Gourmet-Cycle Crans-Montana 2017 15 -18 SEPTEMBER 2017

Join Michel Roux OBE and chef friends in Crans-Montana for the inaugural Gourmet-Cycle Experience.

Gourmet-Cycle is the direct result of the success of the Mountain Gourmet Ski Experience 2017, now in its fourth year, where Heston Blumenthal and his friends come together to ski and prepare amazing meals in mountain venues.

Gourmet-Cycle Crans-Montana is a unique opportunity to discover some amazing road cycling routes amongst the vineyards and mountains of the scenery rich Valais region, but also to try your hand at the final part of Etape 17 of the Tour de France 2016, the legendary Finhaut-Emosson climb, to finish at the Barrage d’Emosson.

The cycling is paired with three unforgettable gourmet dinners. The first dinner and briefing will be at the luxury Crans-Ambassador hotel, focusing on the best Switzerland has to offer, highlighting how much more there is to Swiss cuisine than cheese and chocolate!

The Saturday celebration will focus on a tasting menu by Pierre Crepaud, at the local one star Michelin Mont Blanc Restaurant, with breathtaking views of the Valais and Alps.

On the Sunday, meet Michel Roux OBE, dine in his very own restaurant, Le XIX in Crans-Montana, with a menu prepared specially for the occasion, adjacent to the stunning Crans-Montana 1st hole of the golf course.

Michel Roux will prepare a bespoke menu for a group of like-minded individuals, paired with some of the best Valais and other Swiss wines.

The 3 days include the opportunity to interact with the chefs at certain key times and to witness 3 different approaches to a great dinner. Along with this, 3 days of great road cycling, mountain lunches with menus selected by the chefs and sharing special moments with others.

WHAT IS GOURMET CYCLE?

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3 nights at the luxury 5 star Crans Ambassador Hotel

3 days of road cycling, from vineyards to part of a Tour de France étape.

3 gourmet dinners

• Night 1: at the Crans-Ambassador Hotel

• Night 2: Mont Blanc Restaurant with Pierre Crepaud, Le Crans

• Night 3: Michel Roux OBE at his restaurant Le XIX

• Opportunity to meet Michel Roux OBE and enjoy his unique style at his restaurant, Le XIX, in his hometown of Crans-Montana

• Road cycling rides tailored to 2 different levels

• Option to ride an e-bike for part or all of the itineraries

• Road cycling rides include:

o Group leader and sweeper

o Energy products & water

o Transport of small day bags for personal items

o Availability of e-bikes

o Broom wagon

o Planned stops in interesting surroundings: views and/or local farms and vineyards

• Breakfasts and lunches based on cycling dietary requirements

• Discovery of Valais wine growing region and the incredible panorama of Crans-Montana

• Non cycling activity menu for partners

GOURMET CYCLE AT A GLANCE

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Michel Roux www.lexix.ch

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The Journey so FarSome 60 years ago, a 14 year-old boy was taken by his mother to be apprenticed to a Grand Pâtissier, north of Paris. For the next three years, Michel Andre Roux avidly pursued his craft, setting him on course for a spectacular culinary odyssey.

Born in the small town of Charolles in April 1941, Michel spent his formative years living over his grandfather’s charcuterie, surrounded by the wonderful aromas of patés, terrines and curing ham and bacon. However, it wasn’t until 1946, when the family moved to Paris, that Michel’s passion for cooking really began, inspired by helping his mother in the kitchen.

After his 3 years at the Pastry Shop inBelleville there followed a couple of yearsas pastry cook at the British Embassy in Paris. Michel was then taken on asa commis in the kitchen of Cécile deRothschild’s household, rising to be her

youngest-ever personal head chef. He

still cites that period as “a life-changing experience” and considers the peerless Baronne de Rothschild as his greatest influence: “She schooled me in perfection, which I live and breathe to this day.”

Many medals and awards followed during the ’60s and ’70s, culminating in the Meilleur Ouvrier de France en Patisserie, which was presented to Michel by President Giscard d’Estaing in 1976.

By that time, Michel and his brother Albert had already opened Le Gavroche in London. When they arrived in the UK in 1967, they revolutionized the British restaurant scene, attracting a loyal clientele, with a guest book that read like a who’s who of actors and personalities of the day. A charcuterie followed – the first authentic one in London – along with a series of other restaurants, until the iconic Waterside Inn was launched in 1972. Michel maintains it was love at first sight: he made an offer on the spot and has never looked back. But even then, he could never imagine having three Michelin stars bestowed upon him,

an accolade that his son, Alain, now carries proudly some 33 years later.

A prolific author (with no less than 12 books, most translated into numerous languages; his pâtissier’s bible The Roux Brothers on Pâtisserie has sold more than 250,000 copies) and much-loved TV chef (the Roux brothers’ programmes on the BBC reached an audience of over 2 million viewers), Michel received the OBE in 2002 and the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2004. Little wonder perhaps that the Roux family has been described as “The Beatles of gastronomy”, while Michel and his brother have been dubbed “the godfathers of cookery”.

Nowadays, he devotes his time to the Roux Scholarship, consultancy and lecturing. As you will often hear him saying, “There is still so much to do…”

MICHEL ROUX OBE

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programme

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FRIDAY 15 SEPTEMBEROptional flights and transfers from Geneva airport (circa 2 hours) Arrivals and check-in at Crans-Ambassador HotelFit out for rental cycles and bike assembly with technicians on site for trouble shooting

Welcome reception & Swiss gourmet dinner with ride briefing

sATURDAY 16Cycle fit out and technical checksDepart for road cycling: vineyards & Col de Crans-MontanaPlanned stops at La Romaine winery and local cheese makerBuffet lunch at Relais de ColombireAfternoon loop and non-cycling activitiesEvening reception at Restaurant Mont Blanc with tasting menu by Pierre Crepaud

sUNDAY 17 Cycle fit out and technical checksDepart for road cycling: • Crans-Montana to Martigny• Martigny to Col de la Forclaz• Col de la Forclaz to Finhaut-Emosson (Tour de France 2016) NB parts of the itinerary can be done with an e-bike as requiredBuffet lunch at barrage d’EmossonCycle back to Crans MontanaOrTake Verticalp train down from Emosson and minivan transfer to Crans-MontanaAperitif & dinner with Michel Roux OBE at his restaurant Le XIX

MONDAY 18Cycle fit out and technical checks. Option for early departures as needed

OPTION 1 Road cycling • Ride to Barrage de Tzeuzier • Buffet lunch at Tzeuzier • Cycle back to CMT

OPTION 2 Play the spectacular Omega Masters • Championship Course with lunch at Le XIX by day

OPTION 3 Mountain bike 1700 metre vertical descent: take the gondola to the stunning Cry d’Er with spectacular views of the Mont Blanc chain and  cycle down to Sierre in the valley

Check out and departures

Compact OptionSATURDAY 16TH SEPTEMBERFirst Swiss flight out of LHR with a Heston BreakfastArrive in Crans Montana by lunch timeGet kittedJoin the group at La Colombire for an afternoon loopEvening reception and dinner at Restaurant Mont Blanc with tasting menu by Pierre Crepaud

SUNDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER programme as above

MONDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER programme as above

2 night option package  £ 3,400 sharing room/£ 3,700 single occupancy

sATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

RIDE DETAILS

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sUNDAY 17 SEPTEMBER

RIDE DETAILS

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MONDAY 18 SEPTEMBER

RIDE DETAILS

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optional activities• 18 hole Golf course, home of the Omega European

Masters Cup

• Mountain bike ride down from Crans-Montana to Sierre, from 2112 to 533m altitude

• Nature and mountain trekking

• Pedalo race on Crans-Montana lake

• Hotel SPA and pool

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£ 3,900 per person

The participation fee includes:

• Transfers from and to Geneva airport to Crans-Montana

• 3 nights accommodation and breakfast in the 5 star Crans Ambassador Hotel

• 3 exclusive gourmet dinners with fine wines

• 3 cycling lunches

• Event gifts, energy bars, supplements and water during the rides

• F & B on planned stops during the rides

• Optional use of e-bike

• Ride support with staff, vans

Flights with Swiss International AirLines at an additional cost.

Free carriage of bicycles with Swiss International AirLines

Optional bike pick-up from your door and delivery at the hotel,

with return drop off from Momentum Ski partners First Luggage

Hotel single occupancy supplement: £ 200

2 night option possible on request

COSTS

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The Crans Ambassador Luxury Sport Resort is immersed in the heart of the Swiss Alps, with a 180° view of Europe’s highest, most stunning peaks. A haven of serenity in a cosy, timeless setting.

Situated just above the centre of Montana, the combination of stone, glass and wood blend into the mountainside, offering a boutique experience with 5 star luxury along with swimming pool and SPA

YOUR HOTEL

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162 Munster Road • London SW6 6AT • 020 7371 9111 • momentumski.com

Gourmet-Cycle Crans-Montana 2017

THE MOMENTUM GOURMET CYCLE EXPERIENCE TEAM

162 Munster Road • London SW6 6AT • 020 7371 9111 • momentumski.com

Gourmet-Cycle Crans-Montana 2017