The Urban Trail de Cergy-Pontoise takes place between Cergy and Pontoise, two prefecture towns in Val-d’Oise near Paris. This trail race, accessible via RER A, offers 11 km and 22 km distances, diverging from a single, difficult mountain-style course.
Raid ESSEC, a student group, established the race to make trail running accessible to a wider audience than their original raid format, including athletes with disabilities on either distance. The 11 km course is primarily urban, passing the Château de Marcouville and running alongside the Oise river before concluding at the Marie Laurencin gymnasium; the 22 km course includes a loop through the Bois de Saint-Antoine. Pontoise holds the French “City of Art and History” designation, a heritage the organizers highlight alongside their use of eco-cups, reusable tableware, waste sorting, and support for athletes requiring adaptations.