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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