It’s time! First look at every fence on Paris Olympic cross-country course in Versailles

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The Paris Olympics cross-country course for the Olympic eventing competition has been designed by Pierre Le Goupil, in the beautiful parkland of Versailles.

It 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

Fence 1

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence

Fence 2

Fence 3

Fence 4

Fence 5abc

Direct route fence 5a

Direct route fence 5b

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 5b

Fence 5c

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 5c

Alternative route fence 5bc – this involves looping back on yourself after jumping in over 5a

Alternative route fence 5a

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 5a alternative

Alternative route fence 5bc

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 5bc alternative

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

Direct route fence 6ab

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 6ab

Long route fence 6a

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 6a long route

Long route fence 6b

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 6b

Fence 7ab

Fence 7a

Direct route fence 7b

Long route fence 7b

Fence 8

Fence 9

Fence 10abc

Direct route fence 10a

Direct route fence 10a close up

Alternative route fence 10a

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.

The quickest route is likely to be taking this arrowhead as 10b, then a curving line to the left…

…to the corner on the right side of this 10c.

Alternative options for fence 10b

Alternative fence 10c

Fence 11

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 11

Fence 12

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 12

Fence 13

Fence 13a

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 13a

Fence 13b

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 13b

Fence 14

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence 14

The first of two pontoon crossings comes after fence 14

Fence 15

An open ditch on rising ground

Fence 16abcd

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

Right-hand route fence 16bc

Right-hand route fence 16d

Left-hand route fence 16a

Left-hand route fence 16b

Left-hand route fence 16cd

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.