The first edition of our "Heroes of the Puya" race took place on Friday, September 23rd. A short and intense format for a successful debut, a look back at this unique evening.

First, a little background on the format and its origin.

Matchy is a brand that has broken new ground since its creation in 2016. One of the first brands in the cycling world to offer such a wide range of products for both men and women, to work with recycled materials, and to offer clean, timeless designs. Beyond the brand itself, we aspire to be true players in the cycling industry. That's why we created La Brigade five years ago and more recently opened our clubhouse, a hub for cyclists. Héros de la Puya follows in this tradition, aiming to shake up the cycling scene and energize the Annecy cycling community. It's a short, explosive format, with the climb only 500 meters long, featuring gradients that repeatedly approach 20%. But it's also fun, as the individual time trial allowed riders to qualify for the next round. Each rider had at least two runs, either in the final or the consolation round! And up to four runs for the finalists.

The race

Few had been able to familiarize themselves with the course before registering. The warm-up was brutal for them! For the others, it was a chance to get acquainted with the climb, its length, its turns, the restarts, and the steepest sections. At the end After each of the 36 registered runners had completed their rounds, a ranking was established, allowing the final stage brackets to be determined. The four-rider starts were the highlight of the evening, with two runners eliminated on each lap. It was a fun, strategic, but above all, challenging moment, requiring a constant barrage of effort. As night fell, the field narrowed among the favorites, and unsurprisingly, the fastest qualifying times were at the front. Among the four finalists were the three fastest qualifiers. But the final climb was far from easy, and the top three remained a battleground right up to the final straight. The same applies to the consolation round, which allowed the second half of the standings to compete in such a thrilling final!

Although it was the first edition, the atmosphere was also excellent. The start was lively, thanks to the entertainment provided by our announcer and the refreshment stand set up for the occasion. Along the climb, and especially in the two 20% gradient corners, there were photographers, spectators, and even smoke bombs, creating an incredible atmosphere and unforgettable memories!

Thanks to the entire Matchy Racing Team, without whom this event wouldn't have been possible. Registrations, refreshments, signage, announcer – thank you all!

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Oakley for providing additional prizes which were greatly appreciated by the winners!

Find all your photos here
Don't forget to tag @augustedvr the photographer and @matchy.cycling organizer.

Well done to all the participants!
Thank you all and see you next year in even greater numbers!

The MATCHY team