Gorges de l’Ardèche XCO Stadium

Centre disciplines

Cycling mountain bike

Description

The XCO mountain bike trail in the Gorges de l’Ardèche is Olympic standard. It is surrounded by nature, on a slope in the heart of an oak forest, overlooking the Ardèche river. Course: a loop of about 3.9 km. Elevation: 280 m Red and black trails between 4 and 5 km. It is a technical and demanding course with steep slopes, raised bends, rocky areas, steps, artificial obstacles, jumps, climbs and double-track passages. Featuring several types of obstacles and courses: pumpline, rock garden, wooden bridges and rocky areas, coatings, jumps and more. The stadium opens in spring 2022. Location: Southern Ardèche in the towns of Salavas and Vallon-Pont-d'Arc with a population of 3,000. - Vallon - bus station (buses from Valencia, Avignon, Montélimar) - 1 hour from Montélimar (train station) - 1 hour 20 min from Avignon (TGV station) - 1 hour 45 min from Montpellier (TGV station & airport) - 2 hours from Marseille (TGV station & airport) Southern Ardèche has a preserved natural environment with Mediterranean influences. With rugged landscapes, canyons and valleys, it is an exceptional playground for outdoor sports: mountain biking with many trails, canoeing, climbing, caving, trail running and more. With a mild climate and a wide range of activities, it is ideal for training in winter. South-Ardèche is also home to many remarkable listed sites: Pont d’Arc, Gorges d’Ardèche, Grotte Chauvet listed by UNESCO as World Heritage, the Grand Site de France de l’Aven d’Orgnac, amongst others.

Special features

The XCO Mountain Bike Stadium is located 50m from the departmental base, public accommodation perfectly suited to groups: Seats 150 with a dining room of 110 m² and two 55m² classrooms. Full renovations planned. Reopens autumn 2022.

Just 2 km from the CREPS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes de Vallon specialised in coaching athletes with high-quality facilities for outdoor sports training: 40 bedrooms sleeping 1 to 3 people, a restaurant, a gym, a mountain bike course, a climbing room, a caving portico, and more.
www.creps-rhonealpes.sports.gouv.fr/le-creps

On site : Depart for the famous descent of the Gorges d’Ardèche by canoe.

Within 3 km
– a range of accommodation including campsites with mobile homes, self-catering accommodation for groups, hotels, etc.
– restaurants, all necessary shops, etc.
For more information: www.pontdarc-ardeche.fr

Known for

The CREPS de Vallon regularly hosts national teams. The French teams for canoe-kayak (sprint, marathon, descent), Nordic combined, Alpine and Nordic skiing, cycling and the French ice hockey and Futsal teams have stayed at the CREPS in the last 5 years.
The young French triathlon teams stayed at the departmental base in 2019.

Competitions:
– International Marathon of the Ardèche Gorges (a canoe-kayak event organised at the beginning of November for 35 years with nearly 2,000 participants from around 20 countries)
– Triathlon of the Ardèche Gorges every summer for 10 years. Long-distance French Championship in 2018.

Benoit Peschier, 2004 Olympic champion of canoe slalom in Athens and currently coach of the French team, is from Vallon.

Optional extras

Meeting room Internet access Ice bath Equipment available for private use Infirmery Relaxation room Physiotherapy room Weights room Film screening room Sauna Vehicle hire service On-site accomodation