• 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
5 MIN READ

BikingMan Corsica 2024: Day 4 – The Challenges of the Southeast Loop and the Finish in Biguglia

29 May 2024
-
blog-en, Corsica-en
1 / 1
1 / 1

The Ultimate Challenge of Southeastern Corsica

Day four of BikingMan Corsica tested the remaining participants as they neared the end of this demanding 1,000-km journey across the “Île de Beauté.” Near Ghisoni, in the spectacular Inzecca Gorge—a stunning natural site with deep gorges—the race continued. But it was in the southeast loop that the riders faced the day’s real challenges: the formidable climbs of Col de l’Ospedale and Col de Bavella, located between kilometers 600 and 700, proving to be a turning point for many participants.

Prev 1 of 1 Next
  • Corsica 2024 - Résumé du jour 4 BikingMan Origine

    Corsica 2024 - Résumé du jour 4 BikingMan Origine

Prev 1 of 1 Next

The Formidable Climbs of Col de l’Ospedale and Col de Bavella

Cyclists began the day with the ascent of Col de l’Ospedale, a steep climb surrounded by grand landscapes, followed by the even tougher Col de Bavella, featuring long ascents and rugged red granite formations. The faces of the cyclists showed the accumulated exhaustion since the start of the race.

Rémy Borrion, who led the race, overcame these challenges with determination, maintaining his lead. Behind him, other participants tried to keep up, but these two passes took their toll. Mathieu Belay, one of the participants tackling this pass, shared:

“We hit a bit of a slump last night; the road was tough and took a lot out of us.”

Another competitor, Joanie Lemire, explained:

“This is an extraordinary, colossal experience that takes me through incredible highs and lows. That’s why I’m here!”

Amélie Plennevaux stated:

“We’ll eat at CP3, and if all goes well, we won’t sleep tonight. We’ll push through to the finish. But if not, we’ll book a place to stay and tackle the last 100 km tomorrow morning before noon.”

Checkpoint 3 in Zicavo and Strategic Breaks

Throughout the day, many riders opted for a strategic stop at checkpoint 3 in Zicavo, located at kilometer 767, to gather strength before moving on. Here, Laurianne Plaçais and Jean-Michel Maurin, who had decided to ride together for part of the race, took a moment to rest and reassess their strategy. This approach was shared by other riders who knew the next challenge, Col de Verde, would be a tough stage to tackle without an energy boost.

The Climb to Col de Verde: Fatigue Mounts

Col de Verde, at kilometer 785 and rising to 1,289 meters, is one of the most imposing passes on the route. Those who reached it felt the effects of accumulated fatigue and lack of sleep. Dorian Nguy, who reached the pass with a group of cyclists, shared his experience:

“Tough climb, third day, pain everywhere… everywhere. The nights are tough.”

Despite the challenges, these participants kept pushing forward, motivated by the beautiful landscapes around them and the thought of crossing the finish line.

Castagniccia Region: A Scenic Route and the First Finishers in Biguglia

After Col de Verde, participants followed the cliffside road between Castagniccia and Costa Verde, offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. For many, this was a chance to recover a bit and get motivated for the final stretch. Jean Paul Sachet, admiring the scenery, said:

“I’m taking in the view before descending to the coast. It gives a bit of energy. I’ll look at the next part of the plan later.”

Meanwhile, in Biguglia, Rémy Borrion crossed the finish line, securing his dominance in this edition of BikingMan Corsica. With an impressive time of under 50 hours, he claimed his third BikingMan victory. Rémy shared his thoughts on his well-earned win:

“I hadn’t won anything recently, so I’m happy to get this one. The scenery along the way was incredible, though at night I couldn’t see much. It was an intense race.”

Behind him, Jonathan Chassin finished in second place, expressing his joy despite his fatigue:

“Riding at night through Bavella with pigs crossing in front of you—it’s really amazing. It was beautiful.”

In third place was Grégory Cassini, who expressed surprise at his ability to keep pedaling despite the exhaustion:

“I didn’t think I could make it without sleeping, but in the end, you find hidden reserves of strength.”

The Final Challenge Before the Finish: the Ascent to Casalta

Not all participants had reached Biguglia yet; those still on the course faced one last obstacle—a steep 20% climb to the village of Casalta. Bertrand Notte, taking on this final challenge, laughed through the pain:

“It’s inhumane, help!”

Likewise, Aurélien Rivard, progressing slowly but steadily, shared his thoughts on the punishing climb:

“What a way to end! After 950 km, finishing on a 20% grade… it’s heating up now, perfect!”

And Alexandre Coddeville added:

“Oh, this is a good one! A treat! Thanks, Axel! A nice little dessert, a digestif!”

The Final Countdown and Pride of the Finishers

While the first finishers savored their victory, many participants were still on the road, facing their own challenges. Every pedal stroke brought them closer to the finish line, as the countdown continued. The effort, pain, and perseverance were evident on their faces, but so was the pride of participating in such an intense adventure.

Day four of BikingMan Corsica 2024 was marked by heroic efforts, monumental challenges, and camaraderie among riders who supported each other to the end. The remaining participants will need to finish on time tomorrow, on the fifth and final day of this epic adventure. The provisional ranking is now established, and the list of finishers will continue to grow as the race nears its end.

Tomorrow, we’ll witness the final leg of this breathtaking journey that will remain etched in the memories of the BikingMan Corsica 2024 ultracyclists.

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.

The Wilder interview

11 May 2021
-
Posted by David Styv

Wilder Magazine looks back with Axel on his previous expeditions and the origin of the BikingMan series, from our Shaman’s initiation …

Lire l'article →
blog-en
1 MIN READ

It’s primetime for BikingMan on La Chaine L’Equipe

20 February 2020
-
Posted by David Styv

We are happy and proud to announce that the french TV La Chaine L’Equipe will air a 75-minute documentary around BikingMan, covering …

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

BikingMan Euskadi 2023 – day 3: Sébastien Pailly wins as Laurianne Plaçais takes the lead in the general ranking

13 September 2023
-
Posted by Laure

The third day of BikingMan Euskadi 2023 brought intense emotions, challenges, and unforgettable moments for the participants. Sébastien Pailly solidified his dominance, …

Lire l'article →
blog-en, Euskadi-en
5 MIN READ
Blog Home
Recent Posts
  • France TV x BikingMan Alpes-Maritimes

    France TV x BikingMan Alpes-Maritimes

    5 July 2025
  • Presentation of the 2025 courses

    Presentation of the 2025 courses

    5 April 2025
  • 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
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 Corsica 2024: Day 4 – The Challenges of the Southeast Loop and the Finish in Biguglia - 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