Château de Chantilly Gauntlet 2023

COURSE GUIDE

CHATEAU DE CHANTILLY GAUNTLET 2023

“Very well organised event, beautiful location as well. Barely would know what to improve.”

Jereon K

“Beautiful setting, family atmosphere and very friendly. A big thank you to the volunteers who are always smiling and supportive. The running course is great.”

Christophe L

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 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’ (challengeing someone to mortal combat).

Our goal is to ensure you have the best race experience possible and for your loved ones to have a great time supporting you along the route and 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.

We wish you all the best for 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 RACE INFORMATION

RACE INFORMATION

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.

Château de Chantilly Swim

The course is a 1.9km loop. The start and finish will be at the Grand Canal entrance in front of the Chateau.

Race Director, Brian Adcock will record an online briefing prior to race day which will be shared on the Event Information page on our website. This short online video will detail course and safety details. If you are in a relay team, please ensure every member of your team has watched it.

The exit point will be via the ramp at centre of the Grand Canal. The swim cut off will be 75 minutes.

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.

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.

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.

CUT OFF TIME

The cut off time for the bike leg is 5.5 hours. In other words, 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. Please see the nutrition page for more detail.

CYCLE COURSE OVERVIEW

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 demarks 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, flatish 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.

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

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.

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

PLAILLY TO LA CHAPELLE-ENSERVAL

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

Those continuing for a 2nd lap do not turn left through the Grille Vaillant but merely continue straight on for their second lap. Having completed their second lap they can then turn left through the Grille Vaillant and return to transition keeping the cones on their right hand side.

CYCLE COURSE KEY MILESTONES

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.

Castle Triathlon Series, Chateau de Chantilly Triathlon Le Gantelet et le Chantilly Races - Dimanche

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 marshaling 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.

FONTAINE-CHAALIS

Please be aware this is a paved area.

N330

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

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

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

RUN COURSE

On the run course athletes will run pass the stunning Chateau grounds, the famous Grand Stables and the historical town of Chantilly. All Gauntlets will run two loops of a 10.5km route, totalling 21km.

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

LITTER

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

RESPECT FOR ALL

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

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.

PUBLIC SHARING PARTS OF THE ROUTE

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

RUN COURSE OVERVIEW

LEAVING TRANSITION AND CIRCUMNAVIGATING THE PARC DE SYLVIE

After exiting transition competitors head east onto one of the many ornamental rides through the Parc de Sylvie. After 100m the first feed/ water station appears and after just under 1KM runners exit the Chateau grounds briefly running along a well made wooded track that doubles as a public footpath. Passing the Grille Vaillant (which was the entry/ exit point of the cycle route to/ from the Chateau) and then re-entering the Chateau grounds the route then handrails the inside of the Chateau external wall before heading back towards the old Orangery and the same public footpath.

GRILLE D’HONNEUR (THE GATE OF HONOUR - MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE CHATEAU)

The next section takes runners past the main entry point of the Chateau on cobles before passing the second water/ feed station. Soon after runners turn left and head through an avenue of trees that climbs gently uphill before revealing the full majesty of the Hippodrome.

THE HIPPODROME (THE RACE COURSE)

A right turn at the end of the avenue of trees and a brief run through the racecourse car park brings competitors to the main Grand Stand and a commanding view of the whole course. A further 1KM in

a westerly direction brings runners within touching distance of the town of Chantilly itself. Continuing with the circuit of the course runners then find themselves running through the Grande Pelouse (Big Lawn) which has hosted leisure activities through the ages for the townsfolk of Chantilly. Past a small town reservoir and then running alongside the impressive walls of a large building, The Musée du Cheval hoves into view.

MUSEE DU CHEVAL (THE HORSE MUSEUM) AND THE GRILLE DE JEU DE PAUME

Runners make their way around the enormous wall of the world’s preeminent horse museum (brainchild of the original owner of the Chateau), past the iconic stone archway and then through the Grille De Jeu de Paume as they re-enter the grounds of the Chateau itself.

LE JARDIN ANGLAIS (THE ENGLISH GARDEN)

Before entering the final KM, the route passes the old courts that were used to play Jeu de Paume (The French equivalent of rackets that was played fervently by Louis XV). The last KM circumnavigates the beautiful and aptly named Jardins Anglais before emerging alongside the Grand Canal and the more formal elements of the grounds. A lusty stretch up an avenue of lime trees and the finishing straight is finally made! Allez France.

RUN COURSE

After you leave T2 you will begin

ARRIVÉE DE LA COURSE

POSTE D'ENREGISTREMENT

DÉPART DE LE DUATHLON

POINT RELAIS

POINT RELAIS

POINT RELAIS

Key

Circuit vélo - Le Gantelet et Le Chantilly (45km)

Circuit course à pied - Le Gantelet (21km)

Le Chantilly (10km), Le Duathlon (11km)

Circuit course à pied - Route pour la prochaine tour

Circuit course à pied - Duathlon (6km)

Circuit natation

Duathlon, Marathon, ½ Marathon, 10k départ

Aire de Transition

Parking du Triathlon

Départ de l'épreuve

Arrivée de la course

Poste de ravitaillement

POINT RELAIS

Castle Triathlon Series, Chateau de Chantilly Triathlon - Dimanche

5.5K

ROAD CROSSING IN FRONT OF CHATEAU

Beware the chains on the concrete posts which will require a little skip (tricky on tired legs!) and also the cobbles on the road. The road is closed to traffic this year so no need to worry about cars.

9K

ROAD CROSSING ADJACENT TO THE GRILLE DE JEU DE PAUME

Beware the cobbles on the road. Again, the road is closed this year so no need to worry about cars!

10.5K

ROUTE SPLIT AT FINISH FUNNEL

Gauntlet competitors down the side of the Finish Chute run around main fountain and then back up to transition in the formal gardens before continuing on their second lap.

FEED STATIONS

The Castle Race Series will be working with fueling partner, Precision Fuel & Hydration to provide 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 including the following:

– PF 30 Energy Chews

– PF 30 Energy Gels

– Half bananas

– Pre-mixed bottles of water

– Pre-mixed bottles PH 1000 electrolyte drink

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

ON THE RUN

There will be feed stations at 0.1k, 3k and 7k on each of the two laps.

A team of volunteers will have a selection of food and drink available for you including the following:

– PF 30 Energy Chews

– PF 30 Energy Gels

– Half bananas

– Pre-mixed bottles of water

– Pre-mixed bottles PH 1000

electrolyte drink

- Jelly Babies (or similar)

- Flat coca-cola (or similar)

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)!

FUELLING & HYDRATION GUIDE THE GAUNTLET

Failing to fuel and hydrate appropriately is a leading cause of underperformance in long distance triathlons.

Your plan should focus on ensuring that you take in enough carbohydrate, fluid and sodium to fuel the work required and keep you hydrated.

BEFORE THE RACE Fuel

What to do

Hydration

What to do

- Your race pack will include a packet of our strongest electrolyte drink, PH 1500

- Mix it into 500ml of water and aim to drink it about ~60-90 mins before your swim start

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- This is known as ‘preloading’ and it can significantly improve your performance

- Finish your drink ~45 mins before you start to allow your gut to absorb it

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- Aim to carb load in the day or two before your event, to top off your stored energy (glycogen) levels

- Eat an energy gel in the final 15 mins or so before you start. This'll provide additional fuel to be utilised in the early stages and increase your focus and energy levels

Why?

- Carb-loading is a well-known tactic used by endurance athletes

- Think of your glycogen stores as the fuel you have in the tank before a long journey. The more you start with, the longer you can keep going before you need to top-up

- Simple carbs taken in the last 15 mins will hit your bloodstream around the start of the race, increasing energy availability just as energy use is ramping up in your body

- Drink the electrolytes in water you’d have drunk anyway so you don’t overdo it

- DON’T just drink lots of water before a race! You can end up diluting your blood sodium levels, increasing the risk of a race-ruining condition called hyponatremia (low blood sodium levels)

Why?

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- It’ll boost your blood volume, a proven way to enhance performance during intense exercise, especially in the heat

- It’ll help your cardiovascular system cool you down and deliver oxygen to your working muscles. This reduces fatigue and enables you to maintain your performance for longer

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- PH 1500 electrolyte drink is a very effective preloader as it contains 3x more sodium than typical sports drinks

- Preloading may also help you avoid cramp, which can be triggered by sodium depletion

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DURING THE RACE

The bike section offers a great opportunity to fuel and hydrate proactively in order to set up a strong run as most athletes find it easier to eat and drink on the bike than when they’re running.

For this reason it's common, and considered good practice, to ‘front load’ the ride with a higher hydration and energy intake than you aim for on the run.

Fuel

What fuel is available at the feed stations?

- PF 30 Energy Gels. Each gel contains 30g of carbohydrate

- A selection of food and drink such as bananas (cut into thirds, about 9g of carb oper third), flat coca-cola (about 10g of carb per 100ml) and jelly babies (or similar, about 5g of carb per sweet)

What to do

- Use our Quick Carb Calculator to get an idea of how much carbohydrate you'll need per hour to perform at your best

- Many athletes racing The Gauntlet will benefit from higher intakes of 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrate per hour, perhaps even more than 90g, as long as the amount consumed doesn’t cause stomach problems

- An hourly intake of ~60-90+ grams per hour is not something all athletes can achieve immediately and it can take a bit of time to build up to this rate of consumption, especially if you’ve been prone to suffering from GI issues in the past

Why?

- When it comes to powering high intensity endurance exercise, carbohydrate is the main source of fuel used by your body

- Glycogen (stored carbohydrate) is a finite resource. 90-120 minutes of hard activity will generally deplete your stores enough to significantly compromise your performance. So, at some point, taking in carbs is necessary to maintain a high level of performance

Pro tips

- Time your intake of fuel on the bike to coincide with straight stretches of road or on a gentle downhill. This makes it easier to eat comfortably

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- If you prefer liquid calories on the bike, consider using PF 30 Energy Drink Mix in your bike bottles. It contains 30g of carb and 500mg of sodium per 500ml serving, so can provide some or all of your carb requirements, depending on the total amount that you drink

- Carry your own fuel on the run if possible. Gels/chews weigh very little and this approach allows you to use some you’ve properly tested in training. It also means you won’t accidentally miss picking one at a busy feed station and can eat them whenever you like

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- The higher the amount of carbohydrate you’re aiming to ingest, the more crucial ‘training your gut’ in the lead up to your race becomes

- Generally speaking, the more energy you can consume in the early stages of the run, the stronger you’ll be able to finish, so don’t restrict your carb intake if you’re tolerating it well

Hydration

What hydration products are available at the feed stations?

- PH 1000, a low-carb electrolyte drink containing 1,000mg of sodium per litre (~2x the sodium found in typical sports drinks)

- Water

What to do

- A middle distance race is too long to go without drinking, so you’re going to need to be knocking back a reasonable amount of fluids and electrolytes during the ride/run

- The aim is to try to avoid under-drinking to the point that dehydration hampers your performance, whilst avoiding over-drinking, which can lead to hyponatremia (low blood sodium levels)

- Your fluid/electrolyte intake on the bike needs to be adequate enough to set up a good run, not just to survive the ride!

- Most athletes will need to take in between 500ml and 1L per hour during The Gauntlet. The exact amount depends on the conditions, your own sweat rate and past experiences

- Most athletes find they can take in less fluid per hour on the run than they can on the bike, which should give you an idea of the kind of volumes you might be able to tolerate

- Experimenting within these guidelines, whilst learning to listen to your body, is the best way to work out how much you need to drink during a race

- On the day, factors such as your pace and the weather will influence what you actually need and you should adjust your intake according to how you feel as the race unfolds

Why

- Taking on board an appropriate amount of fluid and electrolytes is essential to maintaining your blood volume and supporting the cardiovascular effort you’ll be putting in

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150304075220.htm

- A 2015 study found that athletes who adequately replaced the sodium lost in their sweat finished a middle distance triathlon an average of 26 minutes faster than those who didn’t

- As well as maintaining fluid balance, sodium plays an important role in the absorption of nutrients in the gut, maintaining cognitive function, nerve impulse transmission and in muscle contraction.

- Hydration is, of course, particularly important during longer events, when your net sweat losses can really mount up. That's especially the case if it'll be hot on the day

Pro tips

- Drinking from cups at feed stations can make it tricky to work out exactly how much fluid you’re consuming. As a rough guide, half a standard paper cup will give you ~100ml of water

- Squeeze aid station cups across the top to form a slit to pour water out of. This’ll reduce the amount that gets spilled

- It’s often faster overall to walk a few paces through feed stations to ensure you get enough fluids on board, rather than trying to drink from cups whilst running at full speed

- Consider carrying some blister-packed Electrolyte Capsules in case you run out of sports drink during the latter stages of the bike or run. Swallowing 2 capsules per 500ml of water you consume would deliver the same ratio of electrolytes to fluid as a bottle of PH 1000 from the feed stations

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CHECKLIST FOR ADJUSTING YOUR INTAKE

Signs you may need to drink more include:

- Feeling thirsty/dry mouth

- Heart rate drifting upwards when compared to power output or effort

- Tight, twitchy or crampy muscles Signs you may need to drink less include:

- Feeling bloated

- Feeling water ‘sloshing’ in your stomach

- Peeing too frequently

Signs you may need to increase your energy intake include:

- Hunger

- Attitude or mood deteriorating

- Craving sugar

Signs you may need to decrease your energy intake include:

- Feeling/being sick

- Bloating

- Upset stomach

TRY THE ON-COURSE FUEL/HYDRATION IN TRAINING

"Nothing new on race day" has always been solid advice.

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Grab a Castle Race Series Taster Pack to thoroughly road-test the on-course fuel and hydration before your race.

Don't forget to use the code CASTLE to get 15% off your first order.

QUESTIONS?

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https://visit.pfandh.com/3D6Y5Sj

hello@pfandh.com

Book a free one-to-one video call with a fuelling expert at Precision Fuel & Hydration or email hello@pfandh.com

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.

08:00 – 08:40

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 part dates 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, prep for the run and then head 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 to 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! NB. we expect the winner to complete the race in around 4 hr 15. Please be mindful of runners on the course and give them plenty of room.

PRIZE MONEY & REWARDS

PRIZES, AGE GROUPS & PRIZE GIVING

The open category podium winners will receive a trophy along with prize money with each winning male and female receiving the amounts shown below.

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

All prize givings will take place during the afternoon of event day. More precise timings will be shared by the commentator during the day or available at the Information Tent.

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).

– A free massage from one of our masseurs.

– Bespoke medal.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

We look forward to seeing you on race day and wish you luck for your final preparations. If you need further infomation please visit our website: castleraceseries.com