The 2009 Alpine Challenge took place over the last weekend of September in perfect weather.  All 60 teams made it to Annecy and the Chrome Domes even managed it on a Trandem (three riders) dressed as crusaders!  A champagne bottle was seen cycling past the vinyards of Champagne and Chablis as grape pickers brought in this years crop and multicoloured morphs manically motored past many of the slower teams. 

The Alpine Challenge was to teams of four to cycle in relay over 500 miles in three days from Laon in northeastern France to Annecy in the French Alps raising a minimum of £1000 for charity.  Teams arrived at Laon, about two hours south of the Channel Tunnel, on the Thursday evening where B&B hotel accommodation was provided.  They set off south first thing on the Friday cycling past champagne vineyards and rolling countryside into Chablis country and the first night's stop at Auxerre.  On Saturday, they headed east passing through the village where the feature film of "Chocolate" was made, then riding on past the source of the Seine north of Dijon across lovely countryside before arriving at Besancon.  On Sunday, teams headed into the Jura mountains past ski stations and stunning alpine scenery arriving at Lac Annecy with its historic and picturesque old quarter.

Teams were made up of "extra"ordinary people rising to a physical challenge raising money for charities through personal and corporate sponsorship.  All that was needed were the legs and stamina to ride your share of 500 miles and the commitment to raise £1000 for charity, half of which was donated to a charity of the team's choice.  A team entry fee of £1000 covered the cost of travel through the tunnel and all accommodation, breakfast and evening meals on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.  Teams made their way to Laon on the Thursday evening and typically returned to the UK on the Monday.

Whilst teams donated half of what they raised to a charity of their own choice, the remainder was donated to MacMillan Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK.