Guéret (23) - Start Town
Guéret’s commitment to sporting associations is a self-evident reality. The aim is to foster good social links and the possibility of tasting as many disciplines as possible. But also to give people an incentive to perform at the highest level. A Cycling Hope Centre moulds the champions of tomorrow. A reference mountain bike club, Creuse Oxygène regularly climbs podiums on the international scene. The Espace VTT (mountain bike area) of the Monts de Guéret (500 kms of marked paths, 25 circuits) boasts the only downhill stadium outside mountain zones. Road, bicycle touring, mountain bikes… There are countless numbers of clubs established in this cycling land which has been crossed by the Oxygène Cup, the Tour de la Creuse, the Tour du Limousin and, twice, the National Trophy for Young Mountain Bikers.
>> www.ville-gueret.fr
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Mauriac (15) - Finish Town
Sub-Prefecture of the Cantal, situated between Dordogne and Puy-Mary, Mauriac grew up around its 6th-century Benedictine monastery. The Basilica of Notre-Dame-des-Miracles (11-12th centuries), the Romanesque jewel of Haute-Auvergne, the former Hôtel d’Orcet (15th century), and the Jesuit college (16th century) are all echoes of its rich past. A tourist complex around a 22-acre lake and a golf course, the Val Saint-Jean complex combines quality accommodation and numerous sporting and leisure facilities. Mauriac has 200 shops and services, a dense weave of craft and industrial businesses and the leading livestock market in Auvergne (Parc des Rédines). The names of three former Tour riders are attached to Mauriac: Lily BERGAUD "the Little Marvel of the Cantal", René SERRE, team companion to POULIDOR and the late lamented Maurice LAMPRE.
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Wednesday, September 7th 2005
