The legendary ski mountaineering race would not be the same without the thousands of spectators who come to cheer on the valiant roped parties between Zermatt and Verbier. But how does one experience the race up close and literally hear its pulse beat?

General information

Spectators will be able to follow the PdG commander’s ceremony at the station’s Place de l´Église at 4.30  pm or 6 pm via a live stream. Starts will be staggered every 45 minutes from 10 pm onwards at the Place de la Gare on Tuesday April 16 (race Z1) and Friday April 19 (race Z2).

Access

We strongly recommend that you use public transport to get to Zermatt. Swiss Railways timetables can be consulted here.

If you’re coming by car, you’ll need to park your vehicle in Täsch, then take the Täsch-Zermatt rail shuttle. Timetables and information here.

General information

The public is expected in Arolla for the start of the A1 (Wednesday 17 April) and A2 (Saturday 20 April) races from 3:30 am. Patrol replenishment teams coming from Zermatt can also get to Arolla, where a special area has been set aside for them.

Parking spaces are available at Evolène and Les Haudères. Please follow directions given by the people in charge there. The shuttles start on race nights at 9 pm and finish the following day at 7.30 am.

We recommend that you take public transport, including the bus from Sion from 7 am. Timetable available here.

Skilift opening hours

Monday 15 April:

• Fontanesses 1 open from 8 am to 9.30 am

Tuesday 16 April:

• Fontanesses 1 open from 8 am to 9.30 am

Wednesday 17 April:

• Fontanesses 1 open from midnight to 5.30 am  (or 8 am, depending on attendance)
• Yurt opens at 2 am

Thursday 18 April:

• Fontanesses 1 open from 8 am to 9.30 am

Friday 19 April:

• Fontanesses 1 open from 8 am – 9.30 am

Saturday 20 April:

• Fontanesses 1 open from midnight to 5.30 am  (or 7 am, depending on attendance)
• Yurt opens at 2 am

Verbier, the end point for the efforts of all the patrols who cross the finish line after kilometres of effort and mountains of difference in altitude. The public can celebrate with them all day long on Wednesday 17 April and Saturday 20 April, starting at 7 am.

Acces

Preferably by train to Le Châble, then by cable car.

The timetable for the Le Châble-Verbier link has been extended from 5.15 am to 11.50 pm, Monday to Sunday. Half-fare or general season tickets will be valid on this section.

SBB timetables can be consulted here.

The “Verbier Express” will also be running on Saturday 20 April and Sunday 21 April, enabling visitors to make the journey from Geneva to Le Châble without changing trains. More information.

By car: all visitors must park at the Le Châble ski lift car park and take the Châble-Verbier gondola up to the resort.

Road access to Verbier is severely restricted on race days.

PdG Village program and events

A number of events are planned in Verbier, find out more here.

Along the route, there are several points of passage open to the public, who can accompany the competitors in their pensum and cheer them on.

The legendary Col de la Rosablanche, to the summit of which the patrollers ascend via a demanding portage route that puts their bodies to the test.

• From Siviez, plan on a five-hour approach on cross-country skis.
• Overnighting at the Saint-Laurent hut (Ski club Arpettaz) is an option. Allow two hours to reach the hut and a further two hours the following day to climb to the pass.
• From Verbier, allow around five hours for the approach on backcountry skis.
• From the Col des Gentianes, take the Tortin-Gentianes gondola and a three-hour back country trip will take you to your destination.

At the bottom of the Col de la Chaux: encouragement is well received at the foot of the course’s final tribulation. It’s time for the final push, and energy gels will probably not be enough!

• The area can be reached in 1 h from the Col des Gentiane (average time for back country skiing)
• 2 h from Verbier (average time for back country skiing)
• 1 h from Les Ruinettes.

Arolla: to immerse yourself in the “heart of the race”. That’s where the pulse often beats fastest.

To experience the race live, nothing could be simpler. Download the PDG app, which will give you all the live directions and allow you to follow all the competitors.