Gravel Fever Festival

If you haven’t caught the Gravel fever, you’re about to catch it! 🤒

In September, head to Châtellerault, in the heart of the Vienne region in Nouvelle-Aquitaine for Gravel Fever Festival: 3 days of celebration, cycling and sharing around the Gravel 🚲. Whether you’re a chrono maniac or a hiking Gravel lover, this event is tailor-made for you! 🫵 Plus, here’s a little secret we’ve been told. And since we’re friendly at Finishers, we’ll reveal it 🤫: Gravel Fever Festival is hosting the very first French Gravel Championships ! 🇫🇷 To understand what’s in store and to get the full edition details, this is the place 😇. Heads up, it’s going to be off the rails 💨.

First things first: let’s set the basics: the Gravel, what is it? Translating “gravel bike” is “gravel bike.” In short, it’s a discipline that sits midway between road cycling 🚴 and mountain biking 🚵. It lets you ride on versatile terrain with responsiveness and energy 💥. Okay, you’re up to speed 😎. And it’s go time for 3 days of sport-filled festival around this rising discipline 📈. This event will immerse you in wooded paths 🌳, fields and farm lands 🌾 of Châtellerault. Whether you’re a high-level rider, a Gravel hiking enthusiast, or just curious, you’re in the right place! 🤗

Let’s start with the main event: the very first French Gravel Championships 🇫🇷. If you’re an FFC license holder with a competition license, you can aim for the title of French champion in your category across the50, 80, 120 or 150 km 🥵. If you don’t have that famous license, no problem! You can still start these events and be classified without podium eligibility 🏆. Otherwise, you can opt for the non‑timed hiking routes non chronométrés, open to all, with no pressure 🧘. In total, 6 routes ranging from 50 to 500 km. Yes, you read that right: 500 km for the boldest, to be tackled independently with a GPS tracking system. You start from Meudon, near Paris, and you reach Châtellerault purely by pedal power 🦵. For this distance, you can choose from three race durations: finish before 24, 36 or 48 hours and be a finisher 💪. And spoiler: even if you finish after 48 hours, there will be volunteers to clap and welcome you 👏. Other formats (200, 150, 120, 80 and 50 km) are non‑timed, cycling Gravel, MTB, Gravel and MTB tandem, and even cyclocross. If you want to discover this discipline as a family-friendly hike, we suggest the format Gravel Fever Free of 25 km : it’s free, lively and open to all 🫶. Agreed, these are serious distances, but don’t panic! Here, we ride at the pace of your desires (" chacun fait fait fait, qu’il lui plaît plaît plaît 🎶") no one will mind if you take your time ⏱️. Gravel Fever Festival, it’s also a unique vibe 🎉. For three days, cycling blends with the celebration: animations, food trucks, music, expos, brand booths… The site lives to the rhythm of the finish line, the encouraging crowd, and the buzz of passionate fans 😍.

And after the effort? First, rest, then enjoy 🤪. Just a stone’s throw away, you’ll find a local heritage rich with stories. Explore the streets filled with the history of Châtellerault, its bridges, its old buildings, and the famous Châtellerault’s history, its bridges, its historic buildings and the legendary Manufacture d’Armes. We strongly recommend a stop at the iconic La Mélusine chocolate shop 🍫. If you crave nature, stroll through the forests of Châtellerault or along the Vienne. You can also unwind at the La Roche-Posay thermal baths to pamper your tired legs and optimize recovery🧖. On the gastronomy side, the region is full of specialties: Broyé du Poitou, farci poitevin, Chabichou du Poitou…🧀 Perfect to refuel energy and emotions after giving so much on the bike 🔋.

Even from afar, you can feel the heat—did you perhaps catch the Gravel Fever by any chance? 🔥