A Gravel journey into
the french alps
Hotel Saint Roch | September 6 - 11, 2026
Registrations open:
Saturday, November 22
19:00 CET | 1:00 PM EST | 5:00 AM AEST (Sunday)
The summit is our sanctuary, the trail our tribulation. Join us on Le Pilgrimage: the journey that will challenge you while you follow in the footsteps of our patron pilgrim Saint Roch and discover the best trails in the French Alps. Your spirit is elevated by the breathtaking routes and the comfort of a shared safe haven: Hotel Saint Roch. Because a true pilgrimage is all about the journey and sharing stories over a well-deserved meal and drink at the end.
LE PILGRIMAGE
DE SAINT ROCH
Le PILGRIMAGE
Le Pilgrimage offers a unique blend of adventure, community, and comfort. It’s not a race, but a challenging journey shared with like-minded souls.
Over five days, you’ll ride three self-supported stages at your own pace, each returning to our base camp at Hotel Saint Roch, where you’ll rest, eat, and sleep in shared rooms.
The three stages will take you to some of the best off-road mountain passes in Europe, with checkpoints placed throughout the route. We finish with a celebratory dinner and party at the hotel.
We can host 50 pilgrims, so be sure to sign up in time.
You'll stay at Hotel Saint Roch, our alpine base camp, and will ride three challenging stages (±450 kilometres, ±15.000 meters of climbing in total) in five days filled with views, food and adventure.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PILGRIMAGE?
Program:
September 6 - opening dinner & briefing
September 7 - stage 1
September 8 - stage 2
September 9 - stage 3
September 10 - stage 3 + finish party
September 11 + check out
Your entry fee will include:
Half board based stay (incl. breakfast & plat du jour dinners)
Post ride pasta
GPS live tracking on Follow My Challenge including tracker rental
All routes in komoot collection & GPX files
Road Book & brevet card
Goodies from our partners
All hotel facilities, including spa, swimming pool, bike workplace & storage
WHERE WILL WE TAKE YOU
The area around Hotel Saint Roch boasts breathtaking mountain summits. Located at the edge of Parc National des Écrins and near the Italian border, this journey crosses hidden valleys, passes isolated refuges, reaches high-altitude lakes, and offers glacier views along some of the region’s toughest trails.
No Pilgrimage is complete without a few hike-a-bike sections - but every step is rewarded with divine descents.
At checkpoints and along the way, pilgrims may find small treasures - simple, meaningful items to sustain both body and spirit.
We make no compromises in the routes. They are demanding, both physically and mentally, and require solid mountain experience.
There are no shortcuts offered - only choices to make. Who said finding salvation is easy?
A detailed Road Book, including resupply points and GPX routes, will be sent 4-6 weeks ahead of the event.
STAGE 1: SEPTEMBER 7
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A brand-new route showcasing the highlights of the Pays des Écrins, one of France’s most stunning national parks. Along the way, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of glaciers and glimpses into the serene surrounding valleys.
Routes are subject to change at any time due to unforeseen weather conditions.
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90 - 120 kilometers
2.750 - 3.500 altimeters
Final route will be announced several weeks before via the road book.
Note: All Pilgrimage routes are unsupported and require significant endurance and navigation through mountainous landscapes. More information can be found in the Q&A.
STAGE 2: SEPTEMBER 8
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After conquering the iconic Galibier and passing by the Refuge des Drayères three times in a row, it might be time for a new adventure. We have a few route options in mind, which we’ll reveal a few weeks before the event. But rest assured — it will feature another epic unpaved gravel climb, a hike-a-bike section through desolate landscapes dotted with mountain lakes, and stops at refuges for essential refreshments.
Routes are subject to change at any time due to unforeseen weather conditions.
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120-130 kilometers
3.000 - 3.400 altimeters
Final route will be announced several weeks before via the road book.
Note: All Pilgrimage routes are unsupported and require significant endurance and navigation through mountainous landscapes. More information can be found in the Q&A.
STAGE 3: SEPTEMBER 9 & 10
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Like last two edition, there’s a good chance we’ll cross the Italian border once again... This time, we’ll take a different route, with a climb higher than ever before—one of Europe’s highest unpaved mountain passes. Which climb it will be? That remains a surprise for now.
Stage 3 is a two-day journey where you’ll have the choice to bivouac under the stars or opt for accommodation along the route.
Routes are subject to change at any time due to unforeseen weather conditions.
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2-days stage
200-230 kilometers
6.000 - 6.500 altimeters
Final route will be announced several weeks before via the road book.
Note: All Pilgrimage routes are unsupported and require significant endurance and navigation through mountainous landscapes. More information can be found in the Q&A.
Our basecamp, start and finish point, and the place to rest, meet, eat, sleep, and celebrate after Le Pilgrimage is Hotel Saint Roch, a cozy retreat nestled in the mountains, offering a perfect base after long days on the trails.
Hotel Saint Roch provides comfortable shared bedrooms with mountain views, a soothing sauna for post-ride recovery, a swimming pool, a living room with a crackling fireplace, and a welcoming bar where you can share tales from the trails with fellow pilgrims.
We’ll offer freshly prepared meals, including French breakfasts, post-ride pasta, and a communal ‘plat du jour’ dinner at the shared table.
THE basecamp
HOTEL AMENITIES
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Book your bed in a shared bedroom, equipped with a private bathroom and mountain views.
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Daily plat du jours by chef Anne and her team, fresh pasta upon return, and a full French buffet breakfast to start each day.
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A spacious and comfortable restaurant, which we call our living room, complete with a fireplace and a bar to share tales from the trails.
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Need to refresh? How about a dip in our spa and outdoor swimming pool? Dip that bib.
Le pilgrimage
PACKAGE - €845
1x Le Pilgrimage entry
4x nights bed
4x plat du jour-dinners incl. opening dinner
4x breakfast
3x post bike pasta
3x checkpoint snacks
1x finishers party
Usage of all hotel facilities: bike workshop & storage, living room, bar, hot showers, hot tub, swimming pool
When: September 6 - 11, 2026
Where: Puy-Saint-Vincent, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Duration: 5 nights, 6 days
Stages: 3 stages, ±450 kilometres, ±14.000 altimeters
Difficulty level: demanding / ultra
Type: self-supported during stages, supported at basecamp
Basecamp: Hotel Saint Roch
Food & drinks: daily breakfast, ‘plat du jour’ dinner & post ride pasta included. Drinks at own expense.
Tickets: 845 euro per person
Max group size: 50 riders
Pilgrimage SUMMARY
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Anything with a minimum of 40mm tyres would be ideal. We advise to set up your bike with at least a 1:1 gear ratio set up.
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This region is famous for it’s sun. Usually in September the weather is stable. But as always, in the mountains the weather is unpredictable so pack accordingly. Yes, at 1400m it can freeze at night.
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Nobody said finding salvation was easy; finishing all three loops is a true test of endurance and resilience.
Each loop covers a long distance through alpine areas, with an average of 9-12 hours of biking (and hiking) each day. Participants should be trained and prepared to navigate self-supported in mountainous terrain, carrying their own supplies.
This challenge requires the capability to complete multiple days with each route covering at least 100 kilometers and 3,000 meters of unpaved elevation gain. Experience in high-altitude or rugged terrain, along with the ability to handle challenging weather conditions, is essential.
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Under all circumstance make sure you’ll bring: headlamp, bike lights, waterproof jacket, down jacket, reflective vest, small first aid kit, emergency blanket.
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During Stage 3 you’ll handle your own meals and accommodation; the road book you’ll receive suggests various sleep options like bivy spots, campsites and guesthouses. In previous editions, our Pilgrims slept in everything between a 4-star hotel to a bivy in an abandoned sauna of a closed hotel.
FAQ’s
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Puy-Saint-Vincent is located close to Briançon and the Italian border. We recommend travelling by train to: Argentière-les-Ecrins (15 km ride) or Oulx in Italy (50 km ride). The closest airport is Turin. Airport Marseille offers fair rates as well. Of course, you can easily reach us by car.
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Your package will include quite a lot, but what we don’t include are drinks, except the first two that will be on us at the finishers party.
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Valid health insurance is required, and travel insurance with mountain coverage is essential, as the organization is not liable for any damages or injuries.
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In keeping with the social spirit of the event, all who share the table also share the trails. Le Pilgrimage is built around a small community of riders who ride, eat, and rest together. Every pilgrim follows the same journey. For this reason, the event is open to registered riders only.
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It is not possible to bring your pet. Chickens, cats and other predators roam around in the garden of the chalet. Oh and there are also wolves in the area.
MEET THE CREW
ANNE
CHEF DE CUISINE
Simon
FOUNDER & HOST
CYRIL
HOST & PHOTOGRAPHER
PILGRIMAGE JOURNAL
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PILGRIMAGE JOURNAL *
supporters
GRAVEL
September 6 - 11, 2026
TRAIL
June 28 - July 3, 2026