Route Recce 2008 Massif Challenge

The recce team has finalised our 2008 route. Here's their report.

Recce team reports fantastic route and no hills…
..well not quite “no” hills!

Over a long weekend of 17-21 April two intrepid recce teams headed for the Puy de Dôme by a somewhat tortuous route through the French countryside. Rob Oakley and Preston Ayres drove the entire route logging every important junction of the 500 miles whilst Martin and Mary Banham-Hall confirmed arrangements for hotels, meals and most importantly, the last night gala dinner and celebrations at the Palais des Congrès, Vichy. We all sampled some French cuisine and wine – but only a little!

This year’s route is exactly 500 miles. It is interesting and beautiful but does omit two features from last year. The first six miles this year are not entirely uphill and the particularly-challenging day two from last year is not repeated in kind (or should it have been called unkind)! Having said that, this route is a balanced challenge with something for every level of ability and we encourage, indeed almost insist, that everyone commence training by mid-summer at the latest, in order to prepare properly for the event.

Day 1 Lens to Fontainebleau

At 186 miles this is the longest day. Our route is predominantly through sweeping French farmland, past countless war memorials and cemeteries and through several forests. The day is best described as undulating interspersed with a few steeper climbs.


We saw dozens of tractors, some of which might have been just about post war!








The Belvedere area around the 38-mile mark is especially attractive and at 92 miles we pass the fantastic chateau at Pierrefonds. The best views await you at the finish at Fontainebleau. We have found a route into the centre of town using rural rather than urban roads and we will finish the day’s cycling right outside the breathtaking Chateau. After this, by vehicle to the Novotel where we are all staying and dining at the same hotel.




Day 2 Fontainebleau to Bourges

The first two-thirds of day 2 mainly pass through forests and wooded areas and in general the roads are rather more undulating than day 1. At about 67 miles we cross the dam and cycle alongside the Reservoir at Bourbon.







At about 120 miles we enter Pouilly and cross the Loire. The next 15 miles are through stunning countryside – vineyards as far as you can see, hills to climb (occasionally they are downhill) and all the while Sancerre atop its own hill dominates the horizon. The last 30 miles of this 168-mile day are friendlier as we sweep to the finish on the outskirts of Bourges.




Day 3 Bourges to Puy de Dôme

At 148 miles this is the shortest day, but not the easiest. You should make good progress over the first 60 miles (which includes 15 miles in the Cher valley). We then reach Boussay where the road climbs gently for 6 miles to an altitude of 550 metres (but it is followed by 2 miles downhill). We had a major reroute here, our original roads being just too narrow and we thought a little dangerous, but we have still taken you close to Touix-Ste Croix. We are just 50 miles west of Vichy but our focus is to head south towards the Massif region and the strangely-formed volcanic hills (Puys). At 112 miles there is a 3-mile descent from St Priest-des-Champs to cross the dam over the Sioule. High above is the single track railway across the Viaduc des Fades yet in just one mile there is a level crossing and rest assured it is not the railway that has come down to us! We are now up to 600 metres but 25 miles further on at the top of the Col de Ceyssat you have risen to 1,100 metres. Fortunately you are now just a downhill run from the foot of the Puy de Dôme and the formal finish to the Challenge.

However we strongly recommend you to go – by whatever means – to the top of the Puy de Dôme (1,415 metres). From the finish car park to the top is a 4km (2½ mile) continuous 1 in 8 climb. Cyclists are normally only allowed up at a few specific times (eg 9am on a Sunday morning). We are in negotiation with the regional Conseil Général for a short closure to cars for late afternoon so that those who wish to make the ascent by bike may do so. However this is by no means compulsory and even if you cannot (or choose not to) cycle, it is definitely worth the drive up for the truly magnificent, 360-degree world-class views.

There is a 50-mile drive up to Vichy but you will soon realise why our celebrations are there. Vichy itself is an old spa town with a vast central colonnaded square where the gentry who came to take the waters could perambulate in the shade. At one end of the square, very near our hotels, is a conservatory-style building where you can sample the waters from the many different Vichy springs with their different mineral content and temperatures. At the other end is the magnificent Palais des Congrès where we will have our gala dinner.

The Palais complex includes the impressive Opera House, whose auditorium is modelled on the sumptuous Opera Garnier in Paris. It is within easy walking distance of our hotels, so no-one need drive that evening.





The picture shows the reception hall where you can enjoy a drink before moving through to the equally-elegant dining room with its glass-domed ceiling, where will be treated to a gourmet dinner with wine, and we are hoping to arrange some entertainment.






We look forward to seeing you in September if not before.


Martin Banham-Hall, Preston Ayres and Rob Oakley