The Paris Olympics cross-country course for the Olympic eventing competition has been designed by Pierre Le Goupil, in the beautiful parkland of Versailles.
The optimum time is 9min 2sec and the track consists of 28 numbered obstacles, which are all beautifully decorated and themed. Check out photos of all the fences below…
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Paris Olympics cross-country course fence by fence
The fences reference some of the beautiful furniture and features of the Palace of Versailles. The lead builder is Christian Ashcard of EQUIBOIS and Chrisine Houdayer painted the fences.
Fence 1: The Olympic Crown – La Couronne Olympique
Fence 2: The Builders’ Oxer – L’Oxer des Bátisseurs
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Fence 3: The Peacocks’ Shelter – L’Abri des Paons
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Fence 4: The Courtship of the Peacock – La Parade du Paons
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Fence 5abc: The Ménagerie Pond – Le Bassin de la Ménagerie
Direct route fence 5a
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Direct route fence 5b
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Fence 5c
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Alternative route fence 5bc – this involves looping back on yourself after jumping in over 5a
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Alternative route fence 5a
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Alternative route fence 5bc
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Riders who jump either the double (alternative 5abc) into the water or the skinny in the water (alternative 5bc) then have to track right and ride up an unnumbered ramp out of the water, before skirting round the pond to fence 6ab. It may be possible to ride through the dressing plants and make a sharp right-hand turn to the direct 6ab after taking this alternative 5abc.
Fence 6ab: The Ménagerie Fountain – La Fontaine de la Ménagerie
Direct route fence 6ab
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Long route fence 6a
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Long route fence 6b
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Fence 7ab: The Ulysees’ Companions – Les Compagnons d’Ulysse
Fence 7a
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Direct route fence 7b
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Long route fence 7b
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Fence 8: The Reading Corner – Le Salon de Lecture
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Fence 9: The Pastoral Enclosure – L’Enclos Pastoral
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Fence 10abc: The Vauban Citadel – La Citadelle Vauban
Direct route fence 10a
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Direct route fence 10a close up
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Alternative route fence 10a
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This second water complex offers riders multiple options at the b and c elements. The three fences in the foreground of this picture are all 10b, while the two obstacles in the background are both 10c. Because the numbering here is simple, riders can mix and match in numerous different ways.
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The quickest route is likely to be taking this arrowhead as 10b, then a curving line to the left…
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…to the corner on the right side of this 10c.
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Alternative options for fence 10b
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Alternative fence 10c
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Fence 11: The Science Laboratory – Le Laboratoir des Sciences
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Fence 12: The Enlightenment Bookcase – La Bibliothèque des Lumières
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Fence 13ab: The Sailors’ Workshop – Le Chantier des Matelots
Fence 13a
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Fence 13b
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Fence 14: The Impressionists’ Guingette – La Guingette des Impresssionist
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The first of two pontoon crossings comes after fence 14
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Fence 15: The Tiny Ditch – Le Petit Fosse
An open ditch on rising ground
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Fence 16abcd: The Viewpoint over the Grand Canal – Le Belvédère du Grand Canal
Fence 16 offers a right-hand and left-hand route, with no option to mix and match between routes. The right-hand route is the inside line so would probably be considered the direct route.
Right-hand route fence 16a
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Right-hand route fence 16bc
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Right-hand route fence 16d
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Left-hand route fence 16a
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Left-hand route fence 16b
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Left-hand route fence 16cd
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Finally, this arrowhead is labelled 16bcd and is accessed by looping round to the right – this can be used as an escape route by those who have already had a run-out in the complex.
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Fence 17ab: The “à la Française” Garden – Le Jardin à la Française
Fence 17a
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Fence 17b
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Fence 18: The Stag – Le Cerf
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Fences 19 and 20: The Estovers Log Piles – Les Affouges
Fence 19
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Fence 20
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Fence 21: The Whimsical Woods – Les Caprices de la Forêt
Direct route fence 21ab
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Looking over fence 21ab to fence 21c, on this direct route
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Direct route fence 21c
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Riders cannot mix and match between the direct and long routes at 21abc
Long route fence 21a
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Long route fence 21bc
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Fence 21d – this is used on all routes
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Fence 22: The Traditional French Equestrian School – L’Equitation de Tradi
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Fence 23abcd: The Etoile Royale Waters – Les Eaux de l’Etoile
Fence 23a
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Direct route fence 23bc
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Direct route fence 23d
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Alternative fence 23d – this corner is behind the fastest option for 23d but can still be taken after the direct route at 23abc
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Long route 23b
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Long route fence 23cd
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Fence 24: The Hundred Steps Staircase – L’Escalier des Cent Marches
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Fences 25 and 26: The Cornelian Dilemma – Le Choix Cornélien
Direct route fence 25 – this will be jumped at an angle to give a fairly straight line to fence 26
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Long route fence 25
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Direct route fence 26
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Long route 26b
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Fence 27: Los Angeles 2028
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This fence is themed for the next Olympics in Los Angeles
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
