Le Pilgrimage Gravel 2025: Beautifully Brutal

Photo: Yorit Kluitman

The third edition of Le Pilgrimage Gravel

While cold and wet pilgrims huddled in fleece blankets around a small fire in the abandoned Fort de l’Olive, organisers Simon and Cyril looked at each other with a fleeting reflection: had we pushed them too far? These were the fastest riders. If even they arrived trembling and soaked, what about those still out on the mountain?

A special combination

Only four days earlier, at August 28, 47 adventure cyclists from 13 different nations gathered in the cosy mountain Hotel Saint Roch in Puy-Saint-Vincent. Some felt relaxed, others more nervous, depending on their experience and fitness level. They had all signed up for an event that is not just about exploring some of the best gravel trails in the Pays des Écrins region, but just as much about sharing the experience, personal stories, and maybe even future dreams.

Le Pilgrimage combines four challenging days on the bike with evenings filled with shared meals at long tables. A pilgrimage is only special when you share your version of the day you just had.

On Thursday, all riders arrived, checked in, put their bikes together and met each other for the first time. Cautious sharing of previous rides and travels was the most common conversation. After checking in and picking up their brevet card and goodies from partners like Opinel, Café du Cycliste and Ass Savers, they gathered for the first shared dinner — the true start of every edition of Le Pilgrimage. It’s the perfect way to break the ice and figure out who you connect with.

Les Pilgrims:

Nathalie Baillon, Matt Bark, Ilonka Biermans, Marieke Blomme, Jelle Bokkers, Sebastiaan Brons, Berrol de Cuba, Lucie Denis, Niels Dijksterhuis, Gerwin Dijksterhuis, Matthieu Distaso, Sonja Döpp, Björn Fries, Marc Geyteman, Randy Greven, Berend Gras, Rob Grift, Jasper van Gils, Sergey Ignatov, Erik Jager, Joost Klarenbeek, Sam Klontz, Kris Lafleur, Jan Leegwater, Robèrt Ligthart, Duncan Macdonald, Tamara Meulman, Jasper Mols, Max Muller, Fabricio Quinones, Grace Pyne, Sergi Reixach Reyes, Michel Reuser, Christoph Schaller, Jorrit Schade van Westrum, Nicolas Hoffschir, Timothy Flott, Alex Floor, Jenny Tough, Trevor Watchman, Larendo van Gennip, Jasper Van Zanten, Rob de Vries, Kees Zaal, Marie-Louise Calame (DNS), Ralph Cullen (DNS), Steen Friis (DNS), Taroen Pasman (DNS).

Photo: Yorit Kluitman

Put in your place

The 2025 route took riders in various directions from their basecamp at Hotel Saint Roch. Traditionally, the first stage stays close to base and includes the climb right outside of it: the Col de la Pousterle. During this year’s Stage 1, the riders crossed it and descended into the valley of the Durance. From there, they faced a rough gravel ascent up to the Fort de la Croix-de-Bretagne. This imposing defensive structure overlooks the city of Briançon and its valleys. The climb was washed out after heavy rainfall in the days leading up to the event, making it the first real challenge and one that “put riders in their place.”

During Le Pilgrimage, riders are well taken care of at checkpoints, and this year’s first one was no different: steaming fondue fromage with baguettes awaited at the end of the gruelling climb. Local white wine, a sip of génépi… Riders took a seat, enjoyed the views, the food and shared their first experiences.

Kind of a classic

Stage 2 has become a Pilgrimage classic. From basecamp in Puy-Saint-Vincent, riders headed north, first to Briançon and then along dirt trails, singletracks and rough asphalt following the Vallée de la Guisane, almost up to the Col du Lautaret. With a welcome stop at the small boulangerie in Le Monêtier-les-Bains to restock, they pressed on to where the main road intersects the old road to the Col du Galibier. This track, used in the earliest editions of the Tour de France, is now little more than a farm road. Steep inclines and multiple stream crossings mark this historic and demanding climb all the way up to the last small café just below the summit.

Of course, the pilgrims continued to the famous top before descending into the valley, then turning sharply onto the beautiful and quiet Col des Rochilles. Via the military road, they climbed again to the plateau with its three alpine lakes and surrounding summits of the Massif des Cerces. Then came one of the most infamous parts of Le Pilgrimage: the downhill hike-a-bike to the Refuge des Drayères.

All riders who made it up to the Col des Rochilles also reached this remote but welcoming mountain refuge. After strengthening mind and body with hearty mountain food, they returned to base through the stunning Vallée de la Clarée.

Beautifully Brutal

The last two days formed the queen stage: 232 km into Italy, split over two days. Riders had to arrange their own accommodation in between. On the menu were the Colle di Gondrand, the legendary Strada dell’Assietta and the Col du Granon. Riders crossed the French–Italian border multiple times and climbed up to famous military structures, forts and roads.

The first two days created a split in the group, so a smaller field (about 75%) showed up at the start on day three. Due to mechanical problems or doubts about their physical condition for the demanding routes, some designed their own program from basecamp Saint Roch.

The weather was favourable at first — cool and mostly sunny. But during the descent from the stunning Strada dell’Assietta into the Susa valley, clouds began to hug the mountains. Riders were treated to the “little sister” of the Colle delle Finestre: more than 20 km down through barren peaks, lush meadows and even past a traditional Piemontese cheese farm. During this stage, as in the previous ones, it became clear that Le Pilgrimage brings out the best in people. Like true pilgrims, everyone looked after each other — spare parts exchanged hands, and help was always given with mechanical issues, no matter how long it took, to make sure all could finish this beautifully brutal stage. In the end, the riders reached Oulx, where most opted for a warm hotel bed, and one brave pilgrim chose to bivvy at a local playground.

That night brought rain — a lot of it. The organisers decided to remove the Colle della Mulattiera, a very remote, exposed and brutal climb that crosses borders back to France. Even with that adjustment, the final stage proved a real challenge. The gravel climb from the Vallée de la Clarée up to the promisingly named Fort de l’Olive took most riders over two hours in pouring rain, with temperatures dropping towards zero at the top. A small fire, warm blankets and a bottle of génépi gave strength and determination to the handful of pilgrims who made it up. All that remained was a long descent back to Briançon and one last climb to Puy-Saint-Vincent, where all pilgrims gathered and cheered each finisher.

Photo: Cyril Chermin

Did we push them too far?

Le Pilgrimage is about making your own choices and knowing your own limits. Riders know beforehand what they sign up for: they are asked to confirm their mountain experience, endurance and ability to ride self-supported through high and rough terrain. Competency checks ensure that every participant recognises the demands: the skill to navigate in the mountains carrying your own supplies, the endurance to cover multiple days of 100 km and 3,000 metres of elevation, and the familiarity with rugged, high-altitude terrain and unpredictable weather. Yet even with preparation, every pilgrim must still make their own decisions along the way.

The routes are heavy and demanding, but with the comfort of basecamp and the checkpoints — set up to provide food, warmth and connection at the very moment it is most needed. That is what Le Pilgrimage is about.

Looking back at that moment at Fort de l’Olive, where pilgrims arrived soaked and exhausted, the thought briefly crossed our minds: had we pushed them too far? The answer was clear: no. Pilgrims chose their own limits, and the checkpoints offered the strength and warmth to continue, helping them find their way safely back to base.

Although only ten managed to ride the complete route, a pilgrimage isn’t about finishing first. It is about your own journey, making choices and finding new friends along the way. Even taking a shortcut or skipping a checkpoint is part of it — accepting where you are today and perhaps returning another time to complete the pilgrimage. And that shared understanding is what makes Le Pilgrimage what it is: a spiritual and inspiring journey through some of the most beautiful mountains Italy and France has to offer.

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Le Pilgrimage Gravel is organised by Simon Rosmolen & Cyril Chermin, together with Anne Pekelharing (chef), Yorit Kluitman (photo), Nils van der Heide (production), Tycjan Trzpiola (video). Thanks to our basecamp Hotel Saint Roch, Massacan, Café du Cycliste, Opinel, Pays-des-Écrins & AssSavers.

Le Pilgrimage Gravel will return in 2026.
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Opening Chapter: In the Footsteps of Saint Roch

Photo: @gijsferkranus

TRAIL REPORT
After starting out as a gravel event, Le Pilgrimage took a new turn and developed a trail running stage event across the mighty mountains of the Ecrin region. Fuelled by the curiosity and new activities of the organisers, the new event still reflects the main values: sharing adventure and creating individual experiences by challenging yourself. Making the most of the amazing scenery and offering a unique blend of a challenge and comfort. 

Le Pilgrimage Trail took it’s own first steps this July. The path we follow? The footsteps of Patron Pilgrim Saint Roch. Long ago, Saint Roch walked our valleys with little more than a walking stick, a loyal dog, and an open heart. He shared meals with strangers, climbed peaks, listened to stories, and always searched for a place to rest his feet. His spirit still lingers here. So we invited a new generation of pilgrims to follow in his path.

The group was a patchwork of backgrounds and experience, coming from Germany, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. The youngest was 23, the oldest 60. Among them: an Olympic silver medalist from the 2016 Rio Games, a man who had rowed across the Atlantic, ultra trail veterans, and hikers who had walked the length of countries. There were cyclists curious to start running and trading wheels for trails, and a few who had never set foot in the mountains before.

On that July evening, they all sat together at one long table. Outside, thunder rolled over the mountains, cooling the region down from the heatwave of the week before. Inside, the warmth of basecamp Hotel Saint Roch took over. Chef Anne introduced the first dinner, crafted from local ingredients and made in collaboration with a farm in the valley. She spoke a few words of encouragement and promised to see the runners again out on the trails, at the checkpoints.

Simon followed with the stage briefing: route highlights, elevation, water sources, safety instructions, and one key message: “Take your time. Look after each other. This is not a race. It’s a journey.”

Les Pilgrims:

Nis Alps, Dana van Bentum, Juliet Elliott, Tim Geraedts, Jolanda van Ginkel, Felix Gottschlich, Jan-Willem Groeneveld, Nicolas Hoffschir, Inge Janssen, Bart Mulder, Jan Nouwens, Michel Reuser, Joey Rikkers, Tom Rijnders, Janneke Scherpenhuyzen, Martijn van Strien, Mary-Lou Veldkamp, Ruben van Steenberghe (DNF), Nico Ruitenbeek (DNF), Jana Barková (DNS), Carlijn de Jonge (DNS), Jakub Wolf (DNS)

Stage 1: Vallon de Narreyroux, Col de la Pousterle & Les Têtes

Photo: @gijsferkranus

The cowbell rang. “Cinq, quatre, trois, deux, un – allez!” The first edition of Le Pilgrimage Trail had begun.

Stage 1 brought the group into the peaceful Vallon de Narreyroux, then descended sharply into the Fournel valley before climbing again to the panoramic viewpoint at Les Têtes. The day was hot and the pace up front was high, leading to overheated heads when the first runners reached the old wooden barn at the Col de la Pousterle, now transformed into Checkpoint 1.

Some immediately sought shade, others reached for their brevet card to get their first stamp. A bubbling pot of curry above the fire was met with hesitation from the frontrunners, but those arriving later gratefully accepted a plate and collapsed in the tall grass outside. That’s the idea. Checkpoints at Le Pilgrimage are designed for slowing down, cooling off, and gathering strength. Strength for the final climb of the day to Les Têtes, and for the thousands of meters of elevation still to come in the days ahead.

By the time the pilgrims returned to basecamp Saint Roch, we learned that our youngest participant, Ruben, had to withdraw from the journey. A fall around the 10 km mark had fractured his foot, though he continued to run another 20 km before stopping. With a remarkable display of determination, unfortunately his pilgrimage ended earlier than expected. Speedy recovery, Ruben.

Stage 2: Bouchier & Montbrison Massif

Photo: @gijsferkranus

Stage 2 led pilgrims across the flanks of the Montbrison Massif. After descending into the valley, the trail climbed toward the hamlet of Bouchier, a village abandoned for centuries after a devastating landslide and only partially rebuilt after the Second World War.

Beyond Bouchier, the scenery opened up. Runners passed beneath the imposing Tenailles de Montbrison and ascended to the Croix de la Salcette, where a panorama of the Durance Valley awaited. From there, a steep descent followed by a traverse beneath the Tête d’Aval brought them close to today's checkpoint. Just before Cabane de Marcellin, a cold mountain spring flowed, its basin filled with bottles of chilled Orangina. It was the first welcome sign that relief was near.

Just half a kilometer further, the wooden hut came into view, smoke curling from its chimney. Sausages sizzled on the grill, sending their scent down the mountain path. One by one, hungry pilgrims arrived for their second stamp in the brevet and a little snack. "Haute dogs" were served at 2,000 meters, marking the altitude checkpoint of the day, with the final kilometers of the stage ahead.

Stage 3: Refuge DU Pelvoux & Puy Aillaud

Photo: Dan Monoghan

Stage 3, the queen stage. 62 kilometers. 3,800 meters of climbing. Two days on foot, one night in a mountain refuge.

Pilgrims left basecamp packed with headlamps, warm layers, and mountain hut gear. Destination: Refuge du Pelvoux. At 2,700 meters, it sits on the flanks of Mont Pelvoux (3,946 m), watching over the Écrins Massif.

The trail led them back into the northern forests of the Montbrison Massif, past waterfalls and glimpses of the immense vertical face of Mont Pelvoux. Tucked among the pines, a treasure awaited inside Cabane de Chouvet: a message left by Saint Roch himself, alongside a postcard, a pen, and a camera. A moment of reflection or a quick slice of sausage before the journey continued.

From there, the final climb toward the refuge began. After a quick refill in Ailefroide, the pilgrims entered the Écrins National Park for the 1,100-meter ascent. Wildflower meadows, glacial streams, scree switchbacks, and cascading waterfalls guided the way. Across the valley, snowy couloirs and rockfall debris told the story of the alpine wilderness.

At the top, the Le Pilgrimage flag greeted the runners in the breeze. Nis and Jan Willem were the first to reach the high plateau, their arrival rewarded with a sweeping view of distant peaks, including Monviso on the horizon. One by one, pilgrims followed, welcomed by cheers and smiles. At 18:15, just before dinner, the final pilgrim arrived, met with loud applause from the group already gathered at the refuge.

Dinner was shared with mountaineers aiming for summits the next morning. Soup, stew, cheese, and homemade tart were served, and refuge guardian Mathieu presented a bottle of génépi, which made its way around the cairn as the sun dipped behind the peaks.

That night, the dormitory filled with quiet breaths, tired legs, and the occasional snore.

Retour to basecamp Hotel Saint Roch

At dawn, the cowbell rang once more, echoing into the valley below. The final 30 km had begun. From Refuge du Pelvoux, the route dropped into the valley and climbed again toward the shores of Puy Aillaud, where a quiet alpine lake offered a final moment of pause.

Feet were dipped, heads submerged, and some pilgrims dove in completely. It was the last cold shock before the descent into the Vallouise valley. From there, one final climb remained, the stretch back to basecamp at Hotel Saint Roch.

There was no clock at the finish line. Only a sense of arrival. A return not just to the place we started, but to a place now transformed by experience. Pilgrims gathered around the table one last time. Plates were passed. Stories exchanged. A fire crackled outside, faces lit by its glow.

And just like that, the first lines of this new chapter in the Le Pilgrimage story were written. 121 kilometers, 7,660 meters of elevation, and a trail that stitched together strangers, mountains, and memories.

As with the gravel event, the participants of this inaugural trail pilgrimage found way more than just a physical challenge. They faced their own fears and mental challenges, they pushed beyond borders they discovered and rewarded themselves with alpine views and a very personal sense of achievement. They might have had their own reasons to show up on the starting line, they shared the experience of a lifetime.

Merci.

Thanks to those who were part of the inauguration edition. You fully lived this journey. And thank you to those who helped make it possible: our partners Hotel Saint Roch, Café du Cycliste, Opinel, the Pays des Écrins, Brooks and our media team — Gijs Ferkranus, Martijn van Strien, and Dan Monaghan.

Le Pilgrimage Trail returns
Le Pilgrimage Trail returns June 28 – July 3, 2026. Registration opens Sunday, August 17 at 9:00 AM CET — join us for the next chapter in the Pilgrimage story: www.le-pilgrimage.com/trail.

A New Chapter: Le Pilgrimage Hits the Trail Running

Le Pilgrimage is more than just the ride; it’s a journey through the stunning French Alps—a test of endurance, resilience, and camaraderie. It’s about navigating rugged terrain, finding shelter in remote refuges, and sharing stories around the dinner table at basecamp. Over the years, it has grown into a community of adventurers who understand that the journey itself is the true reward.

Gravel, Grit, and Camaraderie

In the first edition, 23 riders faced 500 kilometers and 13,000 meters of climbing. Snow-covered summits, mist, and rain on the Galibier tested their resolve, while the warmth of Refuge des Drayères and the camaraderie of fellow pilgrims kept spirits high. One unforgettable moment came at the Col du Parpaillon, where pilgrims found a flickering campfire inside a pitch-dark tunnel at 2,700 meters—their final checkpoint on an extraordinary journey.

The second edition welcomed 40 riders from eight countries. Pilgrims crossed rugged trails in the Écrins Massif, paused at a shepherd’s hut for steaming fondue, and braved icy paths to reach the Galibier. The journey ended in Italy’s hidden valleys, with treasures awaiting in Forte Jafferau’s military ruins at 2,800 meters. At the finish line, strangers had become lifelong friends, sharing stories and meals like they had known each other for years.

Thanks to these early pilgrims who believed in our vision, Le Pilgrimage has become more than an event—it’s a shared story of camaraderie, adventure, and resilience. With the third edition already sold out in 24 hours, we owe everything to those who’ve helped grow this community by sharing their experiences around their own tables.

A New Path: Introducing Le Pilgrimage Trail

Now, a new chapter awaits. As the mountains keep calling, this time, the journey continues on foot. From July 1-6, 2025, the inaugural edition of Le Pilgrimage Trail—a trail-running adventure into the heart of the French Alps will take place.

Like the gravel journey, Le Pilgrimage Trail is an unsupported, multi-day challenge. Runners will cover long distances through challenging alpine terrain, navigating rugged trails, crossing high ridges, and discovering isolated refuges on the way.

Le Pilgrimage Trail captures the same spirit of exploration, resilience, and camaraderie. Along the way, runners will encounter “pilgrim treasures”—small but meaningful rewards hidden at checkpoints high in the mountains. At the end of the day, their safe haven awaits at Hotel Saint Roch in Puy-Saint-Vincent. This will be the refuge where stories are shared around the pilgrims’ table.

A Similar Spirit

Whether on two wheels or two feet, Le Pilgrimage is about embracing the unknown, pushing beyond your limits, and connecting with fellow pilgrims who share the same thirst for adventure. The mountains don’t care about the way you travel; they reward those who wander, endure, and seek.

As we start this new chapter, we are looking for trail runners who believe in the magic of a first edition. Just like those who joined us for the inaugural Gravel event, we invite you to be part of something special—to help write the first lines of this new story and experience the raw beauty of the French Alps in a way only Le Pilgrimage can offer.

Pilgrims. The mountains are calling. Registrations are open now.