A spot for all levels
What makes the Stade VTT XCO de Haute Maurienne Vanoise so original? Nothing is set in stone, and it's easy to switch from one course to another to multiply the variations and pleasures. And there's something for everyone: green, blue, red, black... a dozen kilometers of trails carefully integrated into the natural environment. The stage is set, and it's off!
From the village of Bessans, follow the river to the MTB Stadium. A few modules along the riverbank are ideal for warming up. You then take the "chemin du petit bonheur" before arriving at the MTB Stadium with its first 2 km green trail. Carefully surfaced to make riding easier, it blends into the landscape, with small cairns and pretty footbridges to preserve the wetlands, and nice passages between the larches. A quiet place to introduce children and take selfies. But... that's not quite what we're here for, and we're moving on to the next level. On the blues, we're already starting to get into the swing of things, with a nice sequence of banked turns, hoops, tables and a steepening slope.
Adrenalin on the rise
Ready for the reds? We attack the hard stuff: no more gravel but rough, dirt, rocks, roots... the technical demands climb along with the adrenalin and the length of the jumps. We're hot, we're on the blacks.
And there you have it... a lot of fun, a lot of riding and a lot of thrills. The "Charbon Hell" wallride, with its tight turn over an upright boulder, is a real highlight!Between all the trails, there are connecting paths that allow you to create your own route, with numerous options and ride variants to offer different passages every time.
To recover, we end the day at the Bessans lakes, two pedal strokes away. A break on the grass and a couple of swims to relax before returning to the village.
All in all, a wonderful discovery in an area that until now was best known for its cross-country ski trails and biathlon stadium in winter. A spot designed for everyone and perfectly integrated into nature. It was designed by Bike Solutions (Grenoble) at the request of the local authority, and created in the field by Louis and Romain, two enduro mountain bike enthusiasts ranked among the world's top 15.
A mountain bike area certified "Stade XCO" by the French Cycling Federation since August 2025
What is the "XCO" mountain bike?
Olympic Cross CountryXCO mountain biking (Olympic Cross-Country) is a discipline of mountain biking practiced on a natural, technical circuit, alternating climbs, descents and obstacle crossings. The Haute Maurienne Vanoise is the perfect playground for cross-country, with its pedal-powered climbs and natural downhill trails over dirt, roots and rocks...
In competition, riders complete several laps of a demanding course, combining endurance, bike control and speed. XC" can also be practiced in "long-distance" mode, with a single loop (rather than several laps on a short circuit, as in the Olympic Games): this is the case every summer on the TransMaurienne Vanoise mountain bike race course, between Aussois and Val Cenis.
Eco-friendly design
The Stade VTT XCO Haute Maurienne Vanoise was created in 2020. Right from the design stage, nothing was left to chance to reduce the impact on local flora and fauna.
© Alban Pernet
Every stone moved during the layout of the courses was reused. No concrete was used, and the twelve modules were made from local larch wood.
A mountain bike stadium ("stadium" in the sense of integrated courses: there are no bleachers, refreshment stands or ticket booths here!) quite unique in France, certified by the French Cycling Federation in August 2025, and designed for everyone. It's designed to cater for everyone, including eco-sports enthusiasts of all levels!
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