2024 Route
Our 2024 event, Val de Loire Challenge is now formally launched. The format is similar to previous Extra Mile Challenges, we cycle on three days, Friday to Sunday, 20 – 22 September 2024.
The route is for teams of Four cycling in relay. Teams choose throughout the day which member is cycling which part of the route. Total mileage over the 3 days is 500 miles.
The entry fee includes channel crossings on Eurotunnel, 4 nights bed and breakfast, dinner on Thursday and Friday plus our celebratory Gala Dinner on the Sunday evening.
Thursday 19 September
We all travel on a mid-morning Eurotunnel to France and drive to our hotel in Chartres (where we stay for 2 nights). Welcome dinner this evening in the hotel followed by general explanation of the event and safety briefing.
Friday 20 September 2024
We head west on undulating terrain for the first 40 miles before reaching the Parc Naturel Regional du Perche with today’s climbs in the next 50 miles. Much of the area in the Parc for the next 80 miles is forest. We then drop down from the north back to our hotel.
Saturday 21 September
Today is a day of chateaux and rivers. The magnificent chateaux include Chateaudun, Chaumont and the largest of all, Chambord (plus a number of others). We cross and run alongside the river Loir between miles 35 and 75 and cross the Loire at mile 112. We even found a major club petanque tournament to remind us which country we are in. With few climbs today, all teams should have plenty of time to explore the city of Orléans in the evening.
Sunday 22 September
Today is another circular route starting with a few miles alongside the river Loire and crossing it twice before heading south-east towards Sancerre. Standing atop a hill and surrounded by vineyards we choose to do a complete lap of Sancerre. This region has most of today’s climbs (and of course descents) and covers the middle third of today’s route. Much of the return to Orléans is through attractive forests.
We are still finalising plans for our Sunday Gala dinner which will be revealed in due course.
Monday 23 September
After breakfast we all return home via afternoon bookings on Eurotunnel.
Statistics and Map Links
Day 1 172.4 miles Elevation gain 8,252 ft https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46596971
Day 2 170.3 miles Elevation gain 5,970 ft https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46611760
Day 3 162.1 miles Elevation gain 7,931 ft https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46624558