• The Races
    • 2025 Race Calendar
    • Results
    • Series Rankings
    • Hall of Fame
    • Our Partners
    • FAQ
  • Live
  • The Academy
  • Escape Challenge
    • The Rules
    • Achievements
  • Blog
  • The Biking Shop
  • About Us
    • BikingMan Organization
    • Sponsorships
    • Contact us
  • Registration
  • The Races
    • 2025 Race Calendar
    • Results
    • Series Rankings
    • Hall of Fame
    • Our Partners
    • FAQ
  • Live
  • The Academy
  • Escape Challenge
    • The Rules
    • Achievements
  • Blog
  • The Biking Shop
  • About Us
    • BikingMan Organization
    • Sponsorships
    • Contact us
  • Registration
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • Italiano
  • Português
  • English
    • Français
    • Español
    • Italiano
    • Português
Race calendar
  • 555 SERRA GERAL #02 2025
  • CORSICA #08 2025
  • 555 CORSICA #01NEW 2025
  • 555 MANTIQUEIRA #01NEW 2025
  • ALPES-MARITIMES #05 2025
  • 555 ALPES-MARITIMES #03 2025
  • AURA #05 2025
  • 555 VERCORS #04 2025
  • X MOROCCO #05 2025
  • 555 MOROCCO #01NEW 2025
  • BRAZIL #05 2025
BikingMan - Follow the race LIVE
4 MIN READ

BikingMan Origine Alpes Maritimes 2024: the start of a breathtaking challenge on day 1

23 June 2024
-
blog-en, France-en
1 / 1
1 / 1

The BikingMan Origine Alpes Maritimes 2024, the third stage of the Ultra Cycling World Championship, began in Briançon, launching a 1,000-km race with 22,000 meters of elevation to be completed in under 5 days (120 hours) in full self-sufficiency. Regarded as one of the toughest stages of the 2024 season, it requires athletes to manage their sleep, food supplies, and any potential mechanical issues in the heart of the mountains.

Here’s a recap of this epic first day, where every participant tested their limits against this formidable course.

Prev 1 of 1 Next
  • Alpes-Maritimes 2024 - Résumé du jour 1 BikingMan Origine

    Alpes-Maritimes 2024 - Résumé du jour 1 BikingMan Origine

Prev 1 of 1 Next

First impressions before the start (morning)

Before the big start, excitement was palpable among the 120 participants, who felt a mix of anticipation and apprehension. Some shared their goals and thoughts, like athlete Bruno Laffargue, who told us:

“It’s hard to describe the feeling. A bit of impatience, a bit of worry… it’s a mix of all that. But I’m thrilled to be here.”

Others, marked by past events, were determined to push themselves. One cyclist who hadn’t finished the Corsica stage said:

“Right now, I haven’t completed a full BikingMan. The idea is to really test my body.”

The ascent of Col de la Cayolle (10:00 – 14:00)

The race began, and riders set off toward their first major challenge: Col de la Cayolle, located at the 50-km mark. Twenty kilometers of climbing awaited them, offering a majestic view. At the summit, early riders like Guillaume de Spoelberch shared their impressions:

“What a beautiful pass, wow! But it leaves its mark.”

At 2,326 meters, Col de la Cayolle is a symbolic passage in the BikingMan Origine Alpes Maritimes. The weather wasn’t entirely favorable at the start, with very cool temperatures and some rain. The riders prepared for a 30-km descent toward Briançon, where the weather would continue to play a crucial role.

The steep slopes of Col de Pontis (14:00 – 17:00)

The afternoon led cyclists to the day’s second big challenge: Col de Pontis. Although it’s only 5 km long and peaks at 1,300 meters, its slopes reaching 11% were impactful. A participant shared his surprise:

“This pass is tough! I didn’t think it was this steep, but it’s okay, it’s still early so I can handle it, and no rain, so that’s good.”

Gérard Rancon added:

“Ah, finally, an incline! I’m calm now. You can’t tell by looking at me, but I feel great!”

Despite the climb’s difficulty, the spectacular views of Lake Serre-Ponçon offered visual relief. This artificial lake, built in 1961 for hydroelectric energy and to irrigate local farmland, is one of Western Europe’s largest, stretching about twenty kilometers and accompanying cyclists on their route toward checkpoint 1.

Checkpoint 1 at Briançon and early reflections (17:00 – 20:00)

At the 185-km mark, cyclists reached the first checkpoint in Briançon. The leaders had already set a blazing pace, with Sébastien Pailly, winner of the BikingMan Euskadi the previous year, crossing the checkpoint first in under 7 hours, followed closely by his competitors.

The mood at this stage was mixed. Some were pleased with their strong pace, while others were beginning to feel the first signs of fatigue. One participant shared:

“I feel intense pain in my legs; I may have started out a bit too fast.”

The first night and the approach to Italy (20:00 – midnight)

As night fell, participants prepared for their first nighttime challenge. Heading toward Italy, they faced Col du Finestre, at an altitude of 2,178 meters. The temperatures dropped, making for a very cold night, especially for the top three, Sébastien Pailly, Jean-Michel Maurin, and Laurianne Plaçais.

“I’ll ride all night; whether to stop or not will make the difference,” said Jean-Michel Maurin, determined to push on without a break.

The provisional standings are:

  1. Sébastien Pailly – 6h 57m
  2. Jean-Michel Maurin – 7h 05m
  3. Cédric Le Pennedu – 7h 23m
  4. Laurianne Plaçais – 7h 23m
  5. Guillaume de Spoelberch – 7h 34m

Day 1 of BikingMan Origine Alpes Maritimes 2024 offered a glimpse into the difficulty of this ultra-cycling event. Majestic mountain passes, varied weather conditions, and breathtaking scenery accompanied participants through this first stage.

This was just the beginning of a demanding race where every pedal stroke counts. Join us tomorrow for day 2, as the ultracyclists continue their epic journey through the Alpes Maritimes, ready to face new challenges.

Find us on:

  • Website : bikingman.com
  • Instagram : bikingman_ultra
  • Facebook : bikingmanultra
  • Strava : / strava  

Watch another video

0
0
0

Related News

Other posts that you should not miss.

Experience Taiwan – Robbie Ferri bikepacking kit list

6 November 2018
-
Posted by Axel Carion

Robbie Ferrie, 2x world record breaker and english ultracyclist, shares the kit list he has used during the inaugural BikingMan Taiwan in …

Lire l'article →
blog-en, Taiwan-en
1 MIN READ

Corsica #3 2020 – the Movie

11 November 2021
-
Posted by David Styv

Throwback to the 2020 edition of the BikingMan Corsica for which we shared the film of the race some time ago. …

Lire l'article →
blog-en, Corsica-en
1 MIN READ

France – Exploration notes

13 July 2020
-
Posted by David Styv

Mission: Côte d’Azur Who never dreamt of cycling on the French Riviera? You can feel the breeze of the Mediterranean sea and …

Lire l'article →
France-en
8 MIN READ
Blog Home
Recent Posts
  • BikingMan 2024: A season marked by adventure and competition

    BikingMan 2024: A season marked by adventure and competition

    3 January 2025
  • Essential gear for succeeding at the BikingMan 555: A complete equipment guide

    Essential gear for succeeding at the BikingMan 555: A complete equipment guide

    22 December 2024
  • BikingMan X Morocco 2024: day 5 – the end of an epic adventure

    BikingMan X Morocco 2024: day 5 – the end of an epic adventure

    26 September 2024
  • BikingMan X Morocco 2024: day 4 – the adventure continues

    BikingMan X Morocco 2024: day 4 – the adventure continues

    25 September 2024
  • BikingMan X Morocco 2024: day 3 – a race marked by surprises and revelations

    BikingMan X Morocco 2024: day 3 – a race marked by surprises and revelations

    24 September 2024
  • BikingMan X Morocco 2024: day 2 – The battle continues across atlas challenges

    BikingMan X Morocco 2024: day 2 – The battle continues across atlas challenges

    23 September 2024
  • BikingMan X Morocco 2024: Day 1 – A spicy, challenging race

    BikingMan X Morocco 2024: Day 1 – A spicy, challenging race

    22 September 2024
  • BikingMan Origine Aura 2024: Day 5 – The final challenge and celebration of the finishers

    BikingMan Origine Aura 2024: Day 5 – The final challenge and celebration of the finishers

    25 July 2024
Topics
AcademyStage1 (27) AcademyStage2 (7) AcademyStage3 (12) A trier (2) Aura (3) BikingMan X (3) Bolivia (1) Brazil (9) Corsica (9) Equipment (7) Euskadi (4) Expedition (18) Expert opinion (2) France (10) High altitude cycling (1) Inspiration (8) Interview (6) Laos (4) Maroc (1) News (27) Oman (7) Organization (1) Peru / IncaDivide (7) Portugal (10) Préparation (1) Race Report (15) Results (2) resume (1) sri lanka (2) Stories (30) Taiwan (7) Tutorial (6) Video (32)
BikingMan Origine Alpes Maritimes 2024: the start of a breathtaking challenge on day 1 - BikingMan
Completez votre profil Hall of Fame / Complete your Hall of Fame profileAjoutez vos réseaux sociaux, rédigez une courte bio, corrigez vos informations / Add your social networks account, write your short bio, correct your information

Améliorez votre profil Hall of Fame en tirant le meilleur parti de celui-ci :

  • Ajoutez vos comptes de réseaux sociaux et permettez à tout le monde de consulter vos pages et suivre vos exploits
  • Écrivez votre biographie et dites à tout le monde qui vous êtes et ce que vous faites en quelques phrases
  • Une information est incorrecte ? Faites-le nous savoir et nous la corrigerons.

Improve your Hall of Fame profile by making the most out of it:

  • Provide your social networks account and allow everyone to check your pages and follow your feats
  • Write your bio and let everyone know who you are and what you do in a couple sentences
  • Any information is incorrect? Let us know and we will fix it. 
Rider name
Email used with BikingMan previously
Your bio (only 3-4 lines)
Facebook Profile
Instagram Profile
Strava Profile
Your website
Type a message or any information that needs correction
Rejoignez la famille BikingMan / Join the BikingMan familyInscrivez-vous à notre bulletin d'information pour recevoir toutes les actualités sur nos évènements et nos aventures en ultra-bikepacking / Subscribe to our newsletter to receive all our updates on events and ultra bikepacking adventures.
poupou@vivelevelo.com
Language

FAQ Having doubts, some questions? Check our FAQDiscover the BIKINGMAN SERIES calendar

About BikingMAN

BikingMan is the 1st unsupported ultracycling world championship. We share our passion of exploration cycling, bikepacking and long distance feats and help financing solidarity actions.

#Explore #Endure #Empower

// About us// Become a sponsor

 

Stayconnected

BikingMan on YouTube BikingMan on Facebook BikingMan sur Instagram BikingMan on SoundCloud BikingMan on Strava

sign up to our newsletter

    BikingMan - Incadivide
    © 2025 | BikingMan - Ultra Cycling Challenges All rights reserved - Legal mentions