Classic Marathon 2025

Leaving the flatlands of Lake Geneva behind, we quickly head into the Jura Mountains, an area known for its diverse landscapes ranging from dense forests and rolling meadows to dramatic limestone cliffs and pristine lakes. Snaking our way south we start taking in mighty “Cols”, which are a large feature in this year’s Classic Marathon, made famous from past Tour de France events. Having accomplished the Grand Colombier, we continue our journey south through some incredible mountain scenery through the Chartreuse region, home of the monks who produce the renowned Chartreuse liqueur.

After lunch we take in our first Test of the event, alongside more impressive limestone massifs through the Vercors and heading to the traditional Monte Carlo Rally watering hole of Valence.

Today’s action begins very quickly as the route leaps straight into the rallying heartlands of the Ardeche and Cévennes. The morning starts as we climb into the hills from St Lauren-du-Pape with some definitive “Monte” sections which are beautifully suited to these classic cars, as well as with some new routes also tucked into the Route Book. The mountains might not be as high as the previous day, however, thanks to the maze of roads and twists and turns, you will feel like challenges have ramped up a notch today.

The descent into the magnificent Tarn Gorge with a gentle cruise through quaint villages, such as La Malene, will be a welcome pause before the competing crews commence the final battle of the day high above the market town of Millau in the Grands Causses hills.

The impressive view from tonight’s hotel as the sun sets behind the modern Millau Viaduct will give time to reflect on the triumphs made and roads conquered in the heart of France today.

Escaping the bustling streets with an early morning departure, climbing through the backroads of the Grands Causses National Park, deep in the Massif Central, the route delves into new Marathon territories this morning; we explores the intricacies of the roads and quaint villages of the Occitaine region, where we find ourselves winding around the edges of the Chasse de Caroux-Espinouse Nature Reserve and enjoying the panoramic views across the Col de Fontfroide.

A countryside halt at a traditional restaurant which promises bistronomic cuisine based on locally source produce will be a welcome rest and offer the cars a chance to cool off before we descend onto the Languedoc Plain and through the Corbières wine region, with some stunning winding roads which quite literally corkscrew their way through the mountainside before we loop back to the evenings rest halt within arm’s reach of the medieval citadel of Carcassonne, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The wonderful thing about staying in a place such as Carcassonne is that not long after the view of the fortified Citadel drops out of the rear-view mirror, the appetising view of the foothills to the Pyrenees begin to take shape straight ahead. Today’s route will tackle little known Cols, offering panoramic views of the snowy Pyrenean peaks before dropping into the natural beauty of the Gorge De Galamus in this hidden region which gets overlooked by many, but offers the perfect escape for enthusiastic motorists.

The Cols begin to get higher and tougher during the afternoon as we climb through the ski resorts of Mijanès-Donezan and Ascou, before tackling the mouth-watering Col de Portet d'Aspet on our way to the overnight halt, nestled high in the mountains, close to the Spanish border.

Today, the battle will be contained solely to the Pyrenees and as they say in cycling, it promises to be a “big day in the mountains”! The route includes the ultimate classics such as the ascent of the Col du Tourmalet, the intense landscapes of the Peyresourde and the undeniable beauty of the Col de l'Aubisque, all offering unique challenges of their own, but set to test the crews in equal measure.

Ears popping and adrenaline levels decreasing as we descend for the penultimate evening’s rest halt in Pau, home of the Pau Grand Prix, where time can be spent reminiscing about the day’s adventures and possibly a special award will be handed to the ‘King of the Hills’.