[VIVE LA France] The Grande Odyssée VVF: a legendary race in the Alps

The French have the art of creating events or great adventures, particularly sporting ones. If Pierre de Coubertin revived the Olympic Games, there is no shortage of other examples, from the Tour de France (we no longer specify that it is by bike), the Dakar rally, the Vendée Globe, the Ultra-trail du Mont-Blanc, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and even an exceptional sled dog race which has established itself, in twenty years, as the most demanding stage event in Europe. The Grande Odyssée-VVF is set in our unique Alpine landscape and connects beautiful massifs and charming mountain villages, to the rhythm of the panting of 600 dogs, led by 65 mushers through Haute-Savoie, Savoie and Isère. The twentieth edition of this legendary race will be held this year, from January 11 to 23.

Creating links between villages and valleys

This more than daring adventure was launched in 2005 by Henry Kam, a businessman who had never driven a sled… He had, however, joined forces with a great expert in the person of the adventurer Nicolas Vanier. Edition after edition, the two friends were able to successfully meet these different challenges: convincing the stations to host the race and its crowd of more than two hundred people; create a route that respects nature and the ski slopes, manage snow concerns (which already existed twenty years ago) and the essential rest time for the dogs. All with the aim of offering a beautiful spectacle, because nearly 50,000 people flock each year along this exceptional route.

For eight years, Annabel Kam, the founder’s daughter, has taken up the torch, following the sudden disappearance of her father. And undoubtedly, the event continues successfully! Certainly, there is a real sporting challenge in this unique competition, with its 12,000 meters of positive altitude difference accumulated over 400 kilometers. A real difficulty which attracts Scandinavian or Central European mushers alongside the French or Spanish.

But its secret also lies in its ability to enhance these mountain areas where, in winter, the weather often makes daily life complex and isolation heavy. By crossing these landscapes, the Great Odyssey highlights not only their beauty, but also the actors who maintain it, making them live all year round despite the remoteness and climatic hazards. It creates links between valleys, villages and territories. A beautiful photo and telegenic showcase in support of regional development efforts. And in the space of two weeks, it will be hairy and yapping athletes who will take the spotlight from Megève, La Toussuire, Bessans, Val-Cenis, to Sept Laux and Villard-de-Lans.