Team SD Worx - Protime is organising an altitude training camp in Brides-les-Bains for the third consecutive year. The number one in the UCI women's team ranking is currently with 2023 Tour de France Femmes winner Demi Vollering for her last major preparation camp towards the Paris Olympics and the Tour de France Femmes. European champion Mischa Bredewold is also along for the ride. Brides-les-Bains has been a partner of the best women's cycling team in the world for three years. The team is extremely successful again this year, having already won La Vuelta Femenina with Vollering, among others.Brides-les-Bains is a lively and charming town in the French Alps known for its thermal baths and is an ideal base for an altitude training course. For the third consecutive year, Demi Vollering is also attending this important training camp for her. Vollering is currently the best classification rider in the world.
"Brides-les-Bains has kind of become our home in terms of altitude training," Vollering points out. "Over the past two years, the training camp has been very good. The big advantage of this place is that you can go in all directions and indeed find long climbs everywhere. Furthermore, there are plenty of traffic-free roads where you hardly encounter any cars. That always makes cycling a lot more pleasant."
Besides Demi Vollering, European champion Mischa Bredewold will also be at the training camp in Brides-les-Bains, which takes place from 1 to 21 July. Coach Anna van der Breggen, herself Olympic champion in 2016, will join the group later.
Brides-les-Bains lies at the foot of the popular Les Trois Vallees area. It is known for its thermal waters, spa, health cures and healthy food. The Alpine village now also has a strong profile as a friendly cycling destination for men and women.
Brides-les-Bains is also known as the Cycling Basecamp in Les Trois Vallees, as many climbs start from here. For example, you start the climbs to Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens from here, and you can climb the Col de la Loze from two sides. The foot of the Col de la Madeleine and the climb to Valmorel are also around the corner.
Brides-les-Bains is also the starting point (kilometre zero) of the now famous car-free Col de la Loze, which was included in the Tour de France in 2020 and 2023. In those two, this climb with gradients as high as 24% was the setting for an enthralling battle.
The 2304-metre Col de la Loze spearheads Brides-les-Bains' revamped cycling strategy. On Sunday 28 July, the Alpine town will host a cyclosportive race, Gran Fondo Col de la Loze. This Gran Fondo is being organised for the fifth time and features a separate start for women. Several routes are proposed to climb the Col de la Loze. Brides-les-Bains therefore presents itself as an ideal base camp for all cycling enthusiasts. Its location and the surrounding mountains allow many cyclists to ride on well-maintained roads with beautiful views.
The town and its accommodation providers do their best to welcome cyclists from all over the world. Brides-les-Bains, as well as several accommodations in the Alpine town, have received the 'accueil vélo' label, which guarantees cyclists that they will be welcomed in the best conditions with, among other things, adapted meals, bike rooms, repair kit in the establishments, bike shop nearby, etc.
Besides their training sessions, the riders of Team SD Worx - Protime will also visit the thermal baths of Brides-les-Bains and enjoy a special sports recovery massage here. Brides-les-Bains has the largest thermal baths in the Alps (2700m²). After a day on the road, cyclists can recharge in the thermal baths. They can also take a ride on e-bikes, part of the area's eco-friendly strategy.
"Heading towards the two most important round of the year, the Tour de France Femmes, this is an important altitude training," Anna van der Breggen looks ahead. "In Brides-les-Bains, we can take several long climbs above 2,000 metres. This is ideal for us, as we are staying here for three weeks and then the variety in the training routes is welcome. With the Col de la Loze, which is specially built for cyclists and where you don't encounter car traffic, we are at the foot of an ideal col for doing certain training sessions."