Step out from the Pic Blanc cable car above Alpe d’Huez and the giant peaks of the Alps greet you. Standing at 3,300m, the view takes in the majestic La Meije, the Ecrins National Park and, in the far distance, Mont Blanc, no doubt slumbering beneath a beret of cloud.

But focus on the immediate view and Sarenne, the world’s longest black run, winds down beneath you, all 16 km of it. It’s waiting to be carved up and explored, through a remote glacial valley far, far away from the masses cruising the rest of Alpe d’Huez.

While it is a run of two halves, strong intermediates shouldn’t have any difficulty on it. The top half is narrow and challenging with stunning views and the bottom shallows out and meanders through the Gorges de Sarenne. Tackle it just before lunchtime and you’ll have worked up enough of an appetite to enjoy a tasty tartiflette on the terrace of the Auberge de la Combe Haute. At the end of the run, it’s the perfect spot to toast your achievement.