of self-awareness & mountain-sense, is required at all times. A sweeper system of first-aid-capable backmarkers is used in addition to other safety systems. Riders are advised to be wary of the remote and sometimes isolated nature of the route and therefore to ride accordingly at all times. In addition a general awareness and appreciation of a truly wild and remote mountain environment will lead to an enjoyable and safe finish. A detailed route-briefing and navigation crib notes will be given to all competitors before each day’s adventure commences.
…supported by some of Europe’s most experienced Emergency Doctors and Mountain Medics
MUTUAL RIDER SUPPORT, CAMERADERIE, & RESPECT FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT
In addition to the sweeper system, a mutual-goodwill spirit is expected of all participants. In the event of arriving to a fellow rider in trouble and/or in need of urgent medical attention or rescue, the entrant is expected to assist and provide assistance / alert the organisers if not already on the scene. Similarly, penalties and even outright disqualification will be applied to any rider flagrantly ignoring the safety of any other rider in an emergency situation…or showing disrespect to the fragile natural Alpine environment in which we have the privilege to share with all manner of other local residents (wildlife, farmers, villagers, and tourists alike).
Respect for your fellow riders, mountain locals & our natural environment; are core values to our ethos
DAILY SCHEDULE
Riders will depart around 08:30 each day, with a big uplift either by bus (typically 45 minutes) or ski-lifts – or a combination of both. Expect to be out for around 6-9 hours per day (allowing for a lunch break, uplifts, timed stages, rests, and Liaison stages). There will be specific cut-off times for each Liason stage that are for saftey reasons only – not to enforce a fast pace of riding between timed stages (although a reasonable-to-high level of endurance and fitness will be required simply to complete the course within the cut-off time). Competitors are generally free to proceed into any stage at their leisure and in no particular pre-allocated order of rider.
We took the rule book on conventional events, and threw it out window
(of our mountain refuge)
UPLIFTS :: FITNESS LEVELS
The route follows a heavily uplift-based route, but all entrants should be wary that a good level of endurance is required to complete the event. If you’re on an e-bike, of course you’ll have less to worry about, but extremely long and very physical descents involved in this epic route are also not to be taken lightly. Some timed stages will last for up to 30 minutes, not counting any pauses you may take. Although a typical stage-time should be around 10 to 15 minutes without stops. The no-pressure 50/50 format means that should your own priorities lie elsewhere, there’s no reason not to take a break and stop to take in the stunning view mid-stage.
