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The French Alps have some of the best spots for mountain biking anywhere in Europe. The combination of easy and challenging trails means that the area has something to offer for both beginners and experienced riders. In addition to the trails, there is stunning scenery to be enjoyed while riding, making this an ideal place for mountain biking.
Popular areas
A very popular area for mountain biking is Morzine. Located in Haute-Savoie, this area has stunning panoramic views and is considered by some to be the best area for mountain biking in the world. The resort of Les Gets is situated in this area, which hosts several mountain biking events. Morzine is one of the largest biking areas in Europe, with approximately 1000km of trails.
The area of Chamonix is also popular with mountain bikers. There are biking trails which are suitable for all abilities, as well as a downhill run which is exclusively for bikers. There are approximately 20 trails in this area, which pass through villages such as Chamonix Mont-Blanc and Vallorcine. There are lifts and shuttle buses available here, so the trails can be easily accessed.
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A relatively undiscovered area for mountain biking is Les Carroz. This location is part of the Grand Massif area, which is a large ski resort. The trails in Les Carroz cover more than 600km in total, with beautiful alpine scenery. This area may be less crowded than the more well known biking destinations, but it is only a short distance from Morzine and Chamonix. For a challenging ride, there is route from Les Carroz to Chamonix, which normally takes 8 days to complete.
Events
Mountain biking events that are held at Les Gets include the Big Mountain Battle. This is a team event which is open to all abilities, with the choice of taking the easy course or the advanced course. Les Gets also hosts La pass’portes du Soleil VTT (vélo tout-terrain), which is a mountain biking trek completed over one day. Further information on the mountain biking events can be found at www.lesgets.com, the official website for the Les Gets resort.
There is an annual VTT event hosted in Les Carroz, usually in July or August. This is a competitive biking event that often attracts more than 2000 riders. The website www.lescarroz.com has further information on the event and how to register.
Chatel, which is located in the Haute-Savoie area, has held biking events such as the downhill European cup and the Chatel Mountain Style contest. The Mountain Style event is currently being developed with a possible change of format being considered. Updates can be found at chatelmountainstyle.com, the official website for the event.
The trails
The French Alps are considered to be one of the best areas in the world for mountain biking. New mountain biking routes are being opened each year, due to the increasing popularity of the sport. The lift systems allow bikers to explore a variety of different terrains, with a mixture of downhill and cross country trails. The marked trails are also colour graded according to difficulty.
It is possible to explore the backcountry trails with an experienced guide. This option may be an ideal solution for those who want to explore the trails that are less well known. For those who wish to explore alone, maps and route cards are available.
The vast choice of trails in the French Alps means that there is something to suit all experience levels and abilities.
John is a feature writer working in France.
3 comments
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Author
Thanks for the comment Ultravelo. I believe you meant to say Trailsnet.com, and on your website, that is what it says.
Oh Kevin. it is so great to be reading your posts again, after so long (my fault). This post is awesome and will be shared. Thanks my friend.
Author
It’s fantastic to hear from you again, Barry. It’s always great to get your comments on Trailsnet. Sorry for the mix-up in the switch from regular WP comments to the new Jet-Pack version. I shouldn’t have assumed the switch would be automatic. It actually turned out to be a bit of a pain, but it’s all good now.
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