“We will do with what we have! »

International sled dog race bringing together the crème de la crème of mushers – including two Frenchmen, reigning champions, Rémy Coste and Aurélie Delattre – the Grande Odyssée VVF has to deal with poor snow cover for its 19th edition. But, explains its president, Annabel Kam, the 65 participants from all over Europe and their 600 dogs will take the start this weekend of January 7 and 8 in Megève, Haute Savoie. With some adaptations to the course, of course, but without the use of artificial snow! Interviewed on Tuesday, four days before the start of the Grande Odyssée VVF, the annual sled dog event in Europe, Annabel Kam, president of the event, wants to be confident. Despite the low snowfall affecting part of the route, the long-distance race will start on January 7 from Mégève to Villars de Lans on January 19. Run over 13 days and 11 stages, 400 km and 12,000 m of elevation gain await top-level mushers. On their way, they will cross around twenty ski resorts. A well-established event today but for its 19th edition it has to face a severe lack of snow, like other events, such as the Biathlon World Championship organized from December 12 to 18, at the Grand Bornand (1000 m altitude). From there to think of resorting to the same methods, snowfarming with transport of snow in trucks and artificial snow? “Not at all”, explains Annabel Kam, “we are very clear on this point, we will do with what we have! “. A commitment not so frequent today and all the more commendable as for the first time since its creation in 2005, La Grande Odyssée VVF, traditionally organized in Savoie and Haute-Savoie must also pass through Isère this year, at Col de Porte and Villard-de-Lans during the last two stages, the 18…