Just months after acquiring controlling interest in the Haute Route amateur gran fondo cycling series and promising to take it to “the next level of its potential,” millionaire Michael Hartweg has announced plans for 2021.

Don’t hold your breath, it looks a lot like the original pre-pandemic 2020 schedule, with the exception that Haute Route Qingcheng in China has been dropped.

Events returning unchanged for 2021 include Oman, Crans-Montana, Mexico, Brazil, Ventoux and the Virtual Watopia/Zwift 3-day races.

Returning in a new 5-day format billed as “a game changer for cyclists looking for the adventure of a lifetime,” are the Dolomites and Pyrenees events.  Haute Route Dolomites has been promoted from a 3-day event to the new 5-day format, while Haute Route Pyrenees was demoted from a long run as a 7-day race.

The changes leave only one 7-day gran fondo race – Haute Route Alps.  Not that long ago Haute Route offered four epic week-long events – Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites and Rockies.

Haute Route Alps 2021 will be a special 10th anniversary edition, promising to deliver the “best edition to date, with the highest elevation, the steepest climbs and the longest stages.”

Watch the 2021 Haute Route promo video here and mark your calendars for 13 August when event registration opens to the public.

2020 Haute Route Events:

Haute Route Watopia/Zwift, February

Haute Route Brazil, 26-28 March

Haute Route Crans-Montana, 11-13 June

Haute Route Pyrenees, 6-10 July

Haute Route Alps, 22-28 August

Haute Route Dolomites, 31 August -4 September

Haute Route Ventoux, 1-3 October

Haute Route Oman, 29-31 October

Haute Route Mexico, 5-7 November

Worldwide Gran Fondo Calendar