Bourbon-Lancy / Moulins

This GTMC Gravel stage between the towns of Bourbon-Lancy and Moulins takes you into the French county of Allier, former heartland of the powerful Bourbon family. Having crossed the mighty Loire, enjoy very easy riding through the Sologne Bourbonnaise area. Here, the landscapes vary between hedge-divided fields, forests and a multitude of small lakes. A final stretch beside the Allier River, a major tributary of the Loire, takes you to the historic city of Moulins, capital of the Bourbonnais and historic headquarters of this northern section of the Auvergne Region.

Riding off from the town of Bourbon Lancy, enjoy discovering the banks of the Loire up to the Écluse des Gailloux (a lock at Gannay-sur-Loire), going along a mix of quiet roads and smooth paths across the Sologne Bourbonnaise area.
You leave the mountain-biking route to reach Paray le Frésil by road in order to avoid certain technical difficulties, but then soon rejoin the classic route.
The ride up to the Moulins suburbs continues along a mix of tarmacked surfaces on minor roads and open paths, or then forest tracks. You pass in front of the Château des Louteaux.
After crossing the town of Moulins, the stage comes to an end on the banks of the Allier River, a major tributary of the Loire, on fun singletracks that require some steering skills.