Double8 – MTB & MTB – EA

  Double8 : ranked and timed MTB & E-MTB Event

Ranging from 23km to 79km, this race format is ideal for amateurs and long-distance lovers alike. This year’s event will take place on Sunday the 13th of July 2025.

In the shape of a double “8” or 4-leaf clover, this race is made up of a total four loops of varying difficulties based on a “Stop or Push your Luck” setup.

   The race is available in 2 versions: MTB & eMTB

Each race is open to individuals or two-person relay teams. Both variations take place together on Sunday July 13, 2025 in our beautiful Alpine landscape.

The base camp for the start and finish lines will be set up at Plagne Bellecôte. Participants will set off on the first loop, and will then decide based on their current fatigue levels if they will stop or carry on to “push their luck” on the following loops, all of which feature new points of interest and varied landscapes, from lower forest paths to higher mountain landscapes.

Choose your total race distance from 23 km, 45 km, 68 km or 79 km!

The order of the loops is as follows:

•  Loop 1 – Plagne Montalbert area
  ↔️ 23km  1 020 m 
•  Loop 2 – Montchavin-les-Coches area
  ↔️ 21.5 km  742 m 
•  Loop 3 – Champagny en Vanoise area
  ↔️ 23.5 km  1 136 m
•  Loop 4 –  Saint Jacques Tour
  ↔️ 11 km  586 m

Participants who complete all 4 loops, a total of 79km and 3 475m D+ will be considered finishers!

  Base Camp : Plagne Bellecôte

  Distance and  elevation gain:
Loop 1                     ↔️ 23 km 1 020 m
Loop 1 + 2              ↔️ 45 km 1 762 m
Loop 1 + 2 + 3        ↔️ 68 km 2 898 m
Loop 1 + 2 + 3 + 4  ↔️ 79 km 3 475 m

  Number of race bibs available  : 200 individual MTB / 200 individual E-MTB – 50 E-MTB teams / 50 MTB teams

  Race bib collection : Saturday, July 12th – Salle Omnisport –  Plagne Centre –  from 9.00 am to 7.30 pm
PLEASE NOTE: There will be no race bib collection on Sunday morning.

This race is open to MTB and E-MTB in both individual and 2-person relay formats.

The Plagne Bellecôte base camp is where it’s all happening!

Start and finish lines for the 4 loops, a refreshments area to top up your energy levels, a secure, supervised battery-charging stand, a bike cleaning station and a repair stall will be set up and ready for you.

> Discover the Double8 route

 Loop 1
↔️ 23km 1 020 m 
Start & finish : Plagne Bellecôte
Area: Plagne Montalbert

 Loop 2
↔️ 21.5km 742 m 
Start & finish : Plagne bellecôte
Area : Montchavin-les-Coches

 Loop 3
↔️ 23.5km 1 136 m 
Start & finish : Plagne bellecôte
Area : Champagny en Vanoise

 Loop 4
↔️ 11km 586 m 
Start & finish : Plagne bellecôte
Area : Tour du Saint Jacques 

Double8 – Finisher 
↔️ 79km 3 475 m 

The time limits are set for safety reasons, to limit excessively long riding times that could be dangerous for participants, particularly in the event of weather changes at altitude.

  MTB Format 
Start time for loop 1 – Plagne Montalbert is 8:45 am for team and individual MTB. Start times for the other loops are as follows:

• Loop 2 – Montchavin les Coches : 12:15 pm
• Loop 3 – Champagny en Vanoise : 15:15 pm
• Loop 4 – Saint Jacques Tour : 17:45 pm

  E-MTB Format

Start time for Loop 1 – Plagne Montalbert is 8 a.m. for team and individual E-MTB. Start times for the other loops are as follows:

• Loop 2 – Montchavin les Coches : 11:00 am
• Loop 3 – Champagny-en-Vanoise : 13:00 pm
• Loop 4 – Saint Jacques Tour : 15:00 pm

The time limits for the Double8 are the latest possible starting times for loops 2, 3 and 4. When a participant finishes a loop, they must take into account the time needed to change batteries and to take a break at the refreshment station before starting the next loop. If the time limit has passed, the competitor will be refused access to the start of the loop in question and will have to hand in their timing chip to the organiser, who will register their end of race time.

Mandatory equipment

• 2 batteries (if you only have one battery, the Simple8 is lighter race option that you can enter)
• Approved certified or full-face helmet
• Gloves
• Charged and switched-on mobile phone to alert emergency services
• Repair kit
• Survival blanket
• Wind proof jacket
• Whistle

•  eMTB specifics
  Competitors taking part in the Double8 on an eMTB must ensure that their bike complies with the following rules:

   

  • 250 w motor
  • Electric assistance only when pedaling
  • Assistance limited to 25 km/h (+or- 5%)
  • Battery extenders or range extenders are forbidden.

Recommended equipment

• Minimum water supply (0.5L)
• Food reserve (energy bars or dried fruit…)
• Knee pads
• First-aid kit
• Goggles

Each competitor must bring a collapsible reusable cup, as there will be no disposable cups at the refreshment points, in order to limit waste.

  General services

• On-site medical assistance
• Timing equipment
• Award ceremony

  Loop 1 services 

• 1 refreshments area: Top of bobsleigh run (Water supply)

 Loop 2 services

• 1 refreshments area: Les Coches

 Loop 3 services

• 1 refreshments area: Chalet de Verdons

 Loop 4 services

• 1 refreshments area: Col du Seuchet (Water supply)

 Base camp services

• Bike washing area
• Battery charging point (personal charger required)
• Repair stand
• 1 refreshments point

   Battery rules and regulations

Competitors taking part in the Double8 on a E-MTB must ensure that their bike complies with the following rules:

• 250 w motor
• Electric assistance only when pedaling
• Assistance limited to 25 km/h (+or- 5%)
• Battery extenders or range extenders are forbidden.

To take part in the Double8 E-MTB, you will need 2 batteries. The 2 batteries must have a minimum capacity of 500 Wh, with no maximum power limit. Races are divided into two categories (determined by the total power of the 2 batteries):

• Ranking for competitors (or teams) having cycled with a total power of less than 1200Wh (accumulation of 2 x  500Wh of  or 1 x 500Wh and 1 x600Wh battery)
• Ranking for competitors (or teams) having cycled with a total power of 1200wh or more (accumulation of 2 batteries of 600Wh or more)

Participants must have their own charger. There is no limit on charger power.

When registering, participants must indicate the power of their batteries, which will be checked when they collect their numbers.

Batteries, chargers and bikes are labelled with the competitor’s bib number when the bibs are collected, to avoid any cheating or mistakes. If a competitor swaps batteries or rides with an unlabelled battery, they will be disqualified.

Participants must ensure that their batteries are fully charged before starting.

It is forbidden to ride with a battery in your backpack. Battery changes are to be made only at a location determined in avance by the organiser. It is forbidden to change batteries other than at the point clearly identified by the organiser, i.e. the Plagne Bellecôte site. E-MTBs that can be equipped with 2 batteries must limit themselves to 1 battery only at a time, and respect the battery change location zones.

Individual format

Participants must ensure that their 2 batteries are fully charged before setting off, and take their second battery and charger to the “individual” recharging stand at the Plagne Bellecôte base camp.

The participant must return to this recharging stand between each loop to change batteries and charge the empty battery while completing the following loop. A member of the organisation will check the conformity of the batteries by cross-checking the stickers and the participant’s bib number.

2-person relay team format

It is possible to have only one bike between the team of two, with competitors alternating loops, but in this case each person in the team must have 2 batteries (500Wh minimum each) for their eMTB.

The team must ensure that the 2 batteries are fully charged before they start the 1st loop, and take battery no. 2 and the charger to the recharging stand at the Plagne Bellecôte base camp. The battery must be charged and replaced between each loop. In the case of teams with 1 E-MTB for 2, the empty battery must be charged at each relay at the recharging stand, where a member of the organisation will check the conformity of the batteries by cross-checking the stickers and the participant’s bib number.

Team members must alternate loops, i.e. ride every other loop. A bib with a specific code for each loop is issued to prevent cheating. If cheating is confirmed, the team will be disqualified.