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The VVF Grande Odyssée in the Evian-Abondance Valley (Bernex–La Chapelle d’Abondance–Châtel) took place on 9 and 10 January 2023. Let’s take a look back at the memorable events of those two days!

Originally scheduled to take place in La Chapelle d’Abondance on 9 January and in Bernex on 10 January, snow conditions were not ideal. Consequently, to ensure the race went ahead, it was moved to Châtel. Meanwhile, the entertainment village was set up over the two days at the cross-country skiing area in La Chapelle d’Abondance.

The Entertainment Village of the Great Odyssey

This year, we were delighted to host the ‘Grand Nord’ activity area. Situated in the heart of the village, it played a major part in creating a Siberian atmosphere that perfectly matched the event’s theme!

The VFF stands also offered a wide range of activities, such as electric Fatbike mountain biking (and even snowmobiles), as well as a virtual reality stand, where you could immerse yourself in the heart of Arctic wildlife!

The Children’s Odyssey

On 9 January, a rather special race took place: the Children’s Odyssey! Pupils from secondary schools in Abondance were invited to take part in this unique adventure!

Watch the video for a recap and to hear what the pupils had to say after the Children’s Odyssey.

The Race

The professional musher race therefore took place at night in Châtel. In the ‘limited’ category, three French women shared the podium, neck and neck across both races: Cindy Duport, Aurélie Delattre and Elsa Borgey.

In the ‘open’ category, it was the Frenchman Rémy Coste who led the field, followed by the Norwegian Hans Lindahl, who finished second on two occasions. Third place went to the Pole Grzegorz Burzynski on the first day. But the Norwegian Sissel Wolf Mølmen managed to snatch it from him on the second day during an epic duel (with a gap of just 22 seconds).

We look forward to seeing you next year (and the year after that too) in La Chapelle d’Abondance and Bernex for the next edition of La Grande Odyssée VVF. The adventure continues!

A video recap of the two days of La Grande Odyssée VVF

It is important to note that we do not recommend climbing to the summit of the Dent d’Oche. Indeed, the final 100 metres, beyond the refuge, include dangerous, even life-threatening sections. If you wish to attempt it, you do so at your own risk.

However, you do not need to reach the summit to appreciate it; you can simply enjoy the best walks to admire it, or even get close to it.

The VVF Grand Odyssey 2023