A season where pleasure takes its place again, where choices are deliberate, and where desire matters as much as performance.<\/p>\n
And above all, a season to share: meaningful routes, adventures ridden as a pair, and that particular dynamic that exists only when you move forward together.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_color=”#ffffff” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”5%” constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”5%” top_padding_tablet=”5%” constrain_group_3=”yes” bottom_padding_tablet=”5%” top_padding_phone=”5%” constrain_group_5=”yes” bottom_padding_phone=”5%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”w900″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default” content_layout=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]The Gravel Earth Series \u2014 Santa Vall, Gravel Desert, The Traka \u2014 are stepping stones.
\nFast, nervous races, perfect for finding benchmarks, testing the engine, and assessing my condition. High pace, no concessions. Ideal for knowing where I stand before switching to longer efforts.<\/p>\n
In the middle of this preparation sits FlatLandes, the event Phil and I are developing.
\nThe 200 km remains the core, the 100 km needs to be confirmed, and the idea of a future ultra floats in the background \u2014 but not for 2026. Before going longer, we need to consolidate, refine, validate. Build before stretching the line.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_color=”#000000″ scene_position=”center” constrain_group_1=”yes” constrain_group_3=”yes” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][split_line_heading line_reveal_by_space_text_effect=”default” font_style=”h4″ content_alignment=”default” mobile_content_alignment=”inherit” animation_type=”line-reveal-by-space” link_target=”_self” text_content=”But the strongest focus of the season lies elsewhere: the challenges shared with my brother.” font_line_height=”1.4″ text_direction=”default” animation_delay=”600″][\/split_line_heading][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]He was there in the hardest moments, from the first days of my Guillain-Barr\u00e9. Today, our levels have aligned. We ride with the same rhythm, the same intent. After losing our father this year, riding together takes on another meaning \u2014 something strong, demanding, almost necessary.<\/p>\n
Two events define this direction:<\/p>\n
2026 will be a simple and honest season: races to test myself, projects to build, adventures to share, and the will to trace lines that matter.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_color=”#000000″ scene_position=”center” top_padding=”5%” constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”5%” top_padding_tablet=”7%” constrain_group_3=”yes” bottom_padding_tablet=”7%” top_padding_phone=”7%” constrain_group_5=”yes” bottom_padding_phone=”7%” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][split_line_heading line_reveal_by_space_text_effect=”default” font_style=”h3″ content_alignment=”default” mobile_content_alignment=”inherit” animation_type=”line-reveal-by-space” link_target=”_self” text_content=”2026 Season Program” font_size=”5.6em” font_line_height=”1.1″ text_direction=”default” font_size_tablet=”5em” font_size_phone=”4em”][\/split_line_heading][split_line_heading line_reveal_by_space_text_effect=”default” font_style=”h6″ content_alignment=”default” mobile_content_alignment=”inherit” animation_type=”line-reveal-by-space” link_target=”_self” text_content=”\u2014 Ultra-distance and gravel challenges, from the deep North to warmer horizons” font_line_height=”1.6em” text_direction=”default” animation_delay=”600″][\/split_line_heading][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” enable_animation=”true” animation=”fade-in” animation_easing=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default” delay=”450″][split_line_heading line_reveal_by_space_text_effect=”default” font_style=”h4″ content_alignment=”default” mobile_content_alignment=”inherit” animation_type=”line-reveal-by-space” link_target=”_self” text_content=”Ultra Distance” font_line_height=”1.1em” text_direction=”default” animation_delay=”300″][\/split_line_heading]
[vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”column_reverse” bg_color=”#000000″ scene_position=”center” constrain_group_1=”yes” constrain_group_3=”yes” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit”…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"2026 Season Program: Ultra-Distance & Gravel","_seopress_titles_desc":"Explore the 2026 season program of ultra-cyclist Mathieu Plessis: ultra-distance challenges ridden in pairs with French Road 66 and The Bright Midnight in Norway, key gravel races from the Gravel Earth Series, and FlatLandes. A season built on shared effort, progression, and meaningful long-distance routes.","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-956","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathieuplessis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathieuplessis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathieuplessis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mathieuplessis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mathieuplessis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=956"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/mathieuplessis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/956\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":970,"href":"https:\/\/mathieuplessis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/956\/revisions\/970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathieuplessis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}