In march 2011, three members of the LGO staff travelled north to visit the Finnmarkslopet, 300 kilometers above the arctic circle and meet the organisers. The Arctic Alps Cup was born at that time. That cup will award the musher and his dogs who would have performed the best on both races.

Representants of both races under the start arch.

The collaboration between the Finnmarkslopet and La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc has strengthened since. Per Aronsen, Finnmarkslopet's chairman, expressed his desire to have a look at LGO and 6 persons arrived from Norway on thursday. Among them were a representant of Finnmarkslopet's main sponsor SPARE BANK and one representant of the first norwegian national tv channel, the NRK. Vanessa Quinche, who will be in charge of developping and professionnalising the Femundlopet from the end of the 2011 editions was also there, asking many questions and finding new ideas.

he norwegian delegation had the opportunity to watch the Challenge Megeve as well as the start and the arrival of the Megeve - Notre Dame de Bellecombe stage. Henry Kam, LGO's chairman even managed to organise for them an helicopter ride over the trail, right under the Mont Blanc. They were all smile before leaving to the airport.

Before they left, Per Aronsen told us that he was convinced that both races had a lot to learn from each other an that this team work should lead to the development of the sport, its professionalism and its visibility in the medias.