Bike and Fourme Festival

From Bike and Troc to Bike and Fourme Festival

The Bike and Fourme Festival was born in 2020 under the name “Bike and Troc”, an initiative by the Département de la Loire to liven up the Chalmazel resort during the summer around mountain biking. In 2022, the event already attracted 7,000 visitors, around forty exhibitors, and 600 competitors. In 2023, the festival changed its name and dimension by partnering with the Syndicat de la Fourme de Montbrison AOP, which had celebrated the appellation's 20th anniversary on the heights of Chalmazel the previous year. This natural connection between cycling and the emblematic cheese of Forez gave birth to the Bike and Fourme Festival, a unique concept combining sport, gastronomy, and conviviality.

Four Pillars: Bike, Party, Fourme, and Family

The festival is based on four inseparable pillars. Cycling first, with MTB and e-MTB events for all levels: five routes from 10 to 65 km with elevations of 121 to 1,325 m D+, an enduro with 6 downhill stages, and a nocturnal vertical kilometer race of 3.4 km and 510 m D+. All starts are from the summit of the Col du Béal at an altitude of 1,390 m, accessible by free chairlift for registered participants, with breathtaking views of the Loire and Puy-de-Dôme.

Party next, with six free concerts on Saturday starting at 5 PM, mixing rock, world music, blues, pop, and contemporary music on the resort's open-air stage. Fourme cheese, of course, with a local producers' market bringing together cheesemakers, winemakers, charcuterie producers, beekeepers, and ice cream makers, and a special focus on Fourme de Montbrison AOP, the emblematic cheese of the Monts du Forez. Finally, family activities for all ages: balance bike races for 2-5 year olds, inflatable structures, children's bike courses, puzzles, the Chalma Family Raid multisport event on Sunday, a pétanque tournament, and screenings of sports-nature films.

The Loire Barbecue World Championship

An event within the event, the Loire Barbecue World Championship brings together teams of passionate grillers who compete in two rounds on Saturday. This friendly competition, judged by a jury of experts and the public, adds an extra festive and gourmet touch to the festival.

An Exceptional Mountain Setting

The Chalmazel resort, at the foot of the Monts du Forez ski slopes, offers a remarkable natural setting for this summer event. Located between Clermont-Ferrand and Saint-Étienne, the resort reaches an altitude of 1,600 m and offers varied mountain bike trails through forests and mountain pastures. A free bivouac area is open to all participants, reinforcing the friendly and outdoor spirit of the festival.

An Eco-Responsible Commitment

The Bike and Fourme Festival is committed to an eco-responsible approach: reusable structures, promotion of local products and short supply chains, selective waste sorting, encouragement of carpooling, and zero-waste catering. This sustainable approach is consistent with the sporting and environmental values promoted by the event.