Barely a month after the BikingMan Alpes-Maritimes, I’m already at the start of another round of the BikingMan World Series: the 555 Vercors — 470 km of gravel and 11,000 m of climbing.
The start is on Friday at 9:00 am from Villard-de-Lans, in the heart of the Vercors Regional Park. The weather forecast is fickle: possible rain, cool temperatures for the season, around 8°C at night.
The night before, I can’t sleep properly — turning over my clothing choices again and again. Take too much, and it’s extra weight. Take too little, and risk shivering at the summit, soaked and freezing. Finding the balance is the real puzzle.
Start: full gas
9:00 am. The air is fresh, almost cold. A few rays of sun pierce through heavy, rain-laden clouds. Right from the start, the route sends us into an 8 km steady climb.
A group of six quickly pulls away. The pace is still under control — perfect to avoid burning all your matches too soon. The adrenaline of the opening kilometers in ultra-distance racing always has a price.
At the top, it’s time for the gravel descent. Manu Trigny blasts past me like a rocket. Competitive (and a bit proud), I jump on his wheel. Suddenly, we’re alone at the front. The track joins a winding road diving into the valley. Grégory Cassini, overall winner in 2024 and a local rider, catches us and takes the lead. I tuck in behind him, enjoying his perfect lines.
At the bottom, the terrain turns rolling, with low-gradient passes. This suits me. I feel good, the start-line euphoria fading. I push a bit, take the lead around km 70, and soak in the scenery: the omnipresent green, dense vegetation, and above all, the incredible passage through the Combe Laval cirque.
End of the fun
Km 120. The gradients rise… and so does the temperature. I feel my feet heating up — always the same issue when pushing hard in the heat. A storm is on its way. The first drops quickly turn into a heavy downpour.
Simon Rambaud passes me, with Greg just behind. I hold my pace. In ultra, you optimize the highs and endure the lows. I know I’ll bounce back — it’s just a matter of patience.
I stop to put on my rain jacket. Manu Trigny catches me and we ride within a few hundred meters of each other all the way to CP1, km 245.
Checkpoint and strategic choice
I arrive 3rd at the Checkpoint. It’s 10:30 pm. The two in front leave quickly, without sleeping. Initially, I’d planned a 15–30 minute break, but I know I won’t fall asleep this early. I eat, change for the cold, wet night ahead, and set off again… a bit too quickly, with empty bottles. I realize in the descent. Luck is on my side — I find water in the first village.
A full night on the bike
Nights in ultra always have something special. The atmosphere shifts. Light beams dance, switching modes depending on whether you’re climbing or descending, to save battery life.
The shadows and nighttime sounds put on a little theatre: animal eyes glowing in the distance, branches turned into strange silhouettes… Deer dart away, wild boar make more noise than a sprinter in the final 200 m.
The wind is fierce on certain passes — at the Col de Rousset, you almost have to fight to stay upright when exiting the tunnel.
Between 3 and 4 am, the critical hour: lucidity falters. Like driving at night on a long road trip, the mind wanders. But on a bike, descending at over 70 km/h, mistakes are forbidden. I shout — not to scare off wild boar like in Corsica, but to wake my body and brain.
Despite the cold, I feel better than in Corsica. The kilometers tick by smoothly.
The sun rises, and so do the mountains
The first light reveals a majestic Vercors, wrapped in fog. The descent along the Gresse river is gentle and soothing before the final two climbs.
The first, the old tramway route between Seyssins and Saint-Nizier, is pure misery: 12 km of loose stones. With my 40 mm rear tire, it’s a rough ride. I nurse my creaking drivetrain and spare my rear rim.
The gaps stay stable: I’m 3rd, the two ahead are out of reach, and behind is secure.
The final climb is made for me: a smooth gravel track at 6%. I can push a bigger gear and enjoy the last moments. Barring a mechanical issue, the podium is secured. I take in the unique atmosphere one last time.
At the bottom, Axel Carion (the BikingMan boss) comes to meet me. We ride the last flowing singletracks to Villard-de-Lans together, under a few rays of sun. The bell rings: adventure over.
Takeaways
A BikingMan well-managed, with no set time goal but solid handling of highs and lows. The cool weather was a big help. Resupply was efficient, and I never needed the Camelbak thanks to plentiful water points.
Points to improve:
- Find the right carb balance (more gels, fewer bars?)
- Finally solve my persistent foot pain
The landscapes of the Vercors are probably the most beautiful of the year. Nature rules here, and the route often takes you far from any sign of civilization.
Special mention to Greg Cassini for a sub-24-hour ride, and to Daniel Lins, who chained 1000 + 500 km without sleeping on the 500.
Gear
- Bike: Open UP Gravel
- Wheels/Tires: ZIPP 303 XPLR SW / Schwalbe G-One RS Pro (45 front, 40 rear)
- Drivetrain: SRAM XX1 Mullet 42 / 10-50
- Bags: Cyclite
- Clothing: Decathlon rain jacket, warm jersey for the night, water-repellent long-sleeve jersey
- Navigation: Garmin 1040 + iPhone: Quad Lock / Komoot
- Comfort: Raised stem, thick Supacaz bar tape (no hand pain)
- Lights: Decathlon HL900, Garmin UT800, Varia Radar, Decathlon SL110
- Audio: Shokz Open Run Pro 2
