From 1st-3rd June 2018, the Alpine resort of Villard-de-Lans will play host to this great mountain biking festival for the ninth time – open to all, from amateurs to Olympic champions. The event attracted 40,000 people in 2017.
Over this long weekend, which marks the opening of the mountain bike season, the resort will put on a wealth of related events. This largest outdoor bike show in France allows visitors to test the latest models and equipment, marketed by as many as 300 brands.
Among the highlights are the 12 races and hikes, for which 8,000 enthusiasts will bring their own mountain bike to take part. The Vélo Vert Festival is also a great opportunity to see and speak to champions of the discipline, such as Julien Absalon, double Olympic champion and five-time cross-country mountain bike champion.
Exploring the slopes of the Vercors
The 2018 festival boasts some new features: the Graveleuse Marin, an 80-kilometre course on the beautiful Vercors slopes, open to bikes with studded tyres; and the Véloctambule, a family-friendly night cycling tour of 10km. During the day, Family Challenges will also be reserved for children from 4 to 10 years old.
The Vélo Vert Festival is also a great excuse to party with a varied programme of shows and concerts making the most of Villard-de-Lans, a resort that’s made mountain-biking one of its summer specialities since it hosted the first World Championships in 1987.