85th International Federal Week of Cycle Tourism

20 to 28 July 2024, ROANNE
Loire, Land of Cycling

🤫 Psst: on the Roanne side, something is being prepared for this summer...

Close to Lyon, Clermont Ferrand and Saint Etienne, the promise of Belles échappées roannaise.

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Sports outing or lovers dating? No need to choose. Simply escape from everyday life!

On a mountain bike or "classic" bike, with electric assistance or not, go along the Loire with family, friends or as a couple for walks in the middle of nature.

Recharge your batteries, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the Côte Roannaise and its breathtaking views!

Every year, the International Federal Week of Cycle Tourism is organised at the end of July – beginning of August in a French department.

This year it is Roanne that hosts this beautiful event during which thousands of professional or amateur cycle tourists meet to discover our territory by bike.

An exceptional territory, between plain and mid-mountain

Located on the banks of the Loire River, in the heart of the Auvergne – Rhône – Alpes area, near Saint Etienne (42), Clermont Ferrand (63) and Lyon (69), Roanne with its marina is bordered by four departments: Allier, Puy de Dôme, Rhône & Saône and Loire.

Europe's largest annual cycling tourism gathering

In 1989, the International Federal Week of Cycle Tourism was held in Feurs.

35 years later, it returns to the Loire Department, which will host an event of such magnitude for the first time.

A moment of celebration for both amateurs and professionals.

Cycling enthusiasts can discover the small bucolic roads of this area, which is perfectly suited to road cycling.

These include:

- the "Véloire", which crosses Roanne along the Loire;

- Mountain biking - The largest mountain biking area in France with the FFC label

- Gravel with more than 1,500km of marked paths around the Roannais.

The federal village will take up residence at the Scarabée concert hall, where local producers will introduce you to local specialities.

Through this event, the region's desire is to honour the assets of the Roannais through the practice of cycling:

- Stroll through a Village of Character;

- Taste the wine of the Côte Roannaise;

- Pedal on the Véloire: follow the canal from Roanne to Digoin and admire the gentle countryside;

- Fall for a detour to Pralue and taste the Praluline;

- Enjoy a tasty meal at Maison Troisgros;

- Relax at the Lake of Villerest or enjoy the natural swimming pool of the Lake of Sapins

- Discover the secrets of Château de la Roche

More than a sporting discipline, cycling has a popular and festive dimension that will be honored, with a rich program of activities for the joy of young and old: such as Cyclodécouvertes, hiking, visits to remarkable sites.

Cycling has been part of the history and DNA of the Loire department, since the first French bicycle made on this territory. The prefecture of the Loire, the city of Saint Etienne has long been the capital of the bicycle industry.

The Federal Week in figures

• 8,000 cycle tourists expected over the week,

• 7 bike circuits with different loops to adapt the distance to each person's level;

• 8 days of fresh air and entertainment around a central theme: cycling

• 16 visits and excursions offered to discover the Roannais and the neighbouring territories

• 800 volunteers present throughout the event

The 7 cycling routes proposed

• Sunday 21 July: The Beaujolais Vert

• Monday 22 July: From the Loire to the canal

• Tuesday 23 July: Loire Gorges and Forez plain

• Wednesday 24 July: The Monts de la Madeleine

• Thursday 25 July: Festive Cycling Day

• Friday 26 July: Discovery of the Brionnais

• Saturday 27 July: Bourbonnais and Côte Roannaise

Zoom on the circuit that concerns us:

Sunday 21 July: The Beaujolais Vert

This part of the Beaujolais Vert is a territory made up of hills, meadows and a few fields in its lowest part. It is in this bucolic setting that you will find some picturesque villages steeped in history:

• Montagny,

• Coutouvre,

• Perreux,

•Lay.

All of them have kept traces of their past and are open to visitors for a historical stroll: half-timbered house in Perreux, Viaduct de la Roche, Village of Lay.

There will be something for all tastes to satisfy both sportsmen and lovers of holidays in the countryside, as well as fine gourmets

In order to support this event locally, we offer you:

- Electric charging,

- Drinking water point

- Free sanitary facilities

- Gourmet breaks (charcuterie and cheese boards, brunch) etc.

We advise you to save your efforts in order to extend your stay and also visit the historical and natural heritage of this beautiful area which is the Roannais.

"Cycling is not forgotten, neither does the Roannais "

Yves Nicolin