The New Season at Les Gets

4 Apr 2014

Les Gets Bike Park is widely acknowledged as a top-class international mountain bike destination. Suitable for riders of all levels, it is continually being developed and improved and is a world-class playground for downhill, cross country, freestyle and freeride mountain bikers.

20 Years of Mountain Bike History

Les Gets is considered the historic birthplace of MTB - since 1992 it has been the European forerunner in developing infrastructure specifically dedicated to the sport. Les Gets has been organising world class MTB events for 20 years: Trophée de France des Jeunes Vététistes (TFJV), The 2004 World Championships and the French Championships in 2012. Today thousands of mountain bikers come to Les Gets each season to trace the tracks of champions and pay tribute to a resort that has become part of mountain bike legend!

A Rich Race History...

1992: French Cup, Downhill national circuit opening
1993: French Cup, Downhill national circuit opening
1994: Final of the French MTB Championships
1995: French Cup
1996: ICU World Cup
1997: French National Youth Mountain Bike Trophy (TNJV)
1998: ICU World Cup
1999: ICU World Cup
2000: ICU World Cup
2000: French National Youth Mountain Bike Trophy (TNJV)
2002: ICU World Cup
2004: ICU World Mountain Bike Championships
2010: French National Youth Mountain Bike Trophy (TNJV)
2011: Enduro Series
2012: French Championship

For experienced riders

Covering over 3ha and equipped with bridges, spirals, jumps, forest paths and wood modules, the Jump Park is the place of choice for thrill-seekers. They will also enjoy the downhill runs, Freeride, North Shore Zone, 4-cross and the new Pumptrack.

For those looking for wide open space

There are 80kms of marked biking trails and tracks through beautiful countryside, over alpine pastures with magnificent panoramic mountain views. Perfect with friends or family either just in Les Gets or further afield on the Pass’Portes du Soleil trails between France and Switzerland.

For children

Learning the basics of MTB in complete safety couldn’t be easier than in Les Gets with its ‘Kid Zone’, mini jump park and coaching track. The new Pumptrack in the village centre is also a great hit with young riders looking to learn and/or improve. There are also MTB schools with qualified instructors.

New MTB Tracks

The MTB highlights for summer 2014 are three newly created trails. There are various levels of difficulty:

Red Cross-Country trail: Leaving from the top of the Chavannes Express chairlift, it goes along the top of La Rosta, with magnificent views of Mont Blanc, descends via Nauchets and finishes on the Mouille Ronde forest road before returning to the village.
Blue trail at Chavannes: This trail runs along the Grand Cry Ter - ritory, is gently sloping and has some small jumps.
Freeride Module trail on Mont Chéry: Leaving from the top of the Mont Chéry bubble lift, it runs parallel to the existing Dans Le Gaz trail.

(image credit: Estelle Perdu)

Our Local Ambassadors

For many years, Les Gets has enjoyed a privileged relationship with its local ambas - sadors. Whether keeping fit in the mountain air in winter or relaxing on family holidays; whether established MTB champions or aspiring newcomers, all have left their mark on the history and development of their sport.

Julien Absalon

Since his first Junior World title in 1998, Julien Absalon has climbed to the highest echelons of world mountain biking. Today he is at the top of his sport and has won a unique selection of sporting accolades. Multiple French, European and World Champion, he has also twice been Olympic Cross Country champion. He is often in Les Gets where he enjoys relaxing on family holidays.

Cross-Country Achievements:

French Champion from 2003 to 2013.
European Champion in 2006, silver medal in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2011.
World Champion from 2004 to 2007, silver medal in 2009 and bronze in 2011.
Double Olympic Champion in 2004 and 2008.
Winner of various World Cup stages.

Loïc Bruni

At just 20 years-old, Loïc is the rising star of French Downhill MTB and is already enjoying success on the World Cup circuit. In 2013 he became a resort ambassador. The Junior World Champion title-holder is a regular on the Les Gets pistes where he comes each year to train.

Downhill Achievements:

2013 : Elites French Champion.
2012 : Junior World Champion, overall winner of the Junior World Cup.
2011 : Junior French Champion.
2010 : Under-17 French Champion.

Tahnee Seagrave, The New Recruit

Downhill Junior World MTB Champion Tahnee has signed a partnership contract with Les Gets MTB. Originally from Great Britain she now lives in the Portes du Soleil and is a regular on the Les Gets slopes where she has trained from a young age. This September she will wear Les Gets colours in the Elite World Cups and World Cham - pionships in Norway. Following their agreement with Loïc Bruni last year, Les Gets resort has reinforced its commitment to support top Downhill MTB champions.

Downhill Achievements:

2013 - Downhill MTB Junior World Champion.
2013 - Winner of the Junior Downhill MTB World Cup.
2013 - British Downhill MTB Champion.
2013 - Top 10 in the Elite World Cup Downhill MTB.
2013 - Winner of the Elite European Cup in Pila.
2012 - Downhill MTB Vice Junior World Champion.
2012 - Winner of the Junior Downhill MTB World Cup.

The Pumptrack

Located in the Place de la Mairie, in the resort centre, the Pumptrack completes the two-wheel facilities of the Les Gets Bikepark. Inspired by tracks carved out by BMX riders in the 70s and 80s, the Pumptrack is a circuit around which bikers ride without peddling. The linked bends, dips and bumps can be ridden or jumped in various combinations at a speeds of over 30km/h depending on which technique is used. Open to the general public, the Pumptrack unites all the MTB disciplines (cross-country, downhill, freeride, dirt and BMX) with no distinction for age, equipment or standard. Not only easily accessible and fun, the Pumptrack is also a dynamic area to learn and improve. It is open free of charge throughout the summer season.

The VideoPark

Riders can now make their own free personal video! Located on the Gibannaz plateau in the mini jump park at Chavannes, the ‘Video zone’ is designed to film riders free of charge as they ride the various features. You can then watch and analyse your performance on your mobile or internet and/or share it on social networks. Very cool.

Bike Park Stats in Full

80kms of marked tracks
12 Downhill tracks (DH)
1 Freeride track
6 Cross-Country tracks (XC)
1 x 3 Hectare Jump park
1 North Shore Zone
1 Mini Jump Park
1 Kid Zone
1 4-Cross track
1 ‘Coaching Track’
1 Pumptrack
1 Videopark
3 dedicated mountain bike chairlifts including the Chavannes Express chairlift, fitted with double hooks to enable 2 bikes per chair
35 staff covering the information desk, lifts and lift-pass kiosks.
8 Bike patrols ensuring the safety and upkeep of the tracks