GCN Rides The Haute Route Alps

Thanks to the Haute Route for inviting us to ride this year's Haute Route Alps. All opinions are the presenter's own.
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Join John “Chocolate Voice” Beavan as he tackles arguably the toughest amateur cycling event in the world, the Haute Route Alps. Over 7 days, and more than 22,200m of elevation on some of the most iconic climbs in cycling, John battled his way from Nice to Geneva. Along the way he met some amazing people fostering the unique sense of community that surrounds the Haute Route.
This will make you want to get out on your bike and ride!
If you'd like to contribute captions and video info in your language, here's the link 👍 gcn.eu/pd
Watch more on GCN...
Preparing for a multi-stage event gcn.eu/PrepMS 📹
4 best ways to train for long climbs gcn.eu/Climb 📹
Photos: © Bettiniphoto / www.bettiniphoto.net/ & ©Tim De Waele / www.tdwsport.com
Music: Jon Björk - Percussive Trailer 4
Victor Olsson - High Energy Teens 5
Daniel Aldenmark - Into Forever (Instrumental)
Christian Nanzell - Rapier
Daniel Gunnarsson - Next Level
Henrik Andersson - Go!
Mikael Persson feat. Cecilia Axeland - Are You Holding On
Anders Schill Paulsen feat. Zakky Z - Better Days 3
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Leave us a comment below!

[@EnzoTehBaker]

Amazing little feature. GCN should do more videos like this with GCN personalities taking on challenges and being the focus of the video!

[@icejunki]

I agree 100%

[@rutgergranberg3225]

A video describing John´s development the 6 months before the Haute Route would be great! Fitness before, during and just before and the planing.

[@Desi365]

Definitely in the 3 best GCN videos ever. I'd like him to tell us the worst moment he had, in the race or the preparation. And how did his body changed.

[@gcn]

What did you think of the John's Haute Route? Let us know?

[@robbchastain3036]

Officially jealous.

[@archiej6386]

Global Cycling Network let him do the everest challenge to see if a normal cyclist can !

[@mihpop9733]

Top Job John and GCN !

[@AberHangie]

Haute route is more the 3 Everests in 7 days!

[@AberHangie]

Great job John, I think you put into words what the Haute route means to me.

[@louismarques890]

When i heard 28 at the beginning i knew he was in trouble.

[@beeble2003]

Fantastic video. I kind of dropped out of watching GCN for a few months, for no particular reason, but this was one I definitely wanted to come back to. It was a bit sad to see Emma Pooley (around 9:00) saying that this amateur race is tougher than women's pro races from her day. I suppose it's because the longest women's races are (I think) still only a week and, by the time you've had a time trial and a couple of flat stages, there's not much time left for any mountains. Let's hope that women's cycling continues to strengthen as a sport so they can have the opportunities they deserve.

[@Sionnach1601]

Agreed

[@NielsHeldens]

Over 18 minutes of chocolate voice - I better get my popcorn.

[@lucasferry4738]

And tissues ;-)

[@binbob9]

Niels Heldens Should've taken EPO and uncovered an international doping scandal. Then we would have two hours of chocolate voice

[@NielsHeldens]

Ellis I understood that reference

[@vedantsethi3300]

Niels Heldens h

[@w4yland3r27]

This made my day. Hope you do more of these.

[@ragzard]

That was a fantastic video. Documentary grade image capture and awesome Jonny as narrator. Great job transmiting the feeling of the race, the scenery and the people. Those were some 19min damn well spent. Will watch again.

[@haxhxm841]

And sometimes I wish I lived in a bigger country cos I'm nearly done cycling every cycling route in Singapore

[@loneoceans]

May I recommend weekend drives to some of the Malaysian highlands :)

[@Mrkillerc16]

Hey same here mbs and pcns sights not even that great compared to this videos

[@michaelcys3172]

I'm 15 and I've already round the Penang island and no where else to cycle

[@thesoultwins72]

+haxhxm.....LOL - if you think S'pore is bad, you should try HK!

[@glazedgamer7661]

Come to Australia.. You could ride here forever.. No great climbs though at least when compared to Europe this place is too flat

[@oscarlaight6493]

I was in Morzine for a week at the same time John was. I saw the line come right past my chalet, and let me say, after riding the Joux Plane twice in that one week, it’s a brutal climb.

[@richardfarrow6440]

Love this video - great camerawork, great editing and a truly inspiring story. BZ John!

[@jakeiesu]

Wow! This video is an absolute standout. Well done on your effort mate and an absolutely stellar video to go along with it. Terrific.

[@icejunki]

Absolutely loved every second of this video. 100% soaked in inspiration. If this doesn't make you want to get on a bike and conquer the world I don't know what will.

[@brentgaul2760]

Great job, John. I was emotional just watching your fantastic achievement. I am truly inspired. My hat is off to you. Well done.

[@annettefournier9655]

Congrats John!

[@richardmitton5292]

Fantastic. This is quite possibly the best GCN video you've ever made - the subject, the length, the details, all of it. More like this in future please!

[@jen3800]

pure inspiration! this makes me even more convinced to try for Oman in March. thanks !

[@daithireinhardt7565]

Best and most interesting video yet from GCN......we want more :)

[@eightballsidepocket]

Epic ride. Congrats to John for making it and in good spirits! Inspirational!

[@andrewhillier2734]

Brilliant video! Congratulations on finishing. And yes you have built my determination to do this even more

[@metashop]

Awesome video, thank you! It brought out all the joy of cycling with stunning scenery to boot. Having never heard of the Haute Route before, it's now on my bucket list. I would rate this video probably #1 out of all GCN videos I have seen. More please?!

[@jakubwierzbicki6219]

I enjoyed the more relaxed feel of this video very much, it's a good thing it takes it time to show participants, scenery etc. Thumbs up.

[@northyorkshirelad11]

A superb video. One of the best. Inspirational.

[@misspsychoticbunny]

What a motivational video. Thanks John :) And good job for finishing the Haute Route Alps!

[@FlatSpinMan]

Loved it! Loved it, loved it, loved it! Wish there was more to see. I'm such a sucker but I admit I am so keen to try this now (well, when I have the money and the time). Awesome achievement, GCN John.

[@MauricioAlsinaLee]

Awesome piece of work, lads, and congratulations to John!

[@TheWaxChainFanClub]

Been really looking forward to this!

[@AberHangie]

Well done John....Great event, done it twice now and it does not get any easier or any less enjoyable. Full on Type 2 fun!!

[@markmathews1072]

John, what a fantastic record of your experience, how you had the presence of mind to keep recording that footage during the day whilst obviously exhausted is beyond me! Chapeau!

[@jonburnell532]

Been looking forward to this video since you started, really enjoyed it. Well done John 🖒

[@actionpotential18]

Congratulations John - amazing stuff, well done!

[@miasmic6368]

This looks so amazing. Congrats on the finish!

[@igortrajkov2791]

Congrats John! A truly remarkable feat! Bravo

[@Sionnach1601]

Thank you for saying "Bravo" and *not* "Cha..."....errr.....I can't even type it. It's just repulsively overused!!

[@rourkeyliiid4769]

Congratulations! Brilliant effort John!

[@Kutzchster]

This is such a beautiful and inspirational video. Quality work, guys.

[@howph]

Best video you’ve done so far guys. Inspiring stuff!

[@redpsionide]

Fantastic episode, really enjoyed that - now on my bucket list 😜

[@secretsquirrel4137]

Sterling effort and great vid - well done Chocolate voice Bevan!!!

[@richardruns4cake]

Great stuff John . Definitely one of GCN best films

[@wuxiren64]

Huge congrats, John. Inspiring!

[@michaellee1663]

Many congratulations John, I recognise the cumulative tiredness in your face after each day's efforts. Makes me want to do this now ! Chapeau Monsieur

[@leeutting4003]

I completed the haute route Pyrenees this year and totally agree with everything John has captured in the vid. The organisation is excellent, the people you meet (riders and supporters) are just fantastic, the friendships you make, but above else is the scenery and the sheer joy of being able to say you did it. The climbs are so hard yet so rewarding. Yes it's a fair bit of money but well worth it.

[@paulgalloway2629]

Brilliant. Well done John. Special mention to the fact you were not riding with friends or as part of a team. Great video.

[@RoryMacdonald-pfff]

Brilliant stuff John - would also love a between the stages film, covering the recovery, eating, accommodation, bike storage, various other logistics etc etc

[@djpalmer31]

Amazing Effort. Well done Jon.

[@eilrach299]

Fantastic stuff, John. Well done!

[@neilanderson1997]

WOW deffo one for the bucket list, 2yrs and I'm there :) great vid really inspirational x

[@gcn]

Thanks Neil!

[@jabba149]

Chapeau John! The pressure must have been off the scale, not only did you need to be on time, you needed to make GCN content too! I was actually moved to hear and see fellow cyclists support one another with so much encouragement, it is what cycling is all about for me. Top work GCN

[@tombyrne5983]

Absolutely inspiring! Truly a "bucket list" wish of mine. Cheers to John and to all who shared the experience, very jealous. Tom Byrne

[@leighschvartz]

Awesome video! Thanks John!

[@marcdaniels9079]

“Coggage “ 🤣 Love it. Nothing wrong with using low gears. Contador used an MTB set up in the Vuelta one year. Somewhere there is a video on the HR and there is a guy with one leg and if I remember right he has done a double HR! Incredible. 👍🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️👍💪

[@carolinebray82]

This special video, I'm glad I got to see it, the people.on the side of the road cheering you on is what we all need, in a race or I'm life! Thank you again 👍🚲😂🤗💪💪

[@martywild8200]

Congratulations, that was awesome! Chapeau.

I had heard of this race before, but after watching this video I definitely want to do it at least once in my life !

[@vegandad7692]

Wicked. Congratulations John!

[@phillentz6742]

Congrats!! That was an awesome video too!!

[@DavidYamaha]

Respect....well done John! Bravo!!! ;-)

[@eliottpierre6400]

he should do more vids with the others

[@giditupyis]

Fantastic achievement John! Would love to have the motivation and determination to train for something like this

[@stewartsummerside2971]

Well done John 👍👍👍

[@briangrissom9115]

Well done! Loved the video guys.

[@lennartzurhorst6923]

One of the best GCN videos!

[@wieke9607]

Good effort seeing it through

[@OliverPickard]

This just shows what cycling is all about ,showing your self you can do more than you ever thought and instant friends

[@Socalnik66]

One of the best GCN videos I’ve seen.

[@reeform2125]

Well done John, great effort!

[@Chrisb286]

Top work John, looks like really hard work to me, great bike

[@superflex6587]

Solid video. Captures cycling perfectly

[@deraetmaxime4941]

Just back from HR Ventoux. I loved it, 3 days only but enough to exhaust me.. Looking forward to make HR Alpes as well!! Well done John!!

[@deanmc178]

this looks fantastic,, i was once fit enough to take on this type of challenge ,, great video GCN ..

[@Vaughn3d.]

Great Job John!

[@mmotpm5237]

I've done HRP14, HRP16, HRD17. You did a great job of capturing the ride, particularly the first time. It is hard, but it's so good. It gets soooo much easier the second and third times around. The key elements to get right are feeding, before during and after, and recovery. I love this ride, and I'm off again to HRP18. Mike in Perth

[@Guoenyi]

Good work John! 16:03 it is incredible how dirty the bartapes got after 800kms of riding in the alps.

[@spiffspaceman9402]

It was great the see the interview with the 9-W aka Major Taylor Development team. Go team!

[@jOelrOd99]

Best GCN video yet! I'm inspired!

[@MVProfits]

Congrats for finishing this! I knew about the Haute Route of course, and it was in my future plans, but I never realized ALL days are over 3000m of climbs... except for the short Alpe d'huez TT! Way too tough for 99% of amateurs. Even in the pro GT they don't have high mountain stages that many days in a row. A triple chain set or hidden motor came to mind LOL You really started with a 11-28? Yikes. I'd also like to know, in a future update, how many days it took for you to recuperate and get back to functioning in real life!

[@DavidEeee66]

That's was awesome dude!!! Goals!

[@leonvanrensburg2467]

Chapeau !!! Well done !

[@MarkHand]

Amazing video!! I've been a religious watcher of GCN since the very beginning, and I think this is the best video yet. And well done Chocolate Voice!!!!!

[@id4edm]

Chapeau John!

[@SpioraidNaHabhainn]

Way to go! Great ride. Good vid., too!

[@adamcoatham]

Video of the year!

[@paulhumphreys6652]

Well done, John. Fantastic achievement

[@marcelleclerc690]

Congrats John ! I would love to ride the Haute Route Ventoux

[@ranga8038]

I don't think I've ever heard the term 'coggage' before

[@LaughingSaint66]

Fergus J Matt is allowed to coin any new cycling phrase I mean he’s as old as England 😂😂

[@harpalmatharoo3621]

courage in a cod Inspector Clouseau accent i reckon....

[@patrickforcier2268]

Great job!

[@55higi]

Love you GCN!

[@UpNorthMI]

Awesome, ride John!

[@nateisright]

Had no idea how cool this was. I have now added Haute Route to my bucket list.

[@casey3057]

I'm going to be embarking on my first major Sportive next summer here in the states, the Logan to Jackson or as we call it LOTOJA. 206 miles through three states, and thanks to GCN and all you do, I'm getting fitter. Stronger, better and more motivated every day. Thanks all! Ride on!!!

[@hekk2566]

Great video. You should make more in this style.

[@robpetrie]

Just Brilliant!

[@brettnepper]

Nicely done indeed!!

[@ygtcbee23]

Great 1st person experience video, Really miss Chocolate voice and Emma as presenters. Who knows what the future has in store for GCN. As a side note, anyone attempting the Haute Route on a 28 cassette is very brave

[@jackpinchin1476]

Well done, great ride!

[@karelt5413]

Great job John. I almost didn't recognize you at the second day with the hair on your face. 😀 You and Dan have both great presenters voice... and my big friend Matt is so human..... so emotional. 😂

[@ravikala1993]

So inspiring!!

[@y.m.6988]

So entertaining to watch

[@SpiderwebRob]

The trip looked amazing. When im a bit older i want to do one of these events.