August 27, 2023 Over the last few years, I’ve been exploring Valais on my gravel bike. This region of Switzerland is already known for its great road passes and mountain bike trails. As it turns out, it also lends itself very well to gravel biking: the Valais is criss-crossed by a dense network of 4×4 roads at the foot of …
My gear for the Tour des Stations Ultimate 1000: a tale of compromise
August 1, 2023 As I write these lines, I’m in Le Châble, three hours from the start of the Tour des Stations Ultimate 1000. The last few days have been very busy, between preparing the bike, planning my stops at the reboost stations and frantically studying the weather forecasts. This is the last chance to talk about my equipment! All …
A big scary goal
July 30, 2023 Oops, I did it again: I signed up for a bikepacking race. It all started with a bang in 2015, with the Transcontinental Race. After that, I followed it up with the Torino-Nice Rally (2018), Dead Ends and Cake and the SUCH (2021), then Dead Ends e Dolci this spring. This time, I’ve chosen to take part …
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Le Tour des Alpes vaudoises
→ 211km↑ 4330m♦ mediumSTART/FINISH: Les DiableretsCountry: SwitzerlandCLIMBS: Les Voëttes (1401m), La Forclaz (1260m), Villars (1253m), Les Plans-sur-Bex (11178m), Col du Pillon (1546m), Col des Mosses (1445m), Col de la Croix (1778m)A 4-day tour on quiet roads in the Alps near Lake GenevaEasily accessible by car and train, the Alpes vaudoises, with their characteristic chalets, green pastures and snow-covered peaks, are a …
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Graubünden gravel & road tour
→ 190km↑ 5670m♦ difficultStart: SplügenFinish: IlanzCountry: SwitzerlandCLIMBS: Lai da Vons (1991m), Maigelshütte (2314m), Alp Nova (2079m)A 3 day tour on quiet roads and gravel tracks in eastern SwitzerlandLocated in eastern Switzerland, the canton of Graubünden is home to some of the most beautiful road cycling passes in the Alps such as the Albula or the Umbrail. It is also a …
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Strada dell’Assietta and Colle delle Finestre
→ 139km↑ 4390m♦ difficultStart/Finish: Rifugio delle RaneCountry: ItalyCLIMBS: Colle delle Finestre (2178m)Route: Loop (clockwise)A 2 day gravel biking tour on the high military roads of PiemonteThe Strada dell’Assietta is a gravel road in Piemonte, Italy that will blow your mind. Going up and down between 2’000 and 2’500m for more than 30km, this old military road connects the ski resort …
The Switzerland Explorer
→ 420km↑ 7600m♦ DifficultStart: MeiringenFinish: WalenseeCountry: SwitzerlandCLIMBs: Grosse Scheidegg (1962m), Grimsel (2165m), Nufenen (2478m), Gotthard (2106m), Oberalp (2044m), Albula (2315m), Flüela (2383m)A custom crafted road cycling tour taking in the very best of the Swiss AlpsIs this the perfect tour of Switzerland? Maybe. Every region of Switzerland is worth visiting on a bike. The north, from Fribourg to Lake Konstanz, offers …
