Welcome to the Loire 725
725 km paddle race (kayak, stand-up paddle, canoe and pirogue)
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The unforgettable experience of a 725 km journey on France’s longest river!
Europe’s longest paddle race (kayak, stand-up paddle, canoe and pirogue) on the last wild river and its incredible heritage.
The first edition of the Loire 725 took place from Sunday June 19 to Saturday June 25, 2022.
The Loire 725 is back for a 2nd edition, on June 16, 2024 for a new journey from the town of ROANNE (Loire) to the estuary, in the town of PAIMBOEUF (Loire Atlantique).
Thanks to all participants, sponsors, organizers and volunteers.
About the event
In the wave of the Dordogne Intégrale (130 to 350 km), long-distance water races have been on the rise in Europe for the past ten years, so the Loire River was bound to attract the attention of paddlers of all stripes. The cancellation in 2021 of the famous Yukon River Quest (due to Covid) was one of the triggers, as Alain Morvan, a canoeist from the Loire, decided to transcend this disappointment with a giant water race on the Loire.
Launched as a joke, the idea of an unofficial descent with no ranking eventually brought together 22 pioneers, who were able to carry out a “life-size” test of this adventure, without equivalent in Europe, between Roanne and Paimboeuf (725 km).
And this race “number zero”, after consultation with all the participants, inevitably gave rise to the idea of a “real” race in June 2022: the Loire 725!
The spirit of the Loire 725
– Develop an international ultra-long distance nautical event on the last wild river.
– Highlight one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe: the Loire, and all of the sites crossed, among the most famous in the world, such as the castles of the loire 725.
– Carry out an international event every 2 years, which creates a link between the 10 departments and the 4 regions concerned by the Roanne – Paimboeuf route.
– Work in partnership with structures committed to the protection and enhancement of the Loire, from a tourist and environmental point of view.
– Create a free space for confrontation and meetings, between the best French people or foreigners, whether in canoe-kayak, pirogue or stand-up paddle; and this in an extreme nautical racing format.
– Encourage high-level raiders to take on an original challenge and open this event to as many people as possible by accepting relay registrations.
– Communicate strongly internationally to respond to requests, particularly Anglo-Saxon.
– Voluntarily limit to 200 boats to maintain the organizational quality and safety essential for such a race format.
– Make communities and departmental and regional canoe-kayak clubs and committees privileged contacts and partners: it is also necessary that it’s “their” race on “their” Loire river…
Loire 725 partners
