Bike and Fourme Festival
The 100% bike, party, fourme, and family festival in Chalmazel
About Bike and Fourme
The Bike and Fourme Festival is a two-day festive and sporting event organized every summer at the Chalmazel resort, in the Monts du Forez (Loire). Born in 2020 under the name "Bike and Troc" on the initiative of the Department of Loire, it was renamed "Bike and Fourme Festival" in 2023 thanks to a partnership with the Syndicat de la Fourme de Montbrison AOP. The festival is structured around four pillars: cycling, partying, Fourme de Montbrison cheese, and family. On the program: MTB and e-MTB events for all levels (10 to 65 km) with a chairlift start from the summit, an enduro, a nocturnal vertical kilometer race, free concerts on Saturday evening, a local producers' market featuring Fourme de Montbrison, a Loire barbecue world championship, a pétanque tournament, balance bike races for the little ones, and numerous family activities. The event attracts several thousand visitors in an exceptional mountain setting between the Loire and Puy-de-Dôme regions.
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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.
Bike and Fourme — edition 2026
7e édition du Bike and Fourme Festival à la station de Chalmazel. Deux jours 100 % vélo, fiesta, fourme et famille avec des épreuves VTT de 10 à 65 km, un enduro en 6 spéciales, un semi kilomètre vertical, des concerts gratuits, un marché de producteurs locaux mettant à l'honneur la Fourme de Montbrison AOP, le championnat du monde de barbecue de la Loire et des animations pour toute la famille au cœur des Monts du Forez.
Bike and Fourme 2026 : la 7e édition se prépare
La 7e édition du Bike and Fourme Festival se tiendra les 11 et 12 juillet 2026 à la station de Chalmazel, pour un nouveau week-end 100 % vélo, fiesta, fourme et famille dans les Monts du Forez.
Épreuves VTT et VTTAE
Le programme sportif proposera à nouveau des parcours pour tous les niveaux avec départ au sommet par télésiège :
- La Pépère — 10 km / 121 m D+
- La Découverte — 25 km / 382 m D+
- L'Aventure — 35 km / 676 m D+
- L'Épopée — 45 km / 880 m D+
- L'Ultime — 65 km / 1 325 m D+
L'enduro en 6 spéciales et le semi kilomètre vertical de 3,4 km / 510 m D+ seront également au rendez-vous. Toutes les épreuves sont ouvertes aux VTT classiques et aux VTTAE (VTT à assistance électrique).
Concerts, gastronomie et animations
Le samedi soir, des concerts gratuits animeront la station à partir de 17h. La programmation artistique sera dévoilée au printemps 2026. Le marché de producteurs locaux mettra à l'honneur la Fourme de Montbrison AOP et les spécialités du Forez : fromages, vins, charcuterie, miel et glaces artisanales. Le championnat du monde de barbecue de la Loire, le Chalma Family Raid multisport, les courses de draisiennes Bike and Kids, le tournoi de pétanque et les animations enfants compléteront le programme.
Un rendez-vous incontournable des Monts du Forez
Après six éditions réussies, le Bike and Fourme Festival s'est imposé comme l'événement estival phare de la station de Chalmazel, attirant des milliers de visiteurs dans un cadre montagnard d'exception entre Loire et Puy-de-Dôme. La zone de bivouac gratuite sera à nouveau ouverte pour prolonger l'esprit convivial du festival.
Programme Bike and Fourme 2026
Programme 2026
Le programme détaillé de la 7e édition sera dévoilé au printemps 2026. Le festival proposera comme chaque année :
Samedi 11 juillet
- Épreuves VTT et VTTAE : 5 parcours de 10 à 65 km avec départ au sommet par télésiège
- Enduro en 6 spéciales
- Semi kilomètre vertical
- Marché de producteurs locaux (Fourme de Montbrison AOP, vin, charcuterie, miel, glaces)
- Stands vélo et animations enfants
- Championnat du monde de barbecue de la Loire
- Concerts gratuits à partir de 17h (programmation à venir)
Dimanche 12 juillet
- Chalma Family Raid — épreuve multisport familiale
- Bike and Kids — courses de draisiennes
- Tournoi de pétanque
- Marché de producteurs locaux
- Animations enfants
- Projection de films sport-nature
Highlights Bike and Fourme 2026
- 7e édition du Bike and Fourme Festival à la station de Chalmazel
- 5 parcours VTT de 10 à 65 km avec départ au sommet par télésiège
- Enduro en 6 spéciales et semi kilomètre vertical
- Concerts gratuits le samedi soir (programmation à venir)
- Marché de producteurs locaux avec Fourme de Montbrison AOP
- Championnat du monde de barbecue de la Loire
- Chalma Family Raid, courses de draisiennes et animations familiales
- Zone de bivouac gratuite
Prices Bike and Fourme 2026
Practical information — Bike and Fourme
Practical Information
Access
The Bike and Fourme Festival takes place at the Station de Chalmazel, at the foot of the ski slopes, 5896 route des Pistes, 42920 Chalmazel-Jeansagnière. The resort is located in the Monts du Forez, between Clermont-Ferrand and Saint-Étienne.
- By car: From Saint-Étienne (1h15) via the D8 through Montbrison, from Clermont-Ferrand (1h30) via the D906 through Ambert. Free parking at the resort.
- Carpooling: Encouraged by the organizers to limit environmental impact.
Schedules
Saturday: MTB events start from 7 AM (long routes) and 12 PM (short routes). Free concerts from 5 PM. Local producers' market and activities all day.
Sunday: Chalma Family Raid from 9 AM to 3 PM. Balance bike races at 11 AM. Pétanque tournament from 1 PM to 6 PM. Sports-nature film screening at 6 PM. Local producers' market and activities all day.
Prices
Concerts and activities: Free for everyone.
MTB events: Paid registration on the official website (approximately €20 to €25 depending on the distance and registration period). Registration includes the chairlift pass for the start, access to the secured route, the handlebar plate, local gourmet refreshments along the route, the meal at the finish, and a food gift.
Bivouac
A free bivouac area is open to all participants and festival-goers.
Food and Drink
Local producers' market with cheese (Fourme de Montbrison AOP), wine, charcuterie, honey, and other Forez specialties. Gourmet refreshments on the MTB routes.
Contact
- Phone: 04 77 96 08 69 (Loire Forez Tourist Office)
- Website: www.bikeandfourme.fr
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/bikeandfourmefestival
- Instagram: @bikeandfourmefestival
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — Bike and Fourme
Station de Chalmazel — Pied des pistes
Station de Chalmazel, 5896 route des Pistes, 42920 Chalmazel-Jeansagnière