Route to Lausanne — GRL PCK

The gravel rally that rolls up to Lausanne

Put on by the GRL PCK team, Route to Lausanne is neither a race nor a guided tour: it’s a self-supported gravel rally across the Alps, starting in Munich with Lausanne as its destination. The goal: to make as much noise as possible for the Swiss Grand Départ of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and to give women’s cycling greater visibility.

The spirit: 50 women, one shared route, 7 days self-supported, gravel bikes loaded to the max, each at her own pace. The route: nearly 800 km and over 10,000 m of climbing, two crossings of the Alps and four countries — Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland.

Stage by stage

Day	Stage	Distance	D+
1	Munich → Biberwier	134 km	1,500 m
2	Biberwier → Pfunds	80 km	1,060 m
3	Scuol → Piuro	115 km	1,700 m
4	Piuro → Col de San Lucio	80 km	1,900 m
5	Col de San Lucio → Col du Nufenen	74 km	1,600 m
6	Goms → Sion	92 km	500 m
7	Sion → Lausanne	97 km	730 m

Day 2 cut short by the rain · day 4 shortened (“a gravel rally is more fun when things don’t go to plan”) · day 5 partly by train.

Alice’s story

At the start, a few tense smiles — then the adventure took over from the very first pedal stroke. Together they laughed, sweated, wanted to give up, supported one another, cried, devoured tons of snacks and gels, got too hot, got soaked by the rain… but they all made it to Lausanne to celebrate and cheer on the Tour de France Femmes.

An unforgettable surprise: Lael Wilcox, Sami Sauri and Isis Olari turned up to ride with the group over the last two days. And a huge thank-you to Laura, Ami and the whole GRL PCK team for pulling off this stroke of genius.

« I set off not knowing whether I was capable of making it to the end. But it seems that, well surrounded, I can overcome any challenge. Even the Col du Nufenen doesn’t scare me anymore! » Alice

In pictures

Photo credits: @ayleen.behrens · @anna.gesenhues · @natalieuljas