Iron Bike challenges select racers in the Alps

The Iron Bike, a 700 km race with 22,000m of climbing, will run from July 21 to July 29 in the Alps between Italy and France.

Only 140 selected riders will compete. They hail from Brazil, the US, Costa Rica, Canada, and throughout Europe. This year sees seven stages, from the Fortress of Fenestrelle (soon to be included as a World Heritage monument), where they will downhill the massive "Royal stair"; to mount Chaberton (3,120 m). Base camp will be held inside the fortress that dominates the mountain. For the first time, the French government has given permission to sleep inside the buildings which have gone unused since the last World War.