May 2013 May 26, 2013 Cycling event in the Alps VILLARD-DE-LANS, ALPS. Formerly called the Challenge du Dauphiné Libéré, the Challenge Vercors is a cyclosportive event starting and ending in Villard-de- Lans that attracts between 1000 and 1200 participants. There are three distances to choose from: a 126 km circuit comprising four passes with 2300 m of climbing, a 177 km circuit including six passes amounting to 3650m of climbing and a 42 km untimed ride with 600 m of climbing. Information and registration : 0820086332 www.sportcommunication.com May 26, 2013 From Paris to Saint-Germain PARIS. The Paris – SaintGermain-en-Laye foot race is a 20 km long competition starting from the Bois de Boulogne and finishing on the terrace of Saint-Germain-en-Laye castle. Leaving Paris to the West, the runners must ascend the Mont-Valérien, a steep hill located in Suresnes, then follow the Seine River till Saint-Germain passing by Chatou, Le Vésinet and Le Pecq. Race starts at 8am. Registration fee : €26. Information and registrations : www.parissaintgermainlacourse.com June 2013 June 02, 2013 Prix du Jockey Club CHANTILLY, NEAR PARIS. Held at the Chantilly racecourse, the Prix du Jockey Club stands out as one of the leading events of the flat racing season. The finest 3-year-old colts team up with the very best international jockeys. This “French Derby” permits thoroughbred “milers” to test themselves over 2100 m, against specialists in the Classic mile and a half distance (2400 m). This race is contested by colts from the most prestigious French and international stables. Hippodrome de Chantilly. The race meeting commences at 1.45 pm with eight races on the card. Gates open at 11.30 am. Entrance : €8 / €4. Free for under-18s. Information : 0344673737 www.prixdujockeyclub.france-galop.com June 05, 2013 June 23, 2013 U20 rugby World Championship VANNES, NANTES, LA-ROCHE-SUR-YON. Twelve men's junior national teams with an under-20 age requirement participate in the U20 rugby World Championship that is held in three venues with each hosting a pool. France, defending champions South Africa, England and USA play in La Roche-sur-Yon. 2012 runner-up New Zealand, Ireland, Australia and Fiji play in Vannes. Wales, Argentina, Scotland and Samoa play in Nantes. Knockout matches of the second round of the competition take place in the three towns as well and the final is scheduled on Sunday June 23rd in Vannes. Tickets from €7 to €45. Information : www.ffr.fr June 14, 2013 June 16, 2013 The Freedom Race CAEN AND D-DAY BEACHES. The Courants de la Liberté are organized every year to remember and honor the memory of those who lost their lives on the Normandy beaches on June 6th,1944. This event consists of several races for all staminas and abilities. It starts on Friday with a children's race that takes place around the streets of Caen. The following day sees a specialist roller-skating race, “The Freedom Rollers”, and the women-only 5 km long “Rochambelle Race” named after the female ambulance unit of the French Second Armored Division. Sunday is the most important day, with the 10 km long Freedom Race from Mathieu to the Caen Memorial, the Pegasus half marathon from Pegasus Bridge to the Caen Memorial, and the Freedom marathon. Considered as one of the top ten marathons in France, it begins in Courseulles-sur-Mer, follows the landing beaches, passes by Pegasus Bridge and finishes at the Caen Memorial. Information and registrations : www.lescourantsdelaliberte.com June 16, 2013 French Oaks CHANTILLY, NEAR PARIS. Also known as the French Oaks, the Prix de Diane is one of the world most famous flat horse races. Open to three year old thoroughbred fillies, it is run over a distance of 2 100 meters. But it’s also a fashion event. Ladies wear an array of high fashion and eye-catching hats. Elegantly dressed spectators tuck in their picnic lunches and sip champagne while listening pre-race music provided by bands and singers. Hippodrome de Chantilly. The race meeting commences at 2 pm with eight races on the card. Gates open at noon. Entrance : €8 / €4. Free for under-18s. Information : 0344673737 www.prix-de-diane.com June 22, 2013 June 23, 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans LE MANS. A mythical event in the racing world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans tests the drivers' skill, the cars' performance and the endurance of both. Once again the race attracts the world’s best drivers and the most prestigious car constructors such as Lola-Aston Martin, Audi, Toyota, Honda, Pescarolo, Nissan, Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche and Ferrari. Circuit de la Sarthe. Le Mans Race starts Saturday June 22nd at 3 pm. Admission : from €28. Information and bookings : www.lemans.org June 27, 2013 June 30, 2013 Natural Games MILLAU. AVEYRON. The town of Millau hosts the Natural Games, an event dedicated to six outdoor activities : paragliding, climbing, kayak, canoe, slackline and mountain bike. Based on a freestyle spirit, it proposes two different contests for every sport. One dedicated to the followers amateur and confirmed on adapted natural zones. The second reserved for the best world competitors. Dj’s, concerts, video performances and demonstrations are also planned for the evening and four secure spots allow the general public to test all the disciplines. Information and registrations : www.naturalgames.fr July 2013 July 06, 2013 Diamond League PARIS. Ninth stage of the 2013 Diamond League, the Areva athletics meeting will bring together top athletes such as Jamaican 100 m and 200 m Olympic champion Usain Bolt champion as well as French Renaud Lavillenie, Christophe Lemaitre and Jimmy Vicaut. The meeting will feature 9 track events (men 110 m hurdles, 200 m, 400 m, 1500 m and 3000 m steeple chase, women 100 m, 400 m hurdles, 800 m and 5000 m) and 7 field events (men discus throw, long jump and pole vault, women triple jump, javelin throw, shot put and high jump). Stade de France, Saint Denis. Opening of the doors at 5.30 pm. Meeting starts at 6.30 pm. Admission : €20 to €70. Information and bookings : www.meetingareva.com July 06, 2013 July 07, 2013 Mountain bike weekend TROIS VALLEES, ALPS. The Three Valleys Mountain Bike is a bike event open to everyone that takes place over one weekend in the resorts of Méribel, Courchevel, La Tania, Les Menuires, Val Thorens and Brides les Bains over one weekend. On the first day there are three timed descents at Courchevel, Les Menuires and Val Thorens. Then the second day there is a 80kms “Rando Tour” going through all the resorts. But there are also shorter and less demanding itineraries as it is possible to start in any of the resorts, to do circular routes around each of them and to use ski lifts to by pass the toughest sections. Registration fees. One day : €27, two days : €45. Information and registrations : 0479262488 www.les3vallees.com/3vtt/ July 19, 2013 July 28, 2013 Paralympics competition LYON Around 1,300 athletes from 90 countries are expected to attend the 2013 The IPC Athletics World Championships, an event organized biennially by the International Paralympics Committee that brings together athletes with a physical or an intellectual disability an intellectual disability. The majority of medal winners from London 2012 Paralympics Games participate in this competition that takes place at the stadium of Parilly, Information : www.paralympic.org/Events/Lyon2013 August 2013 August 24, 2013 August 25, 2013 24 hours cycling race LE MANS. Le Mans Bugatti Circuit hosts the third edition of the 24 hours cycling race. Between 2000 and 3000 French and foreign riders are expected to compete on the 4 185-meter-long racetrack. The race will start on Saturday 25th at 3pm and is open to individuals as well as to 2, 4, 6 and 8 rider teams, members of a cycling federation or not, at least 18 of age. Competitors can use road bikes, mountain bikes or hybrid bikes and can choose between five categories. Single : One man or one woman. Pair : Two men or two women or one man and one woman. Prestige : Four men or four women (Mixed not available). Competitor : Six men or mixed (Two women minimum). Leisure : Eight men or mixed (Three women minimum). A general ranking and a ranking by category, set according to the longest distance ridden, will be established. Registration fees. Single : €275. Pair : €440. Team of four : €660. Team of six : €770. Team of eight : €880. Information and registration : 0243211324 www.24heuresvelo.fr September 2013 September 06, 2013 September 08, 2013 Marathon du Médoc MEDOC. NEAR BORDEAUX. There is no other Marathon like the Marathon du Médoc, a race that is notorious for its rare blend of wine tasting and marathon running. The region's world-famous chateaux - including Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse, Chateau Gruaud-Larose, Chateau Beychevelle or Chateau Cordeillan-Bages - open their grounds and cellars to offer runners some of the world's most respected wines at 22 drinks stations along the route. There are also 21 food stands serving local delicacies from foie gras and oysters to ham, steak, cheese and ice cream. Fancy-dressed runners are numerous and prizes are awarded for the best costumes. “Science Fiction” is the theme of the 2013 edition. The race is limited to 8,500 participants but it attracts more than 100 000 spectators and the party starts well before it begins though. The night before, Château Lamothe-Cissac hosts a Pasta Party, while in the town of Pauillac a party continues well into the night on the quays of Gironde and in the Marathon village where numerous bands give concerts and where there are many restaurants. In the evening after the marathon, a huge free ball open to all and a fireworks display also take place in Pauillac. On the Sunday morning, a 9 km long relaxing walk named Recovery Walk takes place through the vineyards around Château Lamothe-Cissac. Marathon at 9.30 am on Saturday 7th. Information : www.marathondumedoc.com

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