The Swiss watchmaking house Hublot is particularly proud and delighted to renew its partnership with La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc by becoming the Official Timekeeper of the 2016 edition of this famous international sled dog race as well as by introducing an exclusive watch dedicated to the event!

Not only is La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc a mythical and specialised dog sled race, considered the most difficult in the world due to the topography of the mountains it crosses, but it is also an extraordinary human adventure through vast wild spaces. While Hublot is renowned for the art of fusion, success in this race depends on fusion between man and nature, whereby the skill of the former is able to cope with the unpredictability of the latter.

From 9 to 20 January 2016, La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc—one of the last remaining playgrounds for those ‘sailing the White Seas’ in search of the absolute—will cross several resorts in Savoie, France. 10 stages over 1,000 kilometres of unrelenting effort. 30,000 metres of positive altitude change. 9 musher nations represented. 400 high-performance dogs on the starting line. The combination of all these elements promises an extraordinary spectacle, one that is equally appreciated by athletes, fans of large open spaces and families.

It was thus perfectly natural for Hublot to decide to partner and support this sled dog race and, for this 12^th edition, to launch its “La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc” Classic Fusion model. Recognised in Switzerland and generally all over the world as a watchmaker that is deeply attached to Swiss values, traditions and quality, Hublot has decided to defend and promote traditional values that include, of course, a devotion to the mountains, the harmony between man and nature, the authenticity of effort, team spirit and solidarity with huge respect for tradition. These notions can be found in the very aesthetics of this brand new, sleek Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph: fitted with a chronograph skeleton movement, the satin-finish polished titanium case sparkles like snow in the sunshine while recalling the purity of the large spaces covered by the mushers and their loyal fellow adventurers. While the human adventure is symbolised by the counter’s wind rose, the first tool used by navigators to find their way depending on wind direction, this limited series also pays tribute to the canine athletes through the blue of the chronograph’s second hand, a reference to the eye colour traditionally associated with them. The strap—combining white rubber and vintage brown calfskin overstitched in white—is an ode to nature. Finally, the logo of this exceptional race can be found on the sapphire back of the case of this edition limited to 100 pieces.

“Hublot? It’s a different way to get ahead," say the connoisseurs of this unique Swiss watchmaker, where each instant flows rapidly into the next. It began with a dream and was developed by Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Hublot, with Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO, who have made Hublot a veritable success story with the Big Bang, King Power, Classic Fusion and Manufacture Pieces, all emblematic of a constantly evolving tradition. From great watchmaking complications with minute repeaters and tourbillons, to the research and fabrication of new materials like Magic Gold and coloured ceramics, to world-level partnerships such as the FIFA World CupTM and Ferrari, Hublot represents “the Art of Fusion”, the fusion between watchmaking tradition and cutting-edge technological progress. Commercially, the network of boutiques and official resellers has exploded and now reached over 70 boutiques around the world.

La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc is the story of a dream. The dream of a great adventure that would cross our Alpine massifs, whereas the norm for this sport for decades had been to run across icy expanses with little relief.

This dream, born in the imaginations of Nicolas Vanier and Henry Kam, became a reality in January 2005 during the first edition of La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc.

Going beyond the sporting competition, even though snowmobiles have now replaced sled dogs in the Far North, La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc gets back in touch with adventure with a capital A while promoting a certain vision of sport, nature and respect for the environment.

Sharing the same values, the whole mountain territory between Savoie and Haute-Savoie comes together to ensure success for this extraordinary race, under the banner of “Savoie Mont Blanc” banner.