Race details

Guillestre – Chorges –Gap – Curbans – St-Genis – Sisteron

After five years passed striding over Pyrenees, Massif Central and Corsica, Raid Centrale Paris is back to the lands of its birth: the Alps. The race will start in Guillestre, in the heart of the Hautes-Alpes.

Day 1 : Guillestre – Chorges

It’s at the foot of the majestic citadel of Mont-Dauphin where the 2012 edition begins. Competitors will start with some kilometres of trail, before boarding their rafts to face the rapids of the Durance River until the town of Embrun. After crossing Embrun, they will climb the slopes of Mont Guillaume in mountain bike and be able to admire the magnificent panorama of the Lake of Serre-Ponçon. The last difficulty of the journey will be the ascent to Réallon station, but once there, the contenders will enjoy a sumptuous downhill leading them to St-Michel Bay, the end of this first day of race. With more than 60 km of length and some 1960 m of ascent, being fit from the first day will be required!

Day 2 : Chorges – Gap

The beginning of this second day will be the occasion for competitors to have a last glimpse of the Lake of Serre-Ponçon and its deeply blue waters, as they move towards Gap by MTB. The end of this stage will be marked out by the transposition of the Pass of Bayard: 7,5% of slope over 7,2 km.

Nevertheless, competitors will have to keep their forces in order to shine at the biathlon, which closes this second journey. Covering around 30 km only, this transition between high and medium mountains should allow competitors to recover their energies and admire the outstanding landscapes presented by the Hautes-Alpes.

Day 3 : Gap – Curbans

The race will start with orienteering across the superb domain of Charance, located on the balconies of Gap. Competitors will then see the mythical mountain of Céuse, known all over the world for its imposing cliffs, to where they will head for climbing at Ceusette site. Taking the Perched Villages Route, the contenders will begin their descent to the Durance Valley and its multiple orchards. The arrival will be Curbans, after 45 km of itinerary and 1500 m of ascent.

Day 4 : Curbans – St-Genis

This fourth day of race promises to be one of the most trying. 13 km will let competitors reach the foot of the first obstacle of the journey: the ascent of Peyssier Mountain in MTB. They will then take the course of St-Genis Mountain, getting to the pond of Riou, where a “fun-activity” without precedents waits for them.

Caught between Durance and Buech valleys, this fourth journey itinerary shall reveal landscapes of great beauty.

Day 5 : St-Genis – Sisteron

Traditionally, a really early start waits for the contenders, as it will take place under the light of their headlamps. They will advance towards the mountain of Charbre, the only difficulty of the journey, but a considerable one as the teams will have to swallow 800 m of ascent in mere 7 km. Just arrived on the top, a steep descent will take them to the canyons of Méouge where they will discover an impressive nature, then to the Roman Bridge. They’ll have to keep moving southwards, to Sisteron, where they will discover the exceptional cultural heritage of the city by orienteering.

It shall be here, by the Durance River, between the La Baume Rock and Sisteron citadel where Raid Centrale Paris 2012 edition will come to the end.

The Raid waits for you :

With more than 230 km of itineraries and 8500 m of ascent, Raid Centrale Paris 2012 edition offers you a real sportive challenge, during which you will discover along the course a sunny region with incredible natural and historical heritage.

All the organizing team look forward to seeing you on the 22^th of April 2012 !