Alpes Vaudoises Strava Bike Challenge
Give your best on your bike and take part in the Alpes Vaudoises Strava Bike Challenge
Building on its success, the challenge returns in 2025, from June 1 to 30 September, with a major new feature!
For several years now, a Strava challenge has been taking cyclists on a tour of the Alpes Vaudoises. The principle is simple: cyclists ride segments of the region's most beautiful climbs and record their outings on the Strava platform. At the end of the season, participants can win prizes in a grand draw. In 2024, over 3,700 times were recorded in this way.
Since last year, Villars has the honour to host the UCI Gravel Suisse, the qualifying round for the UCI Gravel World Championships. An event that the resort in the Alpes Vaudoises will host in 2029.
In connection with these world-class competitions, Villars is implementing an ambitious plan to position itself as a major gravel destination in the coming years. As part of this, a number of courses specifically adapted to gravel have been created in the region.
New: 4 segments of the Challenge 2025 are located on these courses.
Four other segments are also available for road bikes, including both sides of the Col de la Croix, nicknamed “the giant of the Alpes Vaudoises”.
Be part of the challenge
1. Register on the Club Strava Alpes Vaudoises
2. Record your time between June 1 and September 30 on one or more of the following segments:
- Plambuit - Bretaye (gravel, 7.4 km, 605 m D+)
- Taveyanne (gravel, 3.2 km, 178 m D+)
- Lavanchy-Isenau (gravel, 4.7 km, 328 m D+)
- Verschiez-Panex (gravel, 3.8 km, 308 m D+)
- Villars - Col de la Croix (road, 7.4 km, 450 m D+)
- Les Diablerets - Col de la Croix (road, 8.0 km, 580 m D+)
- Bévieux-Barboleuse (8.9 km, 680 m D+)
- Barboleuse-Les Chaux (5.1 km, 487 m D+)
Cyclists who complete a minimum of four segments will be rewarded with vouchers/goodies to discover the destination. These can be collected from the Villars or Les Diablerets Tourist Offices on presentation of the segments completed on Strava.
Cycliste.ch will keep the challenge alive on its networks, highlighting the most assiduous participants. To maximize visibility, simply tag @cycliste.ch, @villarstourisme, @diablerets, @gryontourisme, @bextourisme and @alpesvaudoises in publications and stories. We'll be happy to share them again!
Lots of prizes to be won
Participants will have the chance to win attractive prizes in the end-of-season draw:
- 1 stay of 2 nights at the Chalet RoyAlp Hôtel & SPA 5* for 2 people
- 1 Magic Pass 2025-2026
- 1 race number for the UCI Gran Fondo Suisse 2026
- 1 race number for the UCI Gravel Suisse 2026
As last year, the draw will favour the most persevering cyclists, irrespective of the time taken, according to the following principle: 1 segment completed = 1 chance of winning, 2 segments = 2 chances, and so on.
All Alpes Vaudoises Strava Challenge courses
A long climb, first through forest, then pastures, with splendid views of the Chablais and surrounding peaks. Once you reach the Col de Bretaye, a number of refreshment points await you.
A 100% gravel segment that passes through Taveyanne, a hamlet classified as a national historic heritage site. With no performance targets, be sure to stop off at the Refuge de Taveyanne for the traditional seasonal fruit tart.
This alpine route above Les Diablerets leads to Isenau, with breathtaking views over the Ormont valley and the Diablerets Massif. At the summit, you'll find the Buvette de la Marnèche and, a little further down, the restaurant at restaurant du Lac Retaud.
A nice road through the woods, ideal for reaching Villars from the plain. The start of the climb is on a narrow road with poorly-maintained tarmac, which soon gives way to a technically easy 4×4 track.
The Col de la Croix is the best-known climb in the Alpes Vaudoises. From Villars, the ascent takes place in several stages, allowing you to recover before the last three kilometres of steep climbing. At the summit, take a break at the col de la Croix mountain pasture. Enjoy the beauty of the Pyramides de gypse, a geological curiosity formed by erosion over time.
From Les Diablerets, the ascent to the Col de la Croix has an almost constant gradient of 7%. Find your own rhythm and admire the imposing rock face of the Diablerets Massif, which accompanies you throughout the ascent.
From the plain, the ascent to Barboleuse is the ideal route to Villars and the Col de la Croix. The traffic is light and the views magnificent. Hang on for the first two kilometres, as the slope is steep through the vineyards, but then eases off. In Barboleuse, the Charlet bakery welcomes you with everything a cyclist could dream of!
A lesser-known climb that takes you to the heights of Gryon. The slope is steady, with a flat area where you can recover 2 km from the summit. Why take on this climb ?
For the incredible view of the Grand Muveran, Mont Blanc and the Dents du Midi from the terrace of the Les Chaux restaurant.
Organise your stay in the Alpes Vaudoises
Why not take advantage of the challenge to treat yourself to a getaway in the magnificent Alpes Vaudoises?
Discover a selection of bike-friendly accommodations in Villars here.
The Strava challenge video
