BACK ON THE 10^th RALLY MEGEVE – ST-TROPEZ
10-13 JUNE 2024

MEGEVE – ALPE D’HUEZ – GARGAS – SAINT-TROPEZ

Monday June 10, the day before the start of the 10th edition of the Megève – Saint-Tropez Rally, the usual day of administrative checks took place at the Palais des Sports in Megève for the 55 registered crews. In the afternoon, the competitors took part in the Concours d’Elégance, in the company of their cars, their finest regalia and an accessory imposed by the organization: a hat. Crews then had to present themselves in front of a jury for an exceptional moment of conviviality, wonderfully opening this rally with 3 stages, 850km, and around fifteen passes of this anniversary edition.

The first stage, between Megève and Alpe d’Huez, immediately offered the ascent of the Col des Saisies and the Cormet de Roselend, in the heart of Beaufortain, before starting the descent towards Bourg-St-Maurice. Snow removal from the Col de l’Iseran having fallen behind schedule this year, a change in route to reach the Maurienne valley was proposed to reach Modane via the Col de la Madeleine. Fort Marie-Thérèse was then in the spotlight for the lunch break, before attacking the snow walls of the famous triptych: Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, Col du Lautaret. The rest of the route was unique, with the Col de Sarenne and its narrow and winding road, in the middle of a pastoral area to reach Alpe d’Huez and the Hôtel des Grandes Rousses.

The second stage was the big novelty of this 10th Megève-Saint-Tropez Rally. After descending the famous bends dear to cyclists of the great loop, we headed towards the foothills of the Vercors Massif then into the Baronnies and its passes, certainly less popular, but just as legendary, for fans of the Monte-Carlo Rally.It is on these roads from the special stages usually contested in the world championship, around Rosans that the famous Pic-Nic Petrossian was organized in the village of Laborel before the ascent of the Col de Perty. Not far from Ventoux, a never-before-seen route takes us to the magnificent Gorges de la Nesque before arriving at Gargas in the Lubéron, at the Hôtel La Coquillade.

The third stage then took the competitors towards Provençal Colorado then towards the lavender fields around Manosque, to enter the Verdon and its monumental gorges for a lunch at Point Sublime before starting the descent towards the Var. The Canjuers military camp, formerly the playing field of the Rally of 1000 Tracks, was to be explored before reaching La Garde Freinet and the final ascent towards the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, where a regrouping was organized at the Domaine du Bourrian. Led by the “St-Tropez gendarmes”, the convoy of participants returned to Saint-Tropez, to the port then to the Place des Lices where the final arrival was judged, among the bowlers still there.

The ultimate exercise in style, the “white” evening bathed in its brilliance, the awards ceremony established on the Beaches of Pampelone, at the Cabane Bambou, where the big winners of this 10th edition were celebrated, which were able to convince with its unique layout and a selection of new routes opening onto a new decade of Megève – Saint-Tropez rallies, the 2025 edition of which we will soon present to you!