Gravel Fever Festival

Medium
Date
2026-10-23
Location
Grand Châtellerault, Vienne, France
Distances
50–500 km
Elevation
335 m
Distance Options
50 km • 50 km (French champs course)
80 km • 80 km (French champs course)
120 km • 120 km (French champs course)
150 km • 150 km (French champs course)
200 km • 200 km rando
500 km • 500 km ultra, Meudon to Châtellerault
Category
Gravel
Region
Europe
Organizer
Gravel Fever
Terrain
Gravel
About

Gravel race in the Poitou region. Source: gravelgodcycling.com 2026 calendar (mid-month approximation).

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$https://gravelradar.app/races/france/gravel-fever-chatellerault
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▌ RIDER INTEL DOSSIER
65
GR SCORE
/ 100
TIER 3
~/dossier/gravel-fever-festival $ cat briefing.md

▌ Gravel race in the Poitou region

Europe gravel event organized by Gravel Fever

EFFORT25/50
EXPER.44/70
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12 SCORING DIMENSIONS

GRAVEL FEVER FESTIVAL
LENGTH10/10CLIMBING2/10DURABILITY7/10TECHNICALITY2/10RACE PRESSURE4/10ADVENTURE7/10SCENERY6/10ORGANIZATION7/10VALUE8/10COMMUNITY7/10ACCESSIBILITY4/10FIELD DEPTH5/10
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EFFORT MATRIX

LENGTH10/10
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500 km — ultra-distance commitment
CLIMBING02/10
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335 m total — 1 m/km
DURABILITY07/10
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Plan for 23+ hours in the saddle
TECHNICALITY02/10
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Gravel
RACE PRESSURE04/10
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Standard race-day intensity
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EXPERIENCE MATRIX

ADVENTURE07/10
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Long-distance day = real adventure
SCENERY06/10
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Gravel
ORGANIZATION07/10
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Community-sourced details
VALUE08/10
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Reasonable cost-per-km
COMMUNITY07/10
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Grassroots gravel scene around the event
ACCESSIBILITY04/10
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Reasonable to enter
FIELD DEPTH05/10
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Mixed field — pros + adventure riders
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GREEN FLAGS

  • [+]500 km of medium gravel through Grand Châtellerault, Vienne
  • [+]Organized by Gravel Fever
  • [+]Varied terrain: Gravel
  • [+]European gravel-festival culture (post-ride food / beer scene)
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RED FLAGS

  • [!]Ultra distance — needs serious training base
  • [!]Details not yet verified — confirm via official site
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RIDER FIT

Endurance MulePRIME · 8/10

Built for hours in the saddle — your distance

ClimberAVOID · 2/10

Limited use for pure climbers

Adventure TouristPRIME · 9/10

Ultra format = guided adventure with timing chips

BikepackerPRIME · 9/10

Self-supported format suits bikepacking instincts

SpeedsterPRIME · 8/10

Smoother surfaces let raw speed talk

Crit RacerAVOID · 2/10

Single-day pace suits crit-style riders less here

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⚡ SIGNATURE CHALLENGE
A long day decided in the final third

Distance like this rewards patience. The riders who win the last 30% are the ones who saved matches in the first 60%.

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TIRE INTEL

WIDTH
38-42 mm
PRESSURE
28-34 psi
PATTERN
Semi-slick centre w/ light side knobs

Mixed gravel with no extreme demands — go for rolling speed.

▶ TOP PICKS
1.Continental Terra Trail[38mm]— Durable casing, balanced grip
2.Schwalbe G-One Bite[38mm]— Excellent loose-surface bite
3.Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H[38mm]— Hard-pack speed
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WEATHER PLAYBOOK

Grand Châtellerault, Vienne in autumn (October): expect mild conditions — pack for variable weather. Always check 7-day forecast race week and pack a packable shell.

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PACING PLAYBOOK

01
Sector 1 — Opening Effort~125 km

Sit in. Let the start sort itself out. Pace by feel, not by rivals.

02
Sector 2 — Mid-Race Crux~300 km

Where the field shatters. Stick to your power numbers, not the surge.

03
Sector 3 — The Finishing Stretch500 km

Save one match. The last 20% is where placement is decided.

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WHAT TO FEAR

  • [!01]Mental low point on the long, lonely middle section
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INSIDER INTEL

▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

“European gravel has a different rhythm — the long lunch stops, the espresso at km 60, the post-race beer that lasts hours. Gravel Fever Festival captures that perfectly.”

— Regional cycling forum · Europe gravel scene
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RACE LOGISTICS

▌ AID STATIONSStandard food + drink refuel points.

Standard aid stations every 30-50 km with food, water, and basic mechanical help.

▶ FEED ZONES · 6 AID STATIONS
Aid 1~71 km
waterfood
Aid 2~143 km
waterfood
Aid 3~214 km
waterfood
Aid 4~286 km
waterfood
Aid 5~357 km
waterfood
Aid 6~429 km
waterfood
✓ INCLUDED WITH ENTRY
  • +Timing chip + bib
  • +Course markings + GPX
  • +Aid station nutrition + water
✕ BRING YOUR OWN
  • -Spare tubes / tubeless plugs
  • -Lodging
  • -Drop bag transport (unless specified)
MECHANICS
At Aid
MEDICAL
At Aid
DROP BAGS
Yes
BAG TRANSPORT
Yes
▶ ACCOMMODATION · 3 OPTIONS
Hotels in Grand Châtellerault
⌖ 0-10 km from start

Book 6+ months ahead for big events. Check the race partner-hotel list for discounts.

Airbnb / Vrbo
⌖ Varies

Often the best value for groups. Search the wider race region, not just the start town.

Camping
⌖ Often at venue

Many gravel events offer on-site camping for a small fee. Check race FAQ.

▶ GOOD TO KNOW
  • ▸Carry at least one tube + plug kit even with tubeless. Mechanical bad luck is the #1 DNF cause.
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TRAVEL OPS

AIRPORTCDG / ORY for Paris-region; LYS / NCE / TLS for regional
LODGINGBook early in Grand Châtellerault — gravel events fill local accommodation fast
FOODCarry your own ride nutrition. Local options usually plentiful before/after.
PACKET PICKUPDay-before-event pickup is standard. Confirm via official site.
PARKINGEvent parking varies — check race FAQ
▌ BOTTOM LINE

Gravel Fever Festival is a quality europe event — great if you're nearby or want to explore the region.