What's the collective noun for the groundhog-like marmotte? A climb? A challenge? A suffer?

Riders at the top of the Galibier on the 2014 Marmotte.
For 2016, the organizers of the Marmotte, one of the most famous, most popular and most difficult gran fondos anywhere, are expanding beyond their home in the Alps with a new Marmotte in the Pyrenees to join the Italian event that debuted in 2015.

The Marmotte Gran Fondo Series is born.

Marmotte Granfondo Pyrénées and Marmotte Granfondo Sestrière join the original Mammotte — now called Marmotte Alpes. (Read ride reports here and here.)

In the words of the organizers, Sport Communication, all three are: "legendary courses, beautiful cols and in the footsteps or let's say tracks of cycling heroes".

The Pyreneean edition certainly looks a match for the original (the Tourmalet TWICE), while the Italian version is considerably shorter and with much less climbing than its Marmottean siblings.

The Pyrenees are proper cycling country. Credit: Sport Communication
The new Marmotte Granfondo Pyrénées has it all: a course of 163 km/101 miles over six legendary cols, known from the Vuelta and the Tour, and a massive 5600 meters/18,400 feet of climbing in total.

After departing Argeles Gazost, riders face the Col du Tourmalet from Barèges (18km, 7.4%, to 2115m), Hourquette d'Ancizan (17km/10.5 miles miles, 4.5%,to 1564m), Col d'Aspin (12km/7.5 miles, 6.5%, to 1489m), Col du Tourmalet via Ste-Marie-de-Campan (17km/10.5 miles, 7.5%, to 2115m) and La Mongie (14km/9 miles, 7%, to 1710m).

The finish is located near the top in Luz-Ardiden (1666m). It happens on August 28.

The Colle delle Finestre (2178m) plays the lead role in the second edition of the 110km/69 mile Granfondo La Marmotta Sestriere - Colle delle Finestre.

The Colle delle Finestre. Credit: Gran Fondo Sestriere - Colle delle Finestre
This infamous mountain pass, world famous after it was included in the Giro in 2005, is 18.5km/11 miles long and has an average grade of 9.2%. At the halfway point the concrete road gives way to an 8km/5 mile stretch of gravel. The ride is on July 24.

Marmotte Alpes, which always sells out with up to 90% of the field from outside France, is on July 2.

7,500 riders in a sold-out field, 174km/108 miles and just the 16,400 feet of the Glandon, Telegraphe, Galibier and Alpe d'Huez's hairpins to conquer.

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