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Congratulations to Leanne Bentley, the first woman to cross the finish line at the inaugural Alps Divide race from the Mediterranean Sea to Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Learn more about Leanne’s finish and find photos from the event here…
Photos by Tom Gibbs (@bicycle_factory)
The first-ever Alps Divide 2024 wrapped up over the weekend, taking riders on a 1,050-kilometer rollercoaster route along the national borders of France, Italy, and Switzerland with a staggering 32,000 meters of climbing through some of Europe’s tallest peaks. This breathtaking yet brutal course provided the perfect stage for this demanding event, and despite unseasonal weather—snowstorms, torrential rain, high winds, and temperatures plummeting to -8°C (17.6°F)—there were some impressive finishes. The women’s race was won by Leanne Bentley, who completed the challenging route in 6 days and 19 hours. Despite the conditions, Leanne’s determination never wavered. Hats off for her remarkable achievement!
Some readers may remember Leanne from Evan’s brief visit to her bagmaking studio called Carrie Gear in the Netherlands. You can read more about that from the link in the Further Reading Grid below. Here’s what Leanne had to say about her Alps Divide finish on Instagram:
“Going into the Alps Divide, I expected a tough race, as 32,000 metres of elevation over 1,000 kilometres is no small ask. In reality, the weather ended up being the most challenging part, with the first day bringing hours of torrential rain that forced most riders to take shelter a lot earlier than planned. Later in the race, with temperatures going below freezing, we were treated to a lot of snow, which slowed the race down and demanded careful decision making. Descending off the Col Du Joly in a snow storm won’t be an experience I’ll quickly forget. Despite these challenges, the route was incredible, and we were treated to some of the most beautiful parts of the region. We pedalled up to 3,000 metres on the Col Du Sommellier, which was a race highlight for me, climbing mostly in darkness but reaching the summit as the sun was rising. It was a super challenging first edition and more than everyone bargained for, but the organisers did an incredible job.”
Further Reading
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