Night arrivals in Anglet

The night arrivals continued in Anglet. Around 3:40 a.m., Belgian riders Maxime and Sydney crossed the finish line. They had just completed the 23,000 meters of elevation gain on the course, and despite their fatigue, their enthusiasm was clear.

“Exhausted, but it was magnificent. The views were amazing,” said Maxime, visibly happy to have finished. “We were incredibly lucky with the weather. We feared rain at the start, but everything went smoothly. I did Corsica last year, and I thought it was stunning, but here, the landscapes are even more incredible.”

Jean-Paul Sachet: a perfectly timed finish

Shortly afterward, Jean-Paul Sachet arrived at 8:20 a.m., just in time to catch his return train with only two hours to spare. A navigational error had cost him two precious hours, but he managed to finish the race on time. His relief was palpable.

“I don’t know how I made it here,” said Jean-Paul, still in shock from his performance. “It’s often like that; you realize afterward what you’ve just achieved. With 23,000 meters of elevation, I think this is the most beautiful BikingMan I’ve done, even if it took me the longest.”

Filipe Rodrigues: a successful first experience

After facing the Basque Country’s challenges, Filipe Rodrigues also completed his first BikingMan. Surprised by his own performance, he shared his feelings about completing such a demanding race.

“I don’t think I’ve fully grasped what I just did,” said Filipe. “The climbs we had to face, especially over the past two days, were really impressive. I’m a bit in awe of myself. I never would have thought I’d manage this for my first BikingMan.”

A scenic approach before the final climb

On the course, by midday, 16 participants were still a few dozen kilometers from the finish. These last cyclists enjoyed one of the final scenic views of the route, especially when passing through the Pas de Roland, an iconic spot in the region. This legendary location provided riders with a final immersion in Basque history and nature.

However, one last obstacle awaited them: the Col de l’Égaré. This climb, combining fatigue and heat, posed an ultimate test for the cyclists. Amélie Plennevaux tackled it in the afternoon, accompanied by Laurianne Plaçais, who had finished the race in second place.

Amélie Plennevaux completes her race

Amélie Plennevaux finally crossed the finish line after braving the slopes of the Col de l’Égaré. Supported by Laurianne, Amélie was warmly welcomed by her loved ones and other finishers. Her emotions were evident as she reflected on the experience.

“Incredible! It was so hard,” she said, clearly thrilled to have completed the race. “I think BikingMan is accessible to anyone who loves cycling, but Euskadi is unique. It’s extremely beautiful and extremely difficult. I’m in love with the mountains, and here, it was just crazy, both in terms of the landscapes and the effort. I never thought I’d make it.”

A triumphant arrival for Benjamin

During the closing evening, the last arrivals were especially moving. As participants and their families gathered, Benjamin crossed the finish line to rapturous applause. Although he was second to last, his arrival was worthy of a rockstar.

“Incredible! It was perfect,” said Benjamin, emotional and close to tears. “I feel so much gratitude for everyone I encountered during this race and in times of hardship. Whether it was the other participants, those who had to withdraw, or even the families… it was an amazing experience.”

For Benjamin, the race was a real mental challenge.

“I had to fight every day to meet the deadlines and avoid being disqualified. It was mentally very demanding, but I enjoyed it almost all the time. Without that, I wouldn’t have been able to continue.”

The final arrival: Tim Douglass claims his comeback

It was almost 1 a.m. on Friday night when the last participant crossed the finish line. Tim Douglass, an Australian living in Malaysia, calmly completed his BikingMan Euskadi. After a withdrawal last year, he claimed his revenge by finishing within the time limit this edition.

With 41 finishers out of 63 starting participants, this edition of BikingMan Euskadi proved especially challenging. Many participants had to withdraw due to the difficulty of the course and conditions.

The final standings

This edition of BikingMan Euskadi concludes with Sébastien Pailly in the lead, winning the race in his first participation. Laurianne Plaçais, with her second-place finish, takes the lead in the overall season ranking, holding more than a 500-point lead over Maximilien Couvreur. With two races remaining in the season, Laurianne seems well-positioned to claim the 2023 BikingMan champion title.

In the general BikingMan Euskadi standings, Laurent Garbolino completed the podium in third place. New names also appeared in the season ranking, including Rémi Borrion (3rd), Valentin van Overloop (4th), and Amélie Plennevaux (9th), joining the competition for top honors.

Next up: Brazil and Morocco

Now only two stages remain on the 2023 BikingMan calendar: BikingMan Brazil, starting September 25, and BikingMan X in Morocco on October 30. These two races will determine the final season winner.

The BikingMan Euskadi 2023 has been an unforgettable adventure, featuring breathtaking landscapes and legendary climbs, giving participants an experience they won’t soon forget. For those who crossed the finish line, the sense of accomplishment is immense, and for those already preparing for the next races, the challenge continues.

This fifth day closes a BikingMan Euskadi rich in emotions, where each participant faced enormous challenges to reach their goal.

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Ronan Lesueur takes fourth place

At 1:18 a.m., to the applause in Anglet, Ronan Lesueur crossed the finish line to take fourth place in this BikingMan Euskadi. After 68 hours and 16 minutes of effort, he fully enjoyed the moment, aware that his performance exceeded his expectations.

“Really happy because I didn’t think I’d get this place, especially since, just four hours ago, I was thinking of giving up,” shared Ronan, exhausted but happy. “I’m glad I pushed beyond my limits, especially since Valentin had a mechanical issue, and Rémi had a leg cramp.”

Rémi Borrion: redemption after last year’s withdrawal

An hour later, Rémi Borrion completed his journey. After being forced to withdraw last year, Rémi successfully achieved a top 5 finish this time, marking his fourth completion out of five BikingMan events.

“I really didn’t want to give up again. I had to dig deep to secure this spot. It was really tough, tougher than some of my past victories,” he said, relieved to have finished. “The enjoyment? I found it in the beautiful landscapes, but the problem was you had to climb first to see them,” he joked, reflecting on the race’s physical demands. “When you’re not motivated, you just suffer. Trust me on that.”

Cédric battles fatigue on the Tourmalet

Meanwhile, further back, some participants were still tackling the Pyrenees, notably the daunting Col du Tourmalet, located about 350 kilometers from the finish line. Cédric, one of the riders, entered survival mode, moving slowly toward the summit.

“I left without breakfast this morning, not feeling great, my stomach is growling,” said Cédric, visibly affected by the intense effort and lack of food. “I’ve got sausages in my bag, but I didn’t feel like eating… Maybe later,” he chuckled despite the fatigue.

Valentin van Overloop: heat and mechanical issues

Fifty kilometers from the finish, Valentin van Overloop continued to struggle against the heat and the course’s final challenges. Initially in a position to finish fourth, he was delayed by a mechanical problem on Wednesday evening.

“I had a front brake issue; my pads were stuck to the disc, I couldn’t move forward,” explained Valentin, frustrated by the setback. After finding a mechanic in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, he managed to continue with the help of some WD40 applied overnight. “Thankfully, it worked. Now, I’m looking forward to ice cream!” he said, trying to keep his spirits high.

At 3 p.m. that afternoon, Valentin finally completed his BikingMan Euskadi in 89 hours and 53 minutes. Despite the satisfaction of finishing, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed about missing out on fourth place.

“I saw that the guys ahead weren’t going very fast. It’s a bit frustrating,” he admitted. “But overall, I’m happy. It’s an extreme route, with climbs coming at you fast. There’s not much respite. It’s hot, and it’s tough to stay fueled.”

The Labays pass: a crushing challenge for the remaining cyclists

Several participants were still on the Basque roads, especially in the formidable Col de Labays at kilometer 780. Under the blazing heat, a small group reached the 1,354-meter summit after an exhausting ascent.

“I’m moving slowly, but I’m moving,” commented one cyclist, visibly worn out. “The plan for tonight? None, just to make it in one piece. I don’t think I’ll finish tonight; it’ll probably be tomorrow.”

For these cyclists, every pedal stroke was a real challenge as they slowly but surely approached the finish line.

The first pair completes the race

At 8:30 p.m., the first pair also crossed the finish line in Anglet. Robin and Jean-Paul completed their journey in 87 hours and 26 minutes, visibly moved. For them, the main goal was to stay consistent throughout the race.

“We chose to sleep at night and stay in good shape each day,” explained Robin. “In the end, it worked for us, and it’s a true joy to finish.”

Aymeric: euphoric at the finish

Half an hour later, Aymeric arrived, euphoric after his journey.

“I made it, totally spaced out,” he laughed. “At one point, my mom came to give me a hug, and I didn’t even realize it was her!”

He recounted how he went through every emotion during the race’s few days.

“At the start, it was panic; I thought I’d never make it. Then, gradually, I started to gain confidence. You meet people, you chat, you go through hard times, but also some incredible moments,” he said, clearly thrilled by the experience.

“At one point, I even had to get off my bike in a climb, thinking the mountain had beaten me. But in the end, you make friends, go through so much, and it was an amazing experience,” he concluded.

A countdown for the final participants

By the end of this fourth day, fewer than 20 participants had crossed the finish line. With a countdown underway to finish on time by Saturday morning at 5 a.m., 28 participants remained on the BikingMan Euskadi course. Every pedal stroke, every climb was now a race against time to complete this exhausting challenge.

This fourth day of BikingMan Euskadi 2023 highlighted the resilience of the participants, with joyous finishes for some and intense efforts from those still on the road. The legendary Pyrenean passes and the race’s challenges once again tested the athletes’ limits, while also offering them unforgettable moments.

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A decisive night: Sébastien Pailly extends his lead

From the start of the second night, Sébastien Pailly continued to assert his leadership, widening the gap with Laurianne Plaçais. By 6 a.m., he had a comfortable 30-kilometer lead over his closest competitor. Although Laurianne didn’t try to close the gap, she focused on managing her effort.

“I’m not trying to catch up with him because he’s going too fast. No, I’m fine where I am, it suits me well,” said Laurianne Plaçais, aware of her limits due to accumulated fatigue and some minor discomforts. “I have a metallic taste in my mouth, so everything I eat is… let’s just say it’s not very pleasant,” she added jokingly.

Despite these annoyances, she pressed on steadily, even stopping at a cemetery to refill her water supply and eat a meal she had been carrying for some time.

Sébastien Pailly: a well-managed race to the end

Meanwhile, Sébastien Pailly continued at a swift pace. About 100 kilometers from the finish line, he took a brief respite on the Colifa lazy, a dreaded ascent, to rest.

“Today, I stopped for three-quarters of an hour to sleep, but it was just for comfort. I have a good lead, so I’m really enjoying the race,” he shared, appearing relaxed despite the day’s challenges.

He also noted that the night had been colder and more humid than the previous one, making his progress a bit tougher.

“It was a little harder this night, but now that the sun is out, it’s great,” he added with a smile.

Battling for the top 5: between challenges and determination

While Sébastien Pailly held a comfortable lead, the battle for the remaining top positions was intense. After the challenging Tourmalet pass, the lead participants continued to tackle famous climbs like the Soulor and Aubisque. Around noon, they faced the Marie Blanque pass, with slopes reaching 12% – a true test for their already fatigued bodies.

Ronan, one of the competitors, felt every kilometer in his muscles.

“I’m hurting all over – joints, muscles… it’s just a matter of managing now,” he said, visibly exhausted but determined to keep going.

Just ahead of him, Valentin van Overloop was confronting the Labays pass.

“My feet hurt from the pressure, and my knees are starting to creak,” he said, taking a shaded break to avoid overheating under the blazing sun.

Despite everything, he kept up his spirits and humor as he continued climbing toward the summit.

The Labays pass: a formidable test for the participants

At 1,354 meters above sea level, the Labays pass is one of the most challenging sections of BikingMan Euskadi, a feared and admired obstacle. For some, like Valentin, it was a challenge to face at all costs, despite the intense afternoon heat.

“We’re roasting, but it’ll pass,” he remarked, carefully managing the ascent.

The lush greenery and shaded forest areas provided a welcome relief, but it wasn’t enough to erase the accumulated fatigue.

Meanwhile, Rémi Borrion, also climbing the pass, encountered technical issues.

“I got a flat tire right after CP2, and the only bike shop is unexpectedly closed today,” he shared, frustrated but determined to press on. He still had over 150 kilometers to cover before reaching the finish line.

Victory for Sébastien Pailly

In Anglet, near 1 p.m., Sébastien Pailly crossed the finish line, crowned the winner of BikingMan Euskadi 2023 after 55 hours and 45 minutes of effort.

“It was super interesting, and for me, it was a chance to discover this race format, which I didn’t know at all. I had many questions, and now I have a lot of answers,” he said, contentedly.

He also mentioned how much he enjoyed traversing Spain, a territory familiar to him, and the variety of landscapes encountered along the way.

Laurianne Plaçais: a second-place finish with added value

Nearly four hours after Sébastien, Laurianne Plaçais crossed the finish line. As she had done the previous year, she finished in second place – a result that was even more valuable this time, as it propelled her to the top of the season’s general ranking.

“I’m really happy with the result. It was a tough race, but I’m satisfied with my performance,” she said, exhausted but smiling.

Her consistency and tenacity throughout the season helped her reach this crucial goal.

Laurent Garbolino secures third place

Third place seemed destined for Laurent Garbolino, who, by 6 p.m., was only 80 kilometers from the finish line. Completely out of reach of his pursuers, he knew victory was within his grasp.

“Today was brutal; I really baked under the heat,” he laughed, adding that he was looking forward to finishing and enjoying a well-deserved beer. Despite the fatigue, he kept a fighting spirit, determined to complete what he described as “one of the toughest challenges he’s ever faced.”

Shifting rankings

At the end of this third day, the BikingMan Euskadi 2023 rankings saw a shake-up. Sébastien Pailly claimed victory, while Laurianne Plaçais, with her second-place finish, took the lead in the season’s general ranking. Laurent Garbolino rounded out the podium.

Of the 63 participants who started, 42 were still in the race by the day’s end. Once again, BikingMan Euskadi proved its difficulty and beauty, offering athletes an unforgettable adventure through the legendary Pyrenean passes.

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Rémi Borrion and Ronan Lesueur struggle with insomnia

After a restless night, some riders, like Rémi Borrion and Ronan, found themselves desperate for sleep, struggling to find the rest needed to face the second day. Rémi, visibly exhausted, explained:

“I stopped often, took short breaks, but it didn’t really work. It’s strange; it’s not even adrenaline keeping me awake, I don’t know what it is.”

This lack of sleep weighed heavily on his physical form, but he remained optimistic, planning “microsleeps” to help him through the remainder of the race. The two friends found themselves within 10 kilometers of the Spandelles pass, an ascent with an average slope of 8%, which Laurianne Plaçais and Sébastien Pailly had already conquered earlier. These obstacles added to the race’s overall challenge, as exhaustion continued to take hold.

Sébastien Pailly temporarily relinquishes his lead

Overnight, Sébastien Pailly, who led the race on the first day, was overtaken by Laurianne Plaçais after he fell asleep briefly. Laurianne recounted the surprising scene:

“I lay down for 40 minutes, and when I set off again, I found Sébastien asleep. We rode together for a bit, but not for long, side by side.”

She then took the lead, managing her pace carefully despite the increasing difficulties. This shift in leadership added a new twist to the competition, as Laurianne showed impressive resilience in the face of the race’s intensity.

The Basque terrain continued to test the cyclists, especially on the Port de Balès pass, one of Euskadi’s natural beauties. The spectacular scenery contrasted with the physical effort required to reach the summits, as Laurianne described:

“It’s tough, but it’s worth the pain.”

As the day progressed, the riders faced three consecutive passes: the Port de Balès, the Peyresourde, and finally, the legendary Aspin.

The Pyrenees and history intertwine

Upon reaching the Aspin pass, which rises to 1,489 meters, the participants of BikingMan Euskadi faced one of the race’s iconic stages. This pass, traversed 76 times by the Tour de France, represents more than just a physical challenge; it’s a symbol of endurance and pushing one’s limits. As history tells it, this thermal road was built in the 18th century to link Pyrenean spa towns, driven by Napoleon III’s initiatives.

For the BikingMan cyclists, however, the Aspin pass was a key stage before reaching checkpoint 2 in Campan. Only after conquering this pass could they rest and prepare for the final phase toward the finish line.

Laurianne Plaçais leads at checkpoint 2

At 4:05 p.m., Laurianne Plaçais arrived at checkpoint 2, having covered 621 km in 35 hours and 2 minutes. Despite her dominant position, she began to feel the first signs of exhaustion:

“I still have another 24 hours on the bike, and my legs are really starting to hurt. I’ve barely eaten all day, and the burns around my seat area are hard to manage.”

Despite the pain, Laurianne remained focused on her goal, knowing that victory was now just a few hundred kilometers away.

Less than an hour later, Sébastien Pailly arrived, clearly eager to set off again:

“Yesterday’s race wiped me out, but now I’m good to go again!”

After just a three-minute stop, he was back on the road, determined to make up lost time. For Sébastien, every minute mattered, and he knew that nighttime strategy could be decisive.

Laurianne, on the other hand, opted for a 30-minute nap before resuming, preferring to rest and face the remaining kilometers in better condition.

“I’d rather leave refreshed than collapse later. This way, I won’t be sleeping on the cold ground,” she said before getting back on her bike.

A duel for victory

With less than 360 km to go, the race for victory between Laurianne and Sébastien promised to be intense. Behind them, other competitors also battled fatigue and heat. Several riders within the top 10 to top 20 range, like Laurent Garbolino, approached the Spandelles pass under scorching heat, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees. Laurent, part of the lead pack, shared:

“Yesterday, I put my foot down for the first time in my life. Today is a bit better, but it’s tough to keep going with so little sleep.”

Others, like Arnaud and Aymeric, continued their progress with lighthearted jokes to lift the mood.

“The others wouldn’t stop drafting behind me,” joked Arnaud Hendrix, while Aymeric, wearing a polka-dot jersey, pretended to lead the race before being overtaken.

The battle for third place

At checkpoint 2, Laurent Garbolino arrived four hours after the top two.

“I’ll take a quick nap and tackle the Tourmalet at night. It’ll be a treat without cars or motorcycles,” he said, visibly calm in the face of the massive challenge ahead.

He kept his eyes on the goal of securing third place and looked forward to having a celebratory drink in Anglet the following evening.

As night fell, delayed riders continued to trickle into checkpoint 2, tired but determined to finish the race. They now faced one of the course’s biggest challenges: the Tourmalet pass, rising to 2,115 meters.

Nighttime strategy

With Sébastien Pailly back in the lead, closely followed by Laurianne Plaçais, nighttime strategy would be crucial in determining the winner of this 2023 BikingMan Euskadi edition. Behind them, the battle for third place was also wide open, with Laurent Garbolino in position, though many contenders were still vying for a spot.

Tension mounted as the riders prepared to tackle the final stages of this grueling event, where every kilometer counted.

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Tension rises before the start

On Monday morning, just moments before the start, excitement filled the air. Cyclists were getting their GPS trackers, having their equipment inspected, bikes weighed, and receiving their final briefing. Each athlete managed the stress in their own way. Some were experienced, while others were participating for the first time. Among them, one story stood out: an athlete who had survived a motorcycle accident in August 2020.

“Hit by a car, I lost my right leg,” he shared. “I wasn’t cycling back then, but I discovered it during my rehab. Today, I’m here, starting my first BikingMan. It’s incredible!”

Other competitors handled their nerves in a more technical manner, like Laurianne Plaçais, who encountered a mishap with her equipment:

“I ripped the cables on my lamp sockets, but fortunately, a Race Angel helped me fix it. I couldn’t imagine riding all night with just my headlamp. I need lots of light to avoid falling asleep.”

Guillaume Ombratieu admitted, “I was very stressed last week, but oddly enough, I’m quite calm now.” Philippe Coussy added, “Last week, I was anxious, but since Friday, I’ve felt more confident. Endurance is my area, though I’m a little nervous about the difficulty after Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.”

A tense start at 5 a.m.

At 5 a.m., the cyclists set off into the Basque wilderness. After just a few dozen kilometers, the first mountain passes rose before them, plunging the competitors into the heart of wild nature. The first strategic stop for refueling was at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, at kilometer 176. This was the last chance for participants to recharge before tackling the Arnostéguy pass, an 18 km climb with slopes reaching 17%.

The Arnostéguy pass climb: a real challenge

“I’d mentally prepared myself for it to be hard, but not this hard!” exclaimed Valentin. “It’s long, it’s steep, sometimes it’s better to walk than to wreck your legs on the bike.”

Another participant, Arnaud, echoed this feeling:

“The first 170 kilometers were relatively easy, but now you understand why it’s called the BikingMan Euskadi.”

The climb up Arnostéguy was a daunting test, but one rewarded by an exceptional view. At the 200 km mark, cyclists reached the summit, where they could enjoy an unobstructed view of the Basque landscape.

“It’s steep, really steep, but it’s worth it!” shared a cyclist. “It’s 10 degrees cooler than last year, and with the fresh breeze, it’s almost pleasant.”

Checkpoint 1: Chalet d’Iraty

By early afternoon, participants were nearing checkpoint 1, located at the Chalets d’Iraty, after 240 km. The climb up the Errozate pass, just before reaching this checkpoint, added another difficulty with slopes reaching 20%. Some cyclists, like Sébastien, seemed unfazed:

“It’s tough, especially after 200 kilometers, but I’m managing well. I’m preparing for what’s ahead.”

Others took the opportunity to rest under the shade of trees, enjoying a well-deserved break before resuming the journey.

“It’s going to be a long day…” joked Laurent Garbolino, before adding, “There’s still a lot left to do, but look, it’s beautiful here.”

Up front, a battle was brewing between Sébastien Pailly and Laurianne Plaçais. Sébastien reached the first checkpoint after 11 hours and 17 minutes of racing.

“For now, I’m sticking to my pace. We’ll tally the results on the last stretch. I’d like to sleep in Argelès, but we’ll see how I feel,” he said while refueling.

Laurianne arrived 25 minutes later, tired but content.

“I settled into my rhythm, often found myself alone, and actually, it’s pretty convenient for not getting too carried away,” she said, smiling. Despite the difficulty, she remained positive: “It’s always just as tough, even though I know the course. Every time, you remember the pain, but that’s the beauty of this race.”

Withdrawals and injuries

Unfortunately, not everyone was as fortunate. Sébastien Chabanne, who suffered a fall just a few kilometers before the checkpoint, had to withdraw.

“I slipped on a puddle and fell,” he explained, visibly disappointed.

Despite a break and medical attention, the pain in his thigh was too intense. This marked the second consecutive year he was forced to leave the race prematurely.

A first day ends with slight gaps

The first day of BikingMan Euskadi 2023 concluded with minimal gaps between the podium contenders. Sébastien Pailly led the race, followed by Laurianne Plaçais and Laurent Garbolino. For these athletes, the night ahead promised hours of uninterrupted pedaling to maintain their position in the race.

At the back of the pack, other athletes focused more on the experience than the competition.

“It’s worth the struggle, truly,” exclaimed one participant.

Another added, “I’ll try to ride as much as possible tonight; it’ll be cooler, so it’ll be better.”

Night fell over the Basque Country, but for these brave cyclists, the road was still long, and the challenges had only just begun.

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The 2022 season ended a few weeks ago after the wet and epic Brazil event. It is therefore time to take a look back at what happened during this second part of the year.

And let’s start by the first event concerned, introducing our new format: the 555.

555 Vercors
This inaugural edition invited participants to immerse themselves in the heart of the Vercors for a course mixing road (80%) and gravel (20%) over a distance of 500 km and a time limit of 55 hours. If on paper one could imagine a half-BikingMan, a quick look at the elevation (12,000m) puts things into perspective and sets the tone for the challenge that this adventure represents. As a result, it is hardly surprising to find emblematic figures of BikingMan and the ultra scene on the starting line: Captain Max, 4th on the Euskadi 2021 and the 2022 edition in Corsica a few weeks earlier, Fabian Burri our favorite Swiss gipsy and finisher of 10 BikingMan and a number of other ultracycling events around the globe, Christophe Coulomb, also very experienced with a list that continues to fill up well, or even Florent Dumas, 3rd in Portugal in beginning of the season or our Shaman Axel who is riding again after having just completed his 1st BikingMan X a few days earlier. Finally, after having completed his first BikingMan in Corsica and above all having been inspired by the success of Laurianne, his wife, on the X, FX has also joined the adventure of the 555.

Départ du 555 Vercors

Le sourire de Christophe

Axel enchaine après le X

Damien 2nd à la poursuite de Max

Antoine bientôt dans le gravel

Paulo full gaz!

Vive les gorges

Florent dans le dur

FX sort du gravel

Captain Max 1er à l'arrivée

With a start for the first time for a BikingMan at noon, given in heavy rain, our furious bunch set out to attack the mountains of Vercors, a hotbed of resistance during the 2nd World War. And it is clear of one thing, they themselves will have to fight their own battle to cover this magnificent track in less than 55 hours.
If in front, Captain Max quickly takes the lead and will never let go, even when the night comes to disrupt the reading of a sector covered by vegetation, behind him the positions are exchanged many times between Florent, Damien and FX who joins in their duel.
Behind them, Axel is already far behind, accompanied by Antoine, who is a bit in difficulty. They will go a good way together until they reach the finishline.
Further on, Christophe lives his adventure in Solo, and continues his journey almost serenely. Behind him, at a good distance, Christophe Coulomb and Richard Jeanjean have decided to share this adventure and ride together, with totally opposite feelings: Richard, not much of a fan of offroading, suffers these sections harshly when Christophe, tackling this 555 without putting on any pressure, on the contrary take full advantage of passages in the middle of nature.
With them for a good part of the course, Jérôme suffered a major backlash at the end of the second day and found himself very close to giving up. But, supported by his comrades, he chose to rest and set off more quietly on Sunday morning, while Fabian, who lacked training, lost positions since the halfway point and found himself just ahead of Jérôme.
On the withdrawal front, Paulo suffered major GPS problems and after more than 50kms of detour chose to give up, just like Thomas and Raphael.
Establishing the first mark of the 555 Vercors in 29h39m, Captain Max won a superb victory under a memorable welcome from the public present at Villard-de-Lans. Behind him, it was finally FX who snatched 2nd place, over-motivated by the proximity and the battle with Florent and especially Damien who finished only 13min behind him. Florent lost ground to them a little near the end of the course and took 4th place arriving a little over an hour later.
Then follow Axel and Antoine with a night arrival, then Christophe in the early morning.
Christophe and Richard finish after 47 hours of racing, at the end of the morning. A few hours later, it was Fabian’s turn to complete his 555 with the red lantern Jérôme who had a good fight to finish with a good margin on the time limit, in less than 53 hours.

Find the complete ranking of the 555 Vercors:

555 Vercors 2022 rankings

AURA #2
The BikingMan Sprint series resumes at the start of August with the 2nd edition of the BikingMan AURA. Back to Beaumont-Lès-Valence where the race village is once again deployed to welcome the hundred participants who have come to rediscover the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. This time, the heat wave will accompany the whole event with dry conditions which will make the search for water sometimes very difficult.

Cyril sur la ligne de départ

AURA 2022, c'est parti

Reflets sur le lac

Quentin devant le Mont Gerbier

Le long du lac sous la canicule

Dans la montée du Pas de Peyrol

Bertrand repose les jambes dans le Grand Colombier

Bascule du Grand Colombier

Superbes gorges pour rentrer dans le Vercors

Trilogie de la Chartreuse

It is accompanied by the fervor and energy of Cyril, mayor of the municipality of Beaumont-lès-Valence, that the start is given at 5am, the usual time for BM Sprint events. The riders set off in waves towards the Ardèche foothills.
After a few hours, a battle begins to take shape at the outposts, with some well-known bibs including Rémi and Patrick, already wheel in wheel at the exit of Mont Gerbier but both outstripped by a newcomer, Yoan Dercourt, who will put pressure in front for a good part of the race. At breakneck speed, these 3 will continue until CP1.
Behind, Bertrand, still in the race to achieve his challenge of completing all races of the Sprint series, encountered mechanical problems which put a premature halt to his morning progress and cast doubt on his ability to finish this stage. Forced to find a solution to repair, he will walk for nearly 20 kms to find a possible repair solution. After several lost hours, he still manages to set off again with a bike in working order and climbs back at breakneck speed on the red lanterns. A great scare compared to his ambitions, fortunately behind him now as his pace quickly puts him back on track to cross the first checkpoint in time.
At the start of CP1, Rémi left alone in the lead, Yoan resting a little more, while Patrick chose to let them explain themselves to resume his progress at his own pace. Next objective, the ascent of the Pas de Peyrol and its superb panoramic view.
After a short ride with Bruno, who caught up with him shortly after the descent of the Pas de Peyrol, Patrick joined Rémi again, disturbed by a poor food choice. Yoan is then alone in front as the night sets in at the end of this first day.
Behind, as often, the gaps already seem huge as the latecomers stop for the night before reaching checkpoint 1 (km 270). A long day is ahead for them to stay in the race and make sure to remain within the time windows.
For our leading trio, the night shuffles the cards and the progress is sometimes fluid, sometimes hesitant. The positions are also blurred with the first significant rest stops, and a crossed silhouette can be a reparted leader as much as a back-to-level pursuer.
For Patrick, this night will change everything: following his GPS, he anticipates a change of direction and throws himself into what he first believes to be the road, but quickly turns out to be a bumpy track. Things follow one another and the fall is inevitable. Lying on the ground, Patrick is seized with intense pain. Unable to leave, he therefore contacts the organisation to report his fall and asks them for assistance. On the spot, as they try to free him from his bike and put him back on his feet, a violent pain seizes Patrick. He quickly understands that his mistake will be fatal to his adventure and that rescue will be needed to help him. When they arrive, the pain is confirmed and only an injection can mask this pain and allow him to be evacuated. For Patrick, the race is over and so begins another adventure (find his full story of his BikingMan here: BikingCrash in AURA).
Now alone in the lead, Rémi and Yoan continue their progress towards the early hours of the day and checkpoint 2, Rémi now in the lead will maintain a short lead, around one to two hours over Yoan until the finish. Rémi will thus complete the course, including these 50kms of extension to avoid the Tour de l’Ain, in less than 49 hours, his 2nd victory on a BikingMan! Yoan will arrive a little over 2 hours after him.
Further on, after resuming a quasi-senator’s rhythm, Bertrand will finish the race while managing in 35th place overall. He is still on his way to his challenge of completing the 7 sprint events on the calendar for the 2022 season!
Note the beautiful 20th place overall of the first woman, Vanessa, who completed her 1st BikingMan there.

Find the complete ranking of BikingMan AURA #2:

AURA 2022 rankings

Euskadi #2
If in September children have their back-to-school, ultracyclists have their Euskadi and for this 2nd edition of the BikingMan highlighting the charms of the Basque Country and the Pyrenees, the show has largely been there, be it the magic landscapes or the battle to decide the winner.
Once again established at the Eden Villages Bela Basque campsite in Anglet, the race village welcomed participants as usual from Saturday. On paper, this stage presents the toughest field with no less than 4 winners of BikingMan: Laurianne of course, victorious on the X, Rémi winner on the AURA and France 2021, Lorris on the France and Clément, winner of the 1st edition and Portugal at the start of the season and Corsica 2021. Big players therefore, without mentioning other solid athletes also present.

Euskadi #2, c'est parti!

Lorris malheureux animateur du BikingMan Euskadi

Affaire de famille, Emilie avance imperturbable

Dans les lacets

Christophe au somment de Spandelles

Nombreux chevaux en liberté sur le parcours

Marche obligatoire dans les raidars

Nature et faune, la recette sauvage de l'Euskadi

Marco dans une des ascensions

Stephen notre fière lanterne rouge

And quickly all the promises kept will be revealed. Lorris, motivated and prepared as ever, is riding like hell in front. Behind him, follow Sébastien Bouchet, also starting at a fast pace, Rémi then Laurianne. Bertrand, as often, started with the leaders at the start of the race but will gradually switch to management mode to ensure that he gets to the end of his long season and this BikingMan Euskadi. Clément is a few minutes behind, starting cautiously as usual.
The morning will continue at a good pace until a first puncture for Lorris which will quickly degenerate, his tire also being damaged, chaining other punctures. At the checkpoint, it was Clément who was the first to validate his passage, followed closely by Laurianne and a few minutes later by Lorris who gave his all to compensate for the loss of time.
Sébastien has already lost ground, feeling some pain. Rémi also arrives at the checkpoint in bad shape and lacking energy, already 2 hours late. A small form that will push him to give up going further after suffering in the last kilometers leading to the checkpoint.
If the leaders give the impression of not suffering too much from the difficulties of the course, behind the feeling is very different with a majority of the participants walking in the double-digit percentages offered by the main climbs of the first third of the course. The gaps are widening and quickly it seems clear that the time barriers will pose significant difficulties for the back of the peloton. If last year the heat had caused damage during the first 2 days, it is hardly more lenient temperatures which for the moment accompany the runners in their duel with the mountain and it is perhaps the latter which will show the most ruthless.
For the moment, it is a 3-way battle which is taking shape in front with Clément and Laurianne who exchange positions regularly on the road to checkpoint 2. On arrival in Campan, Laurianne is leading with almost 1h30min ahead of Clément. Lorris follows at 1h30 more but the pain in his knees is intense and he doubts he can continue. Behind, the gaps are huge.
This last section will bring a memorable fight between Laurianne and Clément who continue to exchange the lead until Clément seems to take the upper hand and dig a small gap. Behind, Lorris finally gave up to preserve his knee.
Victory now seems promised to Clément, but he encounters GPS problems, makes a navigation error and goes in the wrong direction. When he comes back on track, Laurianne has just passed in front, though the gap is tiny and there are still 8kms to go. On the live tracking, it is almost impossible to determine for sure who is ahead, the effect of location updates displaying one or the other in the last successively. On the finish line, we do not know who is then in front. We expect to see Laurianne arrive but suddenly Clément appears and crosses the finish line first. Laurianne appears barely a minute later, a ridiculous gap after 1000km covered, it’s simply incredible! With the effect of the starting waves, it is a gap of 2 min on their total time which actually separates them.
However, it will be necessary to wait 8 hours more for the 3rd rider to finish: Charles in turn crosses the finish line, in 66h47m.
At the race village, arrivals are now more or less one after the other until the fateful time barrier is approached. Stephen, one of the oldest participants, fought against time throughout the event to get through the checkpoints in time. Everyone fearfully followed his position on the livetracking in hopes of seeing him arrive in time. It is almost 3am (the time limit for the race being at 5am) when we finally see him arrive and successfully cross the finish line. 117h55m! Incredible Stephen!
Note, in the general classification of the series, this 2nd position places Laurianne temporarily in the lead ahead of Bertrand, who finishes his 6th BikingMan of the year.

Find the complete ranking of BikingMan Euskadi #2:

Euskadi 2022 rankings

Brazil #2
We are finally at the last stage of this 2022 calendar to close a rich season with style. Brazil welcomes us for the 2nd time with this year a new departure city and a deeply reviewed race course with more than 250km of gravel sections. Here we are in Santo Antonio do Pinhal where the race village is set up.

Rare moment sec lors de la 1ere journée

Pluie, boue et toujours le sourire

Vicky pour son 2e BikingMan Brazil

Des passages inoubliables

Des conditions difficiles pour les montures

Au coeur de la Serra do Mar

Un pont boueux pour Marcelo

La pluie avec le sourire

Prêt pour la pluie

Idan jusqu'au bout de l'effort

If the preparatory stages for the race take place under a beautiful weather, the forecast announces a rainy week. Monday morning at 5am, the start is however given in dry weather, but the time to clean up in the race village and the rain actually begins to fall. It will not stop for the day and offer dantesque conditions to the participants depending on the sections of road encountered. From the first kilometers of the race, the favorites took their places and we therefore find Andre (already participating last year) and Davi at the forefront, followed by Omar, Raphael or Bertrand. Vicky, an accomplished competitor and already 7th overall last year, is also well placed. Behind, the slower progression makes the conditions even more unfavorable, the rain having time to transform the road into muddy and slippery tracks. Despite the conditions, the pace at the head is surprisingly good and CP1 is reached in a little over 13h (for 274km or around 20km/h on average). Andre is the one getting there first, about twenty minutes before Bertrand who plays big on this event since the stakes are high for him. If he manages to finish in the top 16 overall, he will come back ahead of Laurianne in the series classification and would therefore win the 2022 championship. And at this moment, his position is ideal since feeling in good shape, he will leave before Andre and Davi and lead the race, although Andre will follow suit.
At CP1, Adrien is an astonishing 4th while Juliano, 2nd in the 2021 edition, is slowly starting to position himself. A little slower, Axel is ahead of Vicky and arrives a few minutes after Raphael.
For Bertrand, things will start to go wrong during the night with a succession of problems which will see him lose ground and demote in the classification. Ahead, the fight will rage between Andre and Davi.
Day 2 will spare the competitors from the rain and give them some respite. At CP2, the final classification begins to take shape. Davi arrives there in first place with more than an hour ahead of Andre. Juliano manages it nearly 6 hours later and another 5.5 hours later it is Vicky who reaches CP2. By sleeping less than Axel, she was able to overtake him and now has a 2 hour lead over him. Bertrand demoted to 7th place. Among the favourites, Leandro (better known as Leo) will retire with severe back pain shortly after CP2 while Omar will suffer a bad crash approaching CP2. Behind also the troubles are accumulating for some, between frequent mechanical problems with the mud damaging the transmissions, the brakes put to the test with the steep descents and the many gravel sections. The conditions also put several participants out of the game, finding themselves out of time. Once again this year, Brazil is demanding for the bikes as well as for the athletes.
In front, the leaders will attack the most difficult section of the route to climb to the entrance of the Itatiaia National Park. A long brittle gravel section but with incredible views where refueling is a real challenge. The accumulated fatigue and these difficult conditions will put our leaders in difficulty. Davi and Andre find themselves in turn in near hypothermia and the organization is forced to stop them for a time as a safety measure so that they warm up before leaving. Andre, he will have a minor fall but fatigue and lack of coherence will force him to stop longer, helped by locals. This allows Juliano to overtake him and even get back on Davi a bit before he too is trapped in these epic conditions. Behind, Vicky and Axel overtook Andre and continued on their way to Itatiaia.
When Davi reaches the entrance to the park, he has just passed 80 km escorted by a dog who has taken a liking to him and has followed him continuously ever since. Exhausted and hurt by the distance covered, this companion will find temporary refuge around the shops that border the exit of the Gravel section of the park. Later, a member of the organization will come to bring him back to Davi who will adopt him.
After leaving the gravel, the end of the course seems almost like a formality as the biggest difficulties are now behind. Davi then proceeds towards the race village and wins this BikingMan Brazil 2022 with nearly 7 hours ahead of Juliano, 2nd again.
Behind them, Vicky does not give up and will not give Axel any chance to come back on her. She reaches the finish line with a 34min margin over Axel, and offers herself a superb podium in the event. Axel wins a place compared to 2021 and approaches the podium. A few hours later, it’s Andre’s turn to finally reach the finish, then Raphael and Wim will follow.
For his part, Bertrand will give up a few places again during his last night, taken by fatigue which will force him to stop several times. The objective is nevertheless largely achieved since he takes 11th place overall and therefore does better than his objective of top 16. This means he wins the BikingMan championship and above all becomes the first to finish 7 BikingMan in one season, a gigantic challenge and evidence of enormous management to achieve it.
During an endless night, the arrivals will follow one after another until the arrival of the last pair, made up of Philippe and Idan who complete the course in 117 hours. Exhausted at the finish, Idan successfully completed his 2nd BikingMan Brazil.

Find the complete ranking of BikingMan Brazil #2:

Brazil 2022 rankings

The season therefore ends with this epic Brazilian conclusion and Bertrand’s superb performance which allows him to win the championship ahead of Laurianne, herself the author of several incredible performances, notably her victory in X and her 2nd place for 2 minutes on the Euskadi. A huge congratulations to you both for this and for hosting this 2022 series.

Bertrand, Champion BikingMan 2022

Laurianne aura aussi mis la pression à Clément

Cet article Summary of the 2nd part of the 2022 season est apparu en premier sur BikingMan.

Day 2 – The shadow of the Tour de France

Believe it or not, I’m not an absolute fan of the Tour. However, the names of infamous climbs have always resonated in my mind since I’ve been riding a bicycle. The Tourmalet pass (2,115m) was the big target of this second warm-up day. After several sleepless nights in Portugal during the BikingMan event, my legs were tired and the spirit was battling to keep up with the energy needed every day.

Approaching the start of the Tourmalet had been quite interesting with numerous superb villages and herd of sheeps on the road. We passed by the enormous Lourdes city that was far from my kid imagination. The fortified Lourdes castle though is still a major architectural masterpiece to be observed by bike.

A crowded corridor from Montgaillard village to Sainte Marie de Campan reminded us of how busy this road would be during the peak season. We started the ascent after a serious refuel next to the official monument dedicated to Eugène Christophe. You can’t really give up on the ascent after reading the epic story of Eugène (pro cyclist) who broke his fork in the Tourmalet descent in 1913 and had to repair it in Sainte Marie de Campan!

There were 17,20 kilometers of pure joy with almost no cars on the road ahead of us. I had to fight in the final kilometers with the acclimatization but the spectacle at the top felt like a miracle. The snow capped mountains of the Pyrenees and a breathtaking sunset awaited us. That final blow of beauty helped us to gather our last bit of energy to survive the freezing temperatures in the downhill to reach Luz Saint Sauveur.

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Cet article Euskadi – Exploration notes est apparu en premier sur BikingMan.