Château de Chantilly 2024 Gauntlet Course Guide

“Triathlon in a magnificent setting, running in the gardens of the Château de Chantilly is quite exceptional. The organisation was top-notch, despite the fact that there were so many races in a row! Definitely worth doing again!”

Louis D.

“Loved it!!! Great atmosphere, good organisation, beautiful place, and a super helpful and kind team of volunteers to guide you and support you throughout the race. It also felt very safe on the road even though it was open to vehicles. Amazing experience, thank you all :)”

Paula H.

Dear Competitor,

Signed up or thinking of signing up to this immense challenge? This guide will provide you with all the information you need about The Gauntlet, Middle Distance Triathlon at Chateau de Chantilly.

This race is named after three epic references, the protective glove used as a form of armour during historical battles and the two idioms ‘running the gauntlet’ (to run between two rows of adversaries) and ‘throwing down the gauntlet’ (challenging someone to mortal combat).

Our goal is to ensure you have the best race experience possible and for your family and friends to have a great time supporting you along the route, as well as celebrating with you in our festival village. We want you all to soak up the atmosphere, see the sights and make the castle grounds and the stunning surrounding countryside your playground for the day.

To view our Competitor Guide for 2024 please click here, which will provide information on arrival and car parks, registration, event village as well as information and offers from our Partners.

We wish you all the best with your training and pre-race preparations and we look forward to seeing you at the start line for a race to remember.

Brian Adcock Race Director

YOUR R INFORM

RACE MATION

SWIM COURSE

The course is a 1.9km loop.

The start and finish will be at the Grand Canal entrance in front of the Chateau. The Canal is one of Northern France’s most exclusive bodies of water, with exquisite surroundings for the swimmers and their supporters.

THE COURSE

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Safety is at the heart of the event – we have safety boats / crafts and kayaks manned by fully trained life safety representatives out on the lake for your swim. If you feel that you are in trouble please roll on to your back and raise your arm and someone will be with you immediately. Resting on the boat or kayak at any time during the race is acceptable with no implication on your race timings.

Swimmers will be manually and electronically counted into and out of the water for additional safety. Regular water quality and temperature tests are taken in the upcoming months, weeks and during the event. These will be shared on the Château de Chantilly competitor information page.

CYCLE COURSE

The cycle route is a 2-lap course departing and arriving back at the Chateau. Cyclists will pass through some of the Oise region’s most beautiful towns and sights.

JUNCTIONS

All key junctions will be marshalled but please remember you will be riding on public roads not closed to traffic. It is your responsibility to ride within the provisions of the code of the road and FFTri referees will apply penalties to anyone not respecting it.

OTHER COMPETITORS

Please note that you will be sharing the cycle course with competitors from other distances. So please make sure you follow the correct signage and instructions from the marshals when you are on the course.

CUT OFF TIME

The cut off time for the bike leg is 5.5 hours. Therefore, if you are not back in transition 7 hours after your race start you will not be allowed to continue onto the run section

FEED STATIONS

There will be feed and water stations out on the bike course. These will be labelled on the map.

RELAY TEAMS

Relay teams must ensure they pass the timing chip between team members during transition. This must take place adjacent to your bike location on the bike rack.

LITTER

Competitors must not drop litter out on the course. If caught littering you will be disqualified.

RESPECT FOR ALL

Please respect all other competitors, event staff and members of the public as you race.

CYCLE COURSE

LEAVING TRANSITION

After exiting transition competitors head east on the estate back driveway (mixture of tarmac and gravel) to the Grille Vaillant at the edge of the estate grounds A line of cones marks the outgoing and incoming cyclists. On this piece of the route cyclists must stay on the left hand side of the cones as if they were cycling in England!

AVILLY TO SENLIS

On arrival on the French public road cyclist turn left and immediately make their way onto the right hand side of the road for the rest of the 45K circuit. A brief circuit of the village of Avilly then sees cyclists arrive and turn right at the roundabout on the main Senlis road. A fast, mostly flat 7K brings cyclists to the edge of the old walled town of Senlis and the Gendarme controlled Obelisk Roundabout. Follow the marshals down the Rue D’Ortaz and a brief circuit of the external walls. After doubling back on yourself at the roundabout on the southern

side of the town, head uphill back through the town itself to the Deer Roundabout (see plinth in the middle of the roundabout) before turning right and heading east into the countryside.

SENLIS TO BOREST

On fast well made tarmac cyclists will make good ground through the village of Mont L’Evêque (watch out for the speed bumps on entry and exit to all the villages) and then over the roundabout on the other side of the village Take care here as you are crossing the French A-road the N330. Continue for another 4km until your reach the village of Borest

BOREST TO PLAILLY

In the centre of Borest turn right off the main road into the village itself. After 50 yards go straight on at the crossroads and bear left exiting the village and cycle through the Bois de Fontaine. After 4km re-cross the N330 under Gendarme control and continue in a SW direction until reaching the t-junction at the main Ermenonville to Plailly Road. Turn right here and head through the village of Mortefontaine before arriving at Plailly

PLAILLY TO LA CHAPELLEENSERVAL

In the village of Plailly take care of other road users in the narrow

streets and carefully follow the cycle route signage which takes you on a back street route before reaching the northern side of the village and continuing on a further countryside road. After a further 4K cyclists will reach the town of La Chapelle-enServal.

LA CHAPELLE-EN-SERVAL TO CHATEAU DE CHANTILLY

Gendarmes will control the traffic in the centre of the town as cyclists cross over another French B-road and head in towards Chantilly on the main Rue de Paris. Take care through the village of Mongresin and when passing over the roundabouts in the middle of the Fôret de Chantilly. 1km from the Chateau main entrance route signage will turn cyclists to the right towards the village of Avilly. A brief circuit of the external Château walls brings competitors back to the Grille Vaillant and the internal estate road that leads back to transition.

2ND LAPPERS

When continuing onto your second lap do not turn left through the Grille Vaillant but merely continue straight on for your second lap. Having completed your second lap you can then turn left through the Grille Vaillant and return to transition keeping the cones on your right hand side.

CYCLE COURSE

KEY MILESTONES

On the route, there are a few points for your attention. The Gendarmes are present throughout the route. They ensure safety for you and the vehicles.

0.6K

AVILLY ST LEONARD

There is allocated space for the exit and return to Chateau de Chantilly with a deviation for cars set-up.

6-10K

VILLE DE SENLIS

You will encounter general traffic in the city Senlis. There will be marshalling and support from the National Gendarmerie and the Municipal Police.

14K

MONT L’EVEQUE

At the roundabout cross the N330. National Gendarmerie and volunteers will be providing traffic marshaling.

18K

FONTAINE-CHAALIS

Please be aware this is a paved area.

21K

N330

Cross the N330 Managed by the National Gendarmerie, please slow down when arriving at the intersection.

29-30K

PLAILLY

Narrow roads, please be careful.

35K

LA CHAPELLE EN SERVAL

Crossing the National RD 1017, be alert and slow down at the zig-zag intersection. Managed by the National Gendarmerie.

37.5K

MONTGRESIN

This can be a dangerous turn in the descent, be very careful if it rains.

RUN COURSE

NEW ROUTE COMING SOON!

We are busily preparing our new and improved 10.5k route. Our website and guides will be updated as soon as these are confirmed. We look forward to showing you these very soon!

THE ROUTE

A large proportion of the run route is off road with many competitors choosing to wear trail or multi-terrain run shoes.

The finish line and event village is situated by the Chateau and Grand Canal where a host of refreshments and drinks will be on offer

CUT OFF TIME

The overall cut off time for the Gauntlet race is 10 hours. This means that runners who have not started their 2nd lap 8hrs 30mins after race start will not be allowed to head out around the 10.5km loop for a second time but will instead by directed down the finishing chute

RESPECT FOR ALL

Please respect all other competitors, event staff and members of the public as you race

PUBLIC SHARING PARTS OF THE ROUTE

Please exercise caution when running along all sections of the route as there may be walkers, people on horseback and motorists using the same tracks, bridleways, paths and roads

LITTER

Competitors must not drop litter out on the course. If caught littering you will be disqualified

FEED STATIONS

The Castle Race Series will be providing you with comprehensive food and drink stations.

ON THE BIKE

Each station will be preceded by a large container ready to catch your empty water bottles or litter.

There will also be a container approximately 50 metres after the aid station. There will be feed stations at 25k, 45k and 70k.

A team of volunteers will have a selection of food and drink available for you.

Drinks from these stations will be handed out in bike specific drink bottles.

ON THE RUN

There will be feed stations positioned along the route (as shown on the maps)

A team of volunteers will have a selection of food and drink available for you.

On your run you may well be joined by competitors from the standard distance races that have started after your race start time. Do not be put off by fresh legged runners overtaking you (they will have different colour numbers on their vests)!

SPECTATORS VIEW

Many of you will be bringing spectators to watch your herculean efforts. This is our recommendation of what to do and where to go at certain times whilst you are racing. This guide is based on a 6-hour completion time.

07:00

Go and have a coffee in the Event Village whilst athletes register and rack.

08:00

Make your way to the edge of the Grand Canal to watch the swim start and follow along the spectacular waterway.

Watch your swimmer complete the t-shape in the Grand Canal - great viewing spots all the way around and you can literally touch them as they swim down the main canal section.

08:40

Run back to the swim exit ramp so you can watch athletes climb out

of the water and run back up the ornamental steps of the Chateau to transition on the Terrace D’Enghien.

08:50

Climb steps to see your competitor prep for the bike section before heading off down Rue de la Porte Vaillant and the public road.

10:00

Head to the Chateau and the extraordinary Musee Conde, which has the second best collection of paintings after the Louvre; It has three captivating Raphaels and a couple of Botticellis and several Poussins, plus Ingres and Delacroix. The chateau itself is largely 19th century but parts date back to the 16th, the home of the Prince of Conde. Versailles, only less crowded.

11:00

Head to the Great Stables An architectural masterpiece of the 18th century, the Great Stables were built by the architect Jean Aubert for Louis-Henri de Bourbon, 7th prince of Condé. This veritable palace for horses, built from 1719 to 1735, recently celebrated its three hundredth birthday! The Great Stables are home to the Museum of the Horse, which presents the relationship between humans and horses since the beginning of civilisation. This building is home to

an Equestrian troop that stages original creations all year round, much to the delight of young and old alike.

12:00

Return to the Transition Area at the Terrace D’Enghien to watch your cyclist return and prep for their run before heading out onto the Run Course and the Parc De Sylvie.

12:30

For lunch, choose between the restaurant in the château or the restaurant in the grounds. Make the most of it and order an authentic, tasty Chantilly whipped cream dessert! Prior booking advised. You can also enjoy a family picnic at the tables located under the trees in the English garden.

13:00

Make your way back to the Grille D’Honneur where you should catch your competitor with 6km and a circuit of the Hippodrome (racecourse) to go.

14:00

Arrive at the Finish Line to welcome your competitor back! Please note, we expect the winner to complete the race in around 4 hr 15.

PRIZES

PRIZES, AGE GROUPS & PRIZE GIVING

The podium winners will receive a trophy along with prize envelope.

There will also be Age Group trophies for Senior (18-39 years), 40+, 50+ and 60+ first places.

The prize giving will take place in the event village during the afternoon of race day.

EACH COMPETITOR WILL RECEIVE

– Bespoke Gauntlet technical t-shirt.

– A well-earned warm meal on completion of the race (This can be claimed by entering the Gauntlet competitor’s marquee and presenting the wristband worn during the race).

– The opportunity to shower in the Castle Courtyard showers.

– Bespoke medal.

We look forward to seeing you on race day and wish you luck for your final preparations.