A journey into
the french alps
Puy-Saint-Vincent
GRAVEL
2025: to be announced
TRAIL
2025: 1-6 July (inaugural edition)
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
a social gravel challenge
Le Pilgrimage offers a unique combination of adventure, community and comfort. Like a true Pilgrimage, this is not a race, it is a challenging journey you will share with like-minded spirits.
You ride three stages during your five-day journey at your own pace and you need to be self-supported.
After each stage, you’ll return to our base camp: Chalet AlpeLune. Here we take care of the tired pilgrims. You will eat, drink and rest together and sleep in your dormitory bed or in your own tent which you can pitch in the Chalet garden.
The three stages will take you to some of the highest and challenging, off-road mountain passes in Europe, where you will be on your own and have to support yourself. We finish the last day with a true Pilgrimage dinner and party back at the Chalet.
We can host 40 pilgrims, so be sure to sign up in time.
You'll stay at our Alpine basecamp Chalet AlpeLune 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:
12 september - opening dinner & briefing
13 september - stage 1
14 september - stage 2
15 september - stage 3
16 september - stage 3 + finish party
17 september - hangover ride + 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
Ride manual & brevet card
Goodies from our partners
Bike workplace & storage
WHERE WILL WE TAKE YOU
The area around Puy-Saint-Vincent is blessed with truly breathtaking mountain summits in national parcs like Les Écrins and the Queyras.
Close to the Italian border, you’ll cross hidden valleys, pass isolated refuges, reach high-altitude mountain lakes and set your eyes on glaciers by tackling some of the toughest and trying trails in the area.
No Pilgrimage is complete without some testing hike-a-bike sections but they will reward you with some truly divine descents.
All resupply points like refuges, local bakeries or other French shops will be in the road book that you’ll receive with all routes as .gpx files before the event.
STAGE 1 - SEPT 13
PAYS DES ECRINS
-
This route is a variation of last year's stage 2, which was ridden almost entirely in mysterious dense fog. This year, you will follow a similar route, likely with breathtaking views from the highest mountain passes, deserted high-altitude mountain lakes, refuges for necessary refreshments, and descends along fast-flowing rivers.
-
120-130 kilometers
3.000 - 3.400 altimeters
Final route will be announced several weeks before via the road book. There will be shortcut options provided.
STAGE 2 - SEPT 14
REFUGES, PASSES & LAKES
-
Gravel roads along some of the highlights of the Pays-des-Écrins. One of France's most beautiful national parks. On the journey, the horizon is adorned with views of glaciers and glimpses of surrounding valleys. The checkpoint is hidden in a remote location. Yet, once you reach it, a reward awaits.
-
90 - 120 kilometers
2.750 - 3.500 altimeters
Final route will be announced several weeks before via the road book. There will be shortcut options provided.
STAGE 3 - sept 15 & 16
GIRO ITALIA
-
We're situated near the Italian border. Why not cross it for a taste of Italy? Along the way, you'll encounter hidden fortresses and conquer one of the highest and longest gravel roads in Europe: the Strada dell'Assietta. Stage 3 is a two-day journey where you can either bivouac under the stars or choose accommodation recommended by us.
-
2-days stage
200-230 kilometers
6.000 - 6.500 altimeters
Final route will be announced several weeks before via the road book. There will be shortcut options provided.
Our basecamp, start and finish, place to rest, meet, eat and sleep and party after your Pilgrimage is the Chalet AlpeLune.
Here we will serve fresh food every day, like breakfast, post-ride snacks and a daily ‘plat du jour’ dinner. Chalet AlpeLune offers dormitory bedrooms, a sauna, outside hottube, spacious living room with a fireplace and a garden.
Included in your ticket, you’ll choose either a bed or camp package. With both options, you are assured of a place to sleep after each stage of Le Pilgrimage and you can even have a hot shower.
THE basecamp
Your Pilgrimage basecamp: Chalet Alpelune will serve as the start and finish location.
CHALET AMENITIES
-
Book a bed & breakfast dormitory style bed in large rooms with private bathrooms.
-
Daily plat du jours served by chef Anne, French buffet breakfast & self-service drinks.
-
Spacious and comfortable living room with fireplace to tell the tales of the trails.
-
To make Le Pilgrimage accessible we also offer the option to pitch your tent in our alpine garden.
-
Need to refresh? How about dipping in our hot showers, sauna or outside hot tub!
Le pilgrimage
PACKAGES
You can choose between the bed or camp package:
PACKAGE 1:
Bed - €625
1x Le Pilgrimage entry fee (195 euro)
4x nights bed
4x plat du jour-dinners incl. opening dinner
4x breakfast
3x post ride pasta
1x finishers party
Usage of all chalet facilities: living room, hot showers, hot tub, fireplace, bike work place & storageLe Pilgrimage entry fee (195 euro)
package 2:
CAMP - €475
1x Le Pilgrimage entry fee (195 euro)
4x nights campsite spot
4x plat du jour-dinners incl. opening dinner
4x breakfast
3x post ride pasta
1x finishers party
Usage of all chalet facilities: living room, hot showers, hot tub, fireplace, bike work place & storage
When: 12-17 September 2024
Where: Puy-Saint-Vincent, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Duration: 5 nights, 6 days
Rides: 3 stages, ±450 kilometres, ±14.000 altimeters (short-cut possibilities provided)
Type: self-supported during stages, supported at basecamp Chalet AlpeLune
Basecamp: Chalet AlpeLune
Food & drinks: daily breakfast, ‘plat du jour’ dinner & post ride pasta included. Drinks on own expense.
Tickets: available in bed or camp packages
Max group size: 40 riders
Pilgrimage SUMMARY
-
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.
-
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.
-
Nobody said finding salvation was easy. Finishing all three loops of Le Pilgrimage is a challenge. Each loop covers a long distance through alpine areas with an average of 9-12 hrs of biking (and hiking) per day.
-
Under all circumstance make sure you’ll bring: headlamp, bike lights, waterproof jacket, down jacket, reflective vest, small first aid kit, emergency blanket.
-
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. Last year, our Pilgrims slept in everything between a 4-star hotel to a bivy in a abandoned sauna of a closed hotel.
FAQ’s
-
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.
-
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.
-
A valid health insurance is compulsary, a travel insurance (or bike insurance) is recommended as the organisation isn’t liable for any damages or injuries.
-
Because of the social spirit we want all riders to share the chalet or the garden. So you will have to book 1 of the accommodation packages.
-
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 PILGRIMS
ANNE & SIMON
FOUNDERS, CHEF, HOSTS
ILONKA & VINCENT
CHALET ALPELUNE
CYRIL
HOST & CREATIVE
Aaron
CREATIVE
supporters
