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Inspired by stage nine of the 2024 Tour De France (men) I have been riding a series of rides that feature mostly asphalt roads interspersed with gravel, Feldweg and Betonweg.

In October the ASO who organise the TdF also host Paris Tours a classic race on the men´s road race calendar and it was once seen as the domain of big teams leading out their sprinters. In 2018, they changed it radically when they added some stiff short climbs through villages and 10 sectors of Chemins de Vigne, 10km of gravel through the vineyards.

In 2024 it was a race for the lovers of mud!

Gö Paris Tours – Roadie Chemin Blanc Omloop is longer than others in this series and features 25 gravel and 1 cobbled sector. it begins at the Gö Velodrome.

Black Stuff

Cycling on asphalt offers the opportunity to turn the pedals consistently to get into a rhythm, and to find a smooth cadence. That is why the Gö Roadie Chemin Blanc is dominated by the ´black stuff´.

Gravel or off-road cycling in contrast is often about extremes and sudden changes of pace which can wear you down. Not good if you want to keep your heart rate steady.

Me being me, I can´t help but turn onto the gravel none of which on this ride is hard core although all 25 sectors must be respected! I have ridden all the sectors of the route at one time or another on my road bike equipped with 28/26mm road tyres. It is fun on a road bike but its a better ride on a cyclo cross or gravel machine.

There are four distances, and they differ the longer tours feature more gravel sectors etc, 48km, 46km, 44km, and 53km. See below.

Terrain Transitions

One of the principal concepts of this tour and which is closely related to the Gö Omloop Series, is to be able to transition from the asphalt onto the gravel at speed and to carry it through the sector without a dramatic change of cadence.

Note: The Gö Strade Bianche rides are gravel orientated, the Gö Omloops feature less gravel and more Feldweg, and the Gö Roadie Chemin Blanc Omloop is mostly ridden on asphalt.

In my head I am riding as if….

Great shots from stage 9 by Szymon Gruchalski/Cor Vos

Paris Tours Fotos – https://www.paris-tours.fr/en/stage-1

Total: 53.20km.

Surfaces
Komoot says that the surfaces are:

Unpaved: 3.56 km
Compacted Gravel: 13.2 km
Cobblestones: 319 m
Paved: 7.43 km
Asphalt: 27.7 km

GPS
Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1908287505
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12637670657
Garmin: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/17267093330

Gallery and other Routes

Gö Paris Tours – Roadie Chemin Blanc Omloop (54km) – October 12 2024 (CX Bike)

The longest route featuring, all elements of the other rides plus feldweg and gravel toward Mengershausen and at Werderhof.

GPS: See above.

Gö Roadie Chemin Blanc Omloop (48km) – August 29 2024 (Gravel Bike)

Does not include the section across the Autobahn toward Volkerode or Lemshausen but does feature gravel between Stockhausen and at Ballenhausen.

GPS: https://www.strava.com/activities/12276076219

Gö Roadie Chemin Blanc Omloop 3 (46km) – August 3, 2024 (Road Bike)

Ridden on a road bike and features, gravel between Stockhausen and at Ballenhausen, at Dramfeld, and crosses Autobahn toward Volkerode or Lemshausen.

GPS: https://www.strava.com/activities/12051805132

Gö Roadie Chemin Blanc Omloop 2 (46km) – July 28, 2024  (Gravel Bike)

The same route as August 3 but ridden on a gravel bike.

GPS: https://www.strava.com/activities/12003160654

Gö Roadie Chemin Blanc Omloop (44km) – July 16, 2024 (CX/Road Bike)

This route does NOT feature, gravel between Stockhausen and at Ballenhausen, or at Dramfeld.

GPS: https://www.strava.com/activities/11902455291

Attention/Take Note

The Gö Chemin Blanc Omloop is a suggested route for a bike tour and not a race or competition. Should you decide to follow our tour description or a GPS of the route described, you do so at your own risk.

You are responsible for cycling as you think you can, according to your ability and fitness level.

Die Gö Chemin Blanc Omloop ist ein Routenvorschlag für eine Fahradtour und kein Rennen oder Wettkampf. Solltest Du Dich dafür entscheiden, unserer Tourbeschreibung oder einem GPS der beschriebenen Route zu folgen, tust Du dies auf eigene Gefahr.

Du bist selbst dafür verantwortlich, entsprechend Deinem Können und Fitness-Niveau, so zu radeln, wie Du es Dir zutraust.

Contact – https://veloklubhaus.com/contact/

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