Lyon : Ride of Lights In 1852, the terrible cholera epidemic that has ravaged the city of Lyon has come to an end, and the inhabitants decide to dedicate a collective event to the Virgin Mary, the Festival of Lights. Since then, it has become a major cultural event. Every year, on the first weekend of December, thousands flock to the heart of the city to see light shows that will animate the streets for four nights. The illuminations of historic buildings are one of the highlights of the Festival of Lights. From the Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica to the Museum of Fine Arts via Place Bellecour, light displays are the backdrop for music concerts, pyrotechnics and other performances. It's 2022 at 9 am, the city is waking up. The streets still bear the scars of the long night that shook the city. The crowd ended up deserting the public places and in this freezing cold December, the silence that reigns around is almost deafening next to the echo of empty bottles being swept up. In front of Grimpeurs Cyclist House, in the heart of the old town, a small group is bustling about, a dozen cyclists unstoppable by last night’s partying or an icy winter morning. They’re ready to do battle on two wheels – a 70-kilometre tour through the mountains of Lyon. The leader of this small peloton is ex-pro road racer Jérôme Cousin, he’s just the man for this chilly job. Grimpeurs Cyclist House (grimpeur is French for ‘climber’ just in case you needed reminding), is a renowned place for cycling enthusiasts in the region. This large modern space offers all the services and amenities a cyclist could dream of and the place offers easy access to cycle paths and surrounding mountain roads. Many cyclists meet here, it is the starting point for infinite adventures on two wheels, plus pre and post-ride fuelling. After dipping a slice of cake in black coffee at the counter of the store, we tear ourselves away from the ambient heat to join the horde outside. This is undoubtedly the opportunity to ride with a pro who has pushed these fellows outside on such a bitter cold day. It is certainly for the same reason that the small peloton leaves the city at a steady pace, a pace that it will maintain all morning. The original itinerary will, however, be modified. With the thermometer reading -5°C, the small road that the group must take on the Monts du Lyonnais is totally frozen. To venture there would be to run the risk of finding oneself collectively on the deck. The group is unanimous, no one wants to spend Christmas with a leg in plaster or an arm in a sling. The outing will continue along the plains around Lyon. The group reaches the banks of the river Saône. The old 12th century building in front of which the bicycles now pass is a Mecca for French gastronomy. Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or Abbey has belonged to the Bocuse family for over 100 years. It was the famous chef Paul Bocuse who created this establishment, which he managed for more than 50 years, famed throughout the world. A credo of excellence: highlighting traditional French cuisine using high quality local ingredients. The interior of the restaurant, decorated with original paintings, wood panelling and works of art, creates a luxurious atmosphere on a par with the cuisine on offer. The cyclists will perhaps come back to eat and revel here another time, the hour is already well advanced, and the successive punctures of one of theirs has caused the average tempo to drop and cool the organisms of every riding body. Back inside the Grimpeurs Cyclist House, the cookies and cappuccini offered by the Barista put a smile on faces still tense with the cold air. Outside the streets are already filled with many tourists gearing up for another night of illuminations. In a few hours, night will fall on the city, the facades will light up, music will resound from all sides, the Festival of Lights will be in full swing. FURTHER RIDING Giro di Cappuccino Friends Clara and Melli embarked upon a summer bike-packing vacation into northern Italy. Fuelled by cappucini and armed only with a camping stove and sleeping bags, their adventure was a whistle-stop tour of Southern Tyrol and Lombardia, finishing in the fair city of Verona. View more Liam Yates Suddenly it’s the middle of 2022 and riding our bikes around Europe is normal again... But, the world being as it is, there’s no time to waste. Grateful to the cycling gods, I’m always looking at where to go on the next adventure. View more Gravel in Gruyère La Gruyère is in the canton of Fribourg, and has become famous for its cows, mountain pastures and the cheese of the same name produced here. The small Swiss enclave of just under 500km2 is a favourite place for cyclists who love natural beauty and plenty of elevation. View more Between Two Waters At The mouth of the Loire marine waters mix with fresh water and the phenomenon of the tides is felt over more than 100 kilometres back up the river. The landscapes of the estuary and its wild wetlands meet the shipyards and their hyper-industrialized mechanisms. View more

Gravel in Gruyère The weekend has finally landed. So it’s time to put bodies and equipment to the test on a breakaway in Gruyère. Bringing together athletes from different backgrounds – Annabel Fisher, the pro cyclist and winner of multiple Gravel races this year; Etienne Hubert, the Caravan kayaker; and Adrien Liechti, a Genevan bicycle courier who has become one of the best specialists in long-distance racing. The three of them will feature in this voyage of discovery in the Swiss alps. La Gruyère is in the canton of Fribourg, and has become famous for its cows, mountain pastures and the cheese of the same name produced here. The small Swiss enclave of just under 500km2 is a favourite place for cyclists who love natural beauty and plenty of elevation. And it is under an almost incessant rain that Gruyère will reveal its Alpine charm to us, if somewhat wet and muddy. As we begin our journey of a hundred kilometres and 3000 metres of elevation, a curious clamour rises from the adjacent forest. Screams, bells, and hoofbeats. The last Saturday of September in Gruyère is the time of the ‘Désalpe’, the day when the herds descend onto the plains after more than four months spent up on the higher pastures. This time of the year gives locals the opportunity to adorn the cows with their most beautiful cowbells, crown them with flowers and admire the elegance of their somewhat nonchalant demeanour. The view is the perfect snapshot of the Swiss mountains. The log cabins all look like model homes, the green meadows seem to be mowed weekly, the streams glint and twinkle, the evergreen forests impart a soothing tranquillity upon the landscape, and the cows seem straight out of a casting for the Swiss tourist board. We imagine what this place must look like under sunlight… This first small, paved road that climbs towards Teysachaux sets the tone. Here all the slopes are steep. These high gradients will follow one after the other throughout the route. It makes the ride even more epic, amongst the beauty of this landscape is the build-up of lactic acid and search for more gears. These are slopes that inexorably attack one’s morale, and in the rain no less. The search for grip on wet stones is constant, the water that runs down the face, onto our Alizée jackets, along the legs to finally penetrate the shoes. The added wetness plays with the nerves of the less valiant. Annabel, however, climbs the trails with disconcerting ease, and our kayaker seems not even to feel the water. Two sizes that nothing brings together, Etienne is almost twice the weight of our cyclist, the styles are opposite, but their respective efficiency is convincing and also does some damage to the rest of the troop. They'll be waiting for us up the stairs. We regroup and take a break in the village of Gruyère, the heart of life around here. The imposing modern building we see by the roadside is the dairy. Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) does not necessarily mean obsolescence of manufacturing processes, and we look around the impressive cellar in which lie hundreds of wheels of the world-famous cheese. A small forklift engages in a curious ballet to rotate each cheese horizontally by 180°. We are starving, gobbling up a whole wheel wouldn't scare us. Higher up, beyond the cheese factory, the small medieval city is worth the detour for its quiet alleys reserved for strolling pedestrians, and for its gastronomic appeal of course. Remarkably, no less than four museums are located here, including the most improbable of them, the museum-bar of HR Giger, the ‘biomechanics’ artist and production designer for Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror movie, Alien. Adrien Liechti is passionate about Giger, throwing his bike down and dragging us inside an otherworldly bar. We couldn’t take pictures here, so you must search for this place yourself. Adrien is so passionate about Alien that he tattooed one of the artist's images on his body, but again you must research this yourself the next time you encounter him somewhere in this treacherous galaxy. At our evening repose, in an improvised bivouac in the basement of a cable car bay, we preferred to ask Adrien about his long-distance racing experiences. After spending most of the day soaking wet, we feel good in warm, dry clothes. We do not really know what makes the eyes of the cyclists gathered in the darkness of this cellar sparkle, but the thrilling stories of Adrien combined with a small metal flask of Génépi (herbal liqueur popular in the Alps) that passes from one hand to the other no doubt helps. Our cycling clothing and shoes are not exactly dry in the early morning but is this really a problem? The key is to successfully put them on wet because, despite encouraging weather forecasts, the rain will continue to fall throughout the rest of the day. Col de Jaman, the last difficulty of the day but certainly not the least as, once again, the percentages make you shudder. And the rain makes the descent to Les Paccots somewhat tricky, with brakes squealing at times. And then, as a final meteorological provocation, the sun appears as we enter the village. End of journey. Tireless Adrien and Annabel have not ridden enough, so they set off again to attack a pass, more at ease on a bike than with their feet on the ground. FURTHER READING Gravel Tour with Etienne Hubert After the last few months of training and the Olympics in Japan, I find myself constantly craving nature. I’ve thought about doing a Gravel tour of Mont Blanc for so long, so this seemed like the perfect time. View more CDC GT Annabel Fisher In this video we go behind the scenes, speaking to the first of our three athletes, Annabel Fisher at the Traka, Girona - her first ever Gravel race. View more Adrien Liechti Adrien Liechti seems to be in his absolute element whenever he’s outside on a bike. A whirling phenomenon of endurance and speed, we spent two days with him near Geneva, where he lives in-between racing around the world. View more Caravan: Étienne Hubert As a World Champion sprint canoeist, cycling has always been a key part of my training routine but also a great way to socialise and explore hidden routes. View more

Liam Yates : West to East Suddenly it’s the middle of 2022 and riding our bikes around Europe is normal again... But, the world being as it is, there’s no time to waste. Grateful to the cycling gods, I’m always looking at where to go on the next adventure. When I suggested cycling from north to south Germany to a few riding friends, the general consensus was: ‘maybe something shorter?’ I consulted the map again and thought: let’s just flip it 90º and travel across from west to east. Fast forward a few months and a group of six of us are lubing chains and filling bidons in an Airbnb in Aachen on the western border. Ready or not we’re here to take on this next adventure. The route is 660km of mixed terrain, and we plan to do it in five days. Crossing the country, with a combination of camping and accommodation along the way, we all felt pretty excited. Day 1: We set off without too much faffing, rolling out to the sound of church bells and it was a smooth introduction to the Rhineland. 160km on mostly paved roads and cycle paths as we began our journey eastwards. After some climbing at the start of the day, followed by that all important downhill, the final 50km was almost completely flat as we rode alongside the river Rhine to finish in the city of Koblenz; where the Rhine joins the river Moselle. The name Koblenz is in fact a derivative of the Latin for confluence. Day 2: We started with breakfast in Koblenz at Canyon bikes’ showroom and café. It was super cool to see the HQ and check out some of their radical machines. Obviously, it’s great to be associated with the brand, and we probably wouldn’t be here without them. From here we continued along a mostly tarmac route with just a few surprise off-road sections to keep everyone on their toes. We finished the day with a five–star supermarket dinner, before rolling about until we found a suitable camping spot for the night. Day 3: Wild camping meant we were up nice and early, the sunrise and birds made sure of it. We packed up and dropped down along the route until we found the next town. We came across a wonderful smelling bakery and stopped for breakfast and chatted about the day ahead. Whatever we might have expected, day three in fact turned out to be a pretty epic. About midday the weather started to change as big rain clouds closed in on us, Alizée rain jackets at the ready we continued until the heavens opened completely and didn’t show any sign of stopping. The group split as we all tried to stay warm and in brief moments of communication beneath the downpour we all decide to continue to the town of Eisenach. After three hours in the rain (thanks again to another of our sponsors) we made it, and decided that camping didn’t seem such a fun idea. It was a hotel and a bed for the night! We were resting our heads peacefully having made it to pretty much the centre of Germany. Schlaf gut! Day 4: As you might agree, the fourth day is always a bit of a hump, and the legs are either singing or crying (or maybe a bit of both). We were now well into our adventure and climbing out from Eisenach on our way to join the Rennsteig ridge trail. This well-established route traverses the Thüringer Forest from Hörschel to Blankenstein. This section would make up for a significant amount of our off-road kilometres, as well as most of the climbing on the trip. One of the best things about this trail is that every 5/10 km there refuge huts available for people to hangout in when bad weather hits, or indeed spend the night in. After a sublime day of riding forest trails followed by another stellar supermarket dinner, that’s just what we did. In Scotland they call them bothies, in Germany a schutzhütte. Whatever you call them they are a bike-packer’s dream. We slept well. Day 5: It was the final day of our west to east bike-packing expedition; and we left our log cabin shelter and continued along the trail. Today featured more downhill and we made some good progress, with everyone hitting their stride. As we left the forest trails we joined an old tank service road, and it was one of the most amazing stretches I've ever ridden. It really made you think about the history of this great country and the worlds beyond us in the east. We finished the trail at the town of Blankenstein and from here followed a more standard tarmac route to the border. The town of Cheb was our finish point, a welcoming place with plenty of accommodation and food options for the hungry cyclist. What a cool feeling seeing a spontaneous idea turn in to a real-life experience just a few months later. Prost! FURTHER RIDING Il Giro dell'Ichnusa. Sophie Gateau explores Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, which boasts landscapes of breath-taking beauty. The legend goes that the island was imprinted by the giant foot of a Greek god; the Greeks may have started that one but it’s easy to imagine when you look at the map. View more Tracing the Torino-Nice Rally. Tracing the Torino-Nice Rally. A legendary gravel ride travelling from Italy to France. Sophie Gateau and Mathias Riquier explore the route ahead of the start of the Rally this September. View more An Atlantic Adventure. If there is an ideal route for embarking on your first bike-packing adventure, the Vélodyssée is in an excellent option. The 1200 km route gives riders of all abilities a true taste of the diversity of France and all its topographical richness. View more Between Two Waters. At The mouth of the Loire marine waters mix with fresh water and the phenomenon of the tides is felt over more than 100 kilometres back up the river. The landscapes of the estuary and its wild wetlands meet the shipyards and their hyper-industrialized mechanisms. View more

Giro di Cappuccino : Bike-packing in northern Italy The original plan for our summer vacation by bike was to take unknown paths and ride from our home in Innsbruck through Austria to Slovenia and finally into Croatia. Since the time was limited, the stages were somewhat ambitious. A covid infection that Melli caught shortly before we were due to start meant a two day delay of our departure, so the routes were redesigned, which led to a shorter, but no less exciting tour. The plan was still to rely on our sleeping bags, allowing the greatest amount of flexibility for where we’d spend each night. Day One: Brenner - Bolzano The goal was Bolzano in beautiful South Tyrol on a well-developed bike path. After a short train ride to get us in range, we set-off from Brenner (or Brennero) in sunshine towards our first Italian cappuccino under some palm trees. After 45km we arrived at Brixen, the perfect break spot. This was followed by another 40km along a river. There were a few bike packers on the route, most of whom had Lake Garda as their destination. In Bolzano, we had a snack before we started thinking about our place to sleep. After much back and forth looking for a safe spot in the city, Clara used her negotiation skills at a small hotel to secure us a bed for us despite it being high season. Day Two: Bolzano - Molveno Feeling well rested and starting the day with a double espresso, we set off on what was probably the most strenuous stage of the tour. From Bolzano our next destination was Lake Molveno. With mixed feelings we rolled 40km alongside the Adige river to a small village called Mezzolombardo. Whilst Meli was suffering as it was not even a week after her infection the cappuccino in Mezzolombardo awakened the motivation to dive further into Italy. Two hours later we had already reached the top and looking back it wasn't half as wild. And above all, it was worth it. &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp A turquoise blue lake with a unique mountain panorama awaited us, perfect for an after-ride dip. After the obligatory Aperol spritz and pasta, we looked for a place to sleep by the lake. Everything would have been too perfect if we hadn't been startled by lightning, thunder and raindrops. Although it was relatively warm, our Café du Cycliste rain jackets were our saviour. Luckily there was a public bathroom a few hundred meters away, which at least protected us a little from the storm. Admittedly, a toilet floor is anything but a romantic place to sleep. However, adventure was what we were here for. Day Three: Molveno - Riva del Garda After surviving our somewhat uncomfortable night, we were all the happier to see the sun the next morning. The weather forecast for later wasn't ideal, but we started towards Lake Garda with healthy optimism. A few metres of altitude awaited us, after which we were rewarded with a beautiful descent to Lago di Tenno. After a lunch break in Riva del Garda, we decided to take advantage of the good weather and continue along the west bank to Limone Sul Garda. Quite a stressful affair to be honest in high season on a busy road. Since the sky was already getting dark again, we soon made our way back to Riva. We arrived together with the thunderstorm. We didn't feel like spending another night in an outhouse and luckily found shelter in a friend's holiday apartment. Day Four : Riva – Desenzano del Garda After a good salad and a glass of wine for dinner, we started the day with yoghurt and fruit by the lake, and, of course, our morning coffee brewed on our gas stove in the little Bialetti.What we would have done without this we do not know, it always gave us power to begin each stage. Melli’s coffee must have been particularly strong as she had a lot of power today and I wanted to enjoy the view along the long-awaited dream of cycling by Lake Garda. So I sent Melli ahead and we met after the first break for a cappuccino in Garda. I wasn't that slow after all. After a short break we set off again in the direction of Desenzano, our destinaiton for day four. After rewarding ourselves with extremely good pizza we had the sleeping arrangement question to contend with again – this time we had no toilet floor and no friend to help us. &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp So we rode a bit out of town and looked for a meadow or a roof where we could spread out our sleeping pads and bags. After about 10 minutes we discovered the perfect spot: a large, beautiful green meadow with an incredibly beautiful view of Lake Garda. Perfetto! I have to say that I slept really well until it got wet, not wet because it was raining, but wet because this meadow was equipped with an automatic irrigation system. Not so perfect. We moved a few metres away to a dry spot and we laughed at each other but soon fell asleep again. But this automatic watering system fooled us again, and soon we were soaked even more. Day Five: Desenzano - Verona We rose early having managed to dry off and prepared breakfast, ready for Verona. Melli rode off quickly and with full motivation for our final leg, but then there was a sudden BANG and Melli's tire burst. Thankfully it was the final day and we weren’t in the wilderness, and the cycling gods kindly offered up a bike shop 100m further up the road. With Melli’s bike feeling good again we started in the direction of Verona through beautiful vineyards, small Italian villages and quite gorgeous roads. A few hours later we were standing in the spectacular Piazza delle Erbe admiring the Madonna Verona. Dirty and tired, we were glowing with a real sense of achievement, proud of ourselves that we’d mastered the whole way by bike and that everything worked out so well. We enjoyed our last cappuccino and headed to the station to take our train back to Innsbruck. What a journey. We sweated a lot, laughed a lot, covered many kilometres and meteres of altitude, but we made it. Thanks to Café du Cycliste we were able to sit on our bikes for hours and enjoy riding long distances. Thanks to everyone who made this dream come true and supported us, we hope for more adventures soon. Clara & Melli FURTHER RIDING Between Two Waters At The mouth of the Loire marine waters mix with fresh water and the phenomenon of the tides is felt over more than 100 kilometres back up the river. The landscapes of the estuary and its wild wetlands meet the shipyards and their hyper-industrialized mechanisms. View more An Atlantic Adventure If there is an ideal route for embarking on your first bike-packing adventure, the Vélodyssée is in an excellent option. The 1200 km route gives riders of all abilities a true taste of the diversity of France and all its topographical richness. View more Il Giro dell'Ichnusa Sophie Gateau explores Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, which boasts landscapes of breath-taking beauty. The legend goes that the island was imprinted by the giant foot of a Greek god; the Greeks may have started that one but it’s easy to imagine when you look at the map. View more Tracing the Torino-Nice Rally A legendary gravel ride travelling from Italy to France. Sophie Gateau and Mathias Riquier explore the route ahead of the start of the Rally this September. View more

What in the World is Gravel : The CDC GT at the UCI Worlds Will the question ‘what is Gravel?’ have been answered in the aftermath of the first ever UCI World Championship Gravel race? Many racing at this inaugural event may have glimpsed what Gravel is for a split second; like that fleeting ‘moment of clarity’ alcoholics often experience. Or perhaps it has just thickened the plot even more. Don’t drink and ride though, especially when representing your home nation. The victories of Pauline Ferrand Prévot and Gianni Vermeersch gave Gravel the air of nobility needed to establish the discipline in its own right on Planet Cycling. On-off-road racing might be the new black with rainbow stripes for professional (and amateur) cyclists. After this first World Championship, Gravel will have shown its dirt-splattered face to the general public, a far cry from the good old days of riding 25mm tires on fire roads. Gravel bikes, apparel, teams and more now exist in the Planet Cycling. In its UCI form, Gravel appears to be more of a rolling route with somewhat crunchy roads, without any major technical difficulty. But is sport ever a level playing field? Not in bike racing. Shorter in length than your average grinder, this UCI-mapped course was more of a Sunday country glide for all the family. Far from the format of the great adventure races which forged the reputation of Gravel, far even from the qualifying heats of these same World Championships. Perhaps it was to attract the pro riders, those who for the most part this Sunday were riding road bikes fitted with tires barely bigger than usual. Perhaps it was simply because everyone deserved a nice easy finish to the season. Certainly it was the price the general public paid for the TV motos being able to ride easily on the course and film the action. For the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team this World Championship marked the culmination of a first season of excellence. Our warriors have all qualified with art, heart and humility. They descended into the arena during the selection rounds, fought with all the commitment and bravery that we know of them to obtain the key to unlock this Venetian final. Racing for a good part of the course alongside the Frenchwoman who will be crowned the first champion of the world in the discipline, Annabel Fisher abandons due to a puncture at the 101st kilometer. Danielle Larson, Lydia Iglesias Bares, Maria Ögn Guðmundsdóttir will give the best of themselves in their respective categories, and the podium passes just under the nose of Lydia, the Spanish rider of Team Café du Cycliste. At the same time as this race in Veneto was officially occuring, in other places, far from spotlights and televisions, other Gravel rides were taking place. Bands of friends were making sudden diverions of the tarmac and racing each other on bumpy roads, laughing, hurting and feeling free. Others in search of adventure loaded their bikes to cross passes and borders for days on end. More than ever, Gravel is taking on new further dimensions beyond rules and regulation tyres. Having a World Championship race will not change anything. And the question therefore remains: ‘what is Gravel?’ FURTHER RIDING Team Spirit in Montserrato Gravel, more so than other cycling disciplines, prides itself on its pioneering spirit. It is apt, therefore, that it puts both genders on equal footing. Women compete with men over equal distances, from the same start line. View more The Rift The Rift is an unmissable event on the Gravel calendar with a course offering volcanic landscapes, and a highly unique terrain. There’s nothing else in the universe quite like it, especially not for Annabel Fisher who rode to victory in the 200km. View more Traka Girona’s location and laidback atmosphere make it irresistible to Gravel enthusiasts. The surrounding countryside is riddled with trails as far as the eye can see and, unsurprisingly, The Traka has established itself here as the benchmark European Gravel race. View more Unbound In terms of Gravel racing there is Unbound, and then there is the rest. For Gravel enthusiasts, Unbound is more than a race, it's a pilgrimage, a baptism of dirt and fire that every follower dreams of one day living. View more

BETWEEN TWO WATERS The mouth of a river and its meeting with the ocean is always a fascinating place. From the Mississippi in New Orleans to the Yangtze that flows into the East China Sea, such locations have a power beyond words. And the mouth of the Loire is no exception; marine waters mix with fresh water and the phenomenon of the tides is felt over more than 100 kilometres back up the river. The landscapes of the estuary and its wild wetlands meet the shipyards and their hyper-industrialized mechanisms; this confrontation between nature and technology is as explosive as it is unexpected. Riding in this area south of Brittany with its typically bucolic scenery is a captivating experience, somewhat reminiscent of a Jacques Tati film with Monsieur Hulot carousing about the seaside. But then you see the brutalism of large metal bridges contrasting starkly with the pretty seaside houses and delicate marsh birds going about their daily errands aside huge maritime wind turbines waiting to be shipped out. Salt workers fling their haul manually beneath gigantic automatic tippers, the scale of modernity is captivating. We set off from Nantes, a dynamic and creative western metropolis. It is also a milestone on the long cycle route that is “La Loire à Vélo”. We meet a few cyclists along the banks of the Loire before riding away from the river to get lost in the infinite and pan-flat marshes. The scores herons and egrets will be our only companions for the rest of the day. Here and there, however, we can see chimneys announcing a monumental factory or a sprawling industrial complex. The closer you get to the ocean, the more their numbers increase. Wide expanses of reeds and duckweed gradually give way to gigantic areas of apocalyptic architecture looming aggressively on the horizon. Saint-Nazaire is the first French port on the Atlantic coast, and it marks the end of the river and the beginning of the ocean. Giant, colourful cranes punctuate the skyline, making us feel tiny beneath their towering structures. A huge blockhouse, a former German submarine base during the Second World War, offers a breath-taking view of the river and the port, and makes a rather original playground for our own two-wheeled machines to explore. It is time to leave the river and roll alongside the coast, the beautiful villas of the middle of the 11th century recall the seaside tourism of the olden days and it is easy to imagine city dwellers travelling here to refresh themselves at the edge of the ocean and to walk under the aromatic pines. A little further north, the salt marshes of Guérande unfold in a vast plain punctuated by the forms of the salt mounds. The workers continue to plough on, raking in the ever-loved mineral. Our track follows the Vilaine, one of the first canalized rivers in France, by a superb gravel track that would almost make us believe that we are in the United States. The small medieval town of Redon located at the intersection of the river and the canal from Nantes to Brest indicates the way back. The circle is complete. Further Riding Il Giro dell'Ichnusa Sophie Gateau explores Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, which boasts landscapes of breath-taking beauty. VIEW MORE A Tour of the Volcanoes of Auvergne Sophie Gateau explores the Auvergne region, where there are probably more cows than humans per m2, armed with our camera, a tent and a knife. VIEW MORE Tracing the Torino-Nice Rally A legendary gravel ride travelling from Italy to France. Sophie Gateau and Mathias Riquier explore the route ahead of the start of the Rally this September. VIEW MORE The Ultra Distance Gravel Race Sophie Gateau tackles Badlands, an unsupported off-road race through Andalusia, made up of around 725km and 15,000m of altitude gain. VIEW MORE

Team Spirit Gravel, more so than other cycling disciplines, prides itself on its pioneering spirit. It is apt, therefore, that it puts both genders on equal footing. Women compete with men over equal distances, from the same start line, battling the elements together at the same time. In hindsight, creating a Café du Cycliste Gravel Team was an obvious choice. The idea being to form a group of women, tough as nails, ready to face any challenge head-on, willing to throw down the gauntlet to men and even ride circles around them on the long and perilous races. Of course, physical condition is paramount, but mental strength is where a race is often won and lost. When muscles have been pushed to their limits, the brain must take the reins and haul the body over the finish line. It’s a personal battle, fought side by side with one’s teammates. Maria, Danielle, Annabel and Lydia; the four ‘True Grit’ of the team, have been getting acquainted on the trails. On paper results played a part in their selection, but the most important criteria was a combative, exuberant and off-the-wall personality. Café du Cycliste was out to have a blast while competing in the mythical races on planet Gravel such as The Traka (Spain), Unbound (USA) and The Rift (Iceland). The arrival of the inaugural UCI Gravel World Series has added new flavour to the project, bringing with it a competitive aspect that was not part of the initial plan. Without a doubt, the move to qualification races dilutes biking adventure spirit where the limits of a challenge are always pushed, where it is difficult to reconcile the fight for places with the next event. For the majority of the CDC-GT, qualification to the World Series was a formality. The team will take part in the final on the 8th October 2022, some having taken podium places and victory laureates in the qualification race in Monsterrato (Italy). A team spirit has grown organically over the course of the season’s races. Four athletes, hailing from different countries and speaking a myriad of languages, gelling together. These international races put their daily lives on hold, lives of non-professional athletes who have a day job and a family watching them head out the door to race. For a few days, they are immersed in a unique, communal and intimate experience. At a rate of around one race per month, the team has gradually become a family. Between races, the existence of each athlete evolves, their lives changing steadily or rapidly. The races provide an opportunity to catch up, where personal highs are celebrated, and lows commiserated. Team members train individually between each event, the shared pre-race rides are a way to gauge their friends’ form. Sporting identical kits, a newfound power is born, and a feeling that the individual efforts begin to make sense in the group context, transforming into a collective strength. However, the reality of a gravel race is not conducive to teamwork. The girls mix in with the various male groups that form early on in the race, getting into a rhythm and jumping from group to group to climb the rankings. A peculiarity of these races is men being surprised to see women ahead of them in the race, sticking to their wheel, and having to stick to theirs too. The UCI Gravel World Championships will be held on the 8th October. The Gravel Team is in a relaxed mood leading up to the event. At this stage, the main objective has already been achieved. The goal for the year was merely to take part in these races that gravel riders dream of. But the girls did more than just feature, they flourished. Further Riding Introducing CDC GT Café du Cycliste’s first official racing team. Bringing together four dedicated riders, all hungry for big adventure on mixed terrain, the project will take them across the globe to experience the best of the world’s gravel competition. VIEW MORE The Rift The Rift is an unmissable event on the Gravel calendar with a course offering volcanic landscapes, and a highly unique terrain. There’s nothing else in the universe quite like it, especially not for Annabel Fisher who rode to victory in the 200km. VIEW MORE The Traka Girona’s location and laidback atmosphere make it irresistible to Gravel enthusiasts. The surrounding countryside is riddled with trails as far as the eye can see and, unsurprisingly, The Traka has established itself here as the benchmark European Gravel race. VIEW MORE Unbound In terms of Gravel racing there is Unbound, and then there is the rest. For Gravel enthusiasts, Unbound is more than a race, it's a pilgrimage, a baptism of dirt and fire that every follower dreams of one day living. VIEW MORE

La Vélodyssée : An Atlantic Adventure. If there is an ideal route for embarking on your first bike-packing adventure, the Vélodyssée is in an excellent option. The 1200 km route which runs adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean connects Brittany to the Basque Country and gives riders of all abilities a true taste of the diversity of France and all its topographical richness. The Vélodyssée is also the French slice of the Euro Vélo, an 11,000 km route tracing the Atlantic coastline across Europe – from Scandinavia to western Portugal. The slow travel formula, without any time constraints, is what most people opt for. And there is no need to have the latest bike or high-tech equipment to live the adventure. Many families and groups of friends approach it quite simply by exploring the kilometres at their own pace. Self-propelled tourism. Our formula this August is a father-son expedition. 10 days to connect North to South in complete autonomy. There's a bit of a challenge in having 13-year-old Tim pedal an average of 130 kilometres a day. The kid’s legs are not so used to cycling, he’s rather more accustomed to swimming pools. So, the risk of seeing the experience turn short when fatigue is felt could be a possibility. But youthful energy prevails, and Tim completes the journey without compromise. The summer heat wave of 2022 that has swamped everywhere in Europe seems to have bypassed Brittany at the time of departure from Roscoff. A first night of wild camping on a fine sandy beach, lulled by the rhythm of the waves will give a perfect start to the journey. Freeze-dried pasta, a piece of sandwich left over from the train trip for our dinner, the tone is set for our odyssey on two wheels. The crossing of almost 400 kilometres across the tip of Brittany mainly takes an old railway line converted into a gravel path, then along the banks of the Nantes-Brest canal. The city of Nantes punctuates this first part of the trip, and the Loire and its estuary are a link that marks the switch to the ocean. By reaching the ocean, the atmosphere changes, much like the temperature which does not stop climbing as we head south. The tourist season is in full swing here too, and a large population from northern Europe has migrated for a few weeks to the coast. Renowned seaside resorts are crowded and sometimes long to cross on the bike. But soon we make an incursion inland, the route following ancient tracks through deserted landscapes of lagoons and immense pine forests far from the hustle and bustle of the beaches. Arriving in the department of Landes, a few kilometres below Bordeaux, the riding is marvellous. A small ribbon of asphalt splits dense forests of conifers which offer a highly appreciated freshness, the scent of pine awakening our tired eyes. This adventure is a real journey into the French terroir. The first three days familiarised us with buckwheat pancakes and Breton cider. Approaching Oléron and further from the Arcachon basin, we enter the undeniable stronghold of oysters and other marvellous sea creatures. The colourful houses of the fishermen are places that invite you to taste. If you want to combine these seafood specialties with the white wine that accompanies them so well, book this break for the end of the day, when the sun goes down and the sweetness sets in. This wraps up a day on the bike wonderfully and provides a smooth transition to the following day’s adventure. The Vélodyssée is also an immersion into the heritage of France: From Brittany to the Landes and then to the Basque Country, traditional local houses mingle with beautiful bourgeois residences built in the most prestigious places. The near-300 locks that line the Nantes to Brest canal invite you to take repeated breaks to survey the expanse, and a little lower down, the Castles of the Dukes of Brittany fascinate with their imposing structures. Further on, in Rochefort, crossing with the bikes on the last transporter bridge still in service in France is an unparalleled experience. The curiosities continuing up to the magnificent city of Biarritz are not lacking on the route, and the bicycle is a means of approaching everything intimately, crisscrossing the places where vehicles are not allowed to go. The gravel bike is the most suitable machine for this experience we concluded. In any case, a bike with a tyre section of at least 40mm is recommended, especially for the upper sections of the route. The part extending from the Arcachon basin to Hendaye can be done on a classic road bike (25mm tires minimum). The profile is mostly flat, in any case with no elevation that could discourage a novice. Logistically, it is easy to refuel throughout the course, no need to carry lots of food, this is France after all. The small restaurants, snack bars and pizzerias found in the campsites are good solutions for eating hot cuisine and not too expensively. Out of season, a considerable number of accommodation options, some very characterful, are offered on the course, a lighter way of riding that many will appreciate. Whichever formula you choose, the Vélodyssée is a journey that leaves an indelible memory, reaffirming the power of the bike as an essential companion for travel and adventure. So, when are you leaving? Info and routes (GPX files) here. Further Riding The Camargue – Between Sky and Sea There are places in the world that are sanctuaries for nature, where wildlife is untouched by modern life. The Camargue is one of those special places. VIEW MORE A Traverse Across the Pyrenees Each summer, I set off on an adventurous trip with good friends who are up for a challenge. Last year, we bikepacked through the Alps and this year we tackled the Pyrenees. VIEW MORE Tracks and Trails in the Ariège Five friends explore routes shared with the incredibly diverse range of four legged and airborne residents of the Ariège by bike. VIEW MORE Tracing the Torino-Nice Rally A legendary gravel ride travelling from Italy to France. Sophie Gateau and Mathias Riquier explore the route ahead of the start of the Rally this September. VIEW MORE

CDC GT : The Rift - María Ögn Guðmundsdóttir The latest film in the series capturing the exploits of the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team takes us to Iceland and The Rift.The focus of the film is María Ögn Guðmundsdóttir, an Icelandic bike racing legend. She has worked tirelessly to encourage other women to enjoy two-wheeled adventures, whilst also winning 20 Icelandic national championships across multiple racing disciplines.

Danyang, South Korea A guide to untapped rides in South Korea courtesy of Watts Sports. Danyang-gun, a town situated on a bend in the Namhan River in the North Chungcheong Province of Korea is a nature lover’s paradise. Surrounded by mountains and close to two national parks, the town has a wealth of activities to offer: There are limestone caves and rock formations to explore, and countless kilometers of hiking trails for all abilities. There is ziplining and paragliding and cable cars offering peerless views of Cheongpung-ho Lake, along with river and lake cruises as well. And for cyclists in South Korea, Danyang is close to paradise. The scenery and riding are astounding in any direction you choose. Go eastwards and you climb into the southern reaches of the Taebaek Mountain Range; head south and you climb into the Sobaek range; north or west for rolling terrain that traces river edges and lake sides along impeccably maintained roads. Yet, despite offering some of the very best riding in the country, it still flies under the radar. Here’s our guide to some of the region’s hidden gems. Jungnyeong ROUTE This relatively short 50km course, which gains about 1,100m of elevation, offers plenty of the two things all cyclists love—beauty and pain. Jungnyeong, a mountain pass that goes through Sobaeksan National Park, is one of Korea’s must-ride road cycling climbs and one of the highlights of cycling in the Danyang area. At 9km long with an average gradient of just 6%, it is a climb that begs to be ridden. Rising up through the foothills, which are home to a handful of quaint, small farms, the climb then heads into forest. The road is wide and smooth, twisting and turning to the peak where you are met by a a traditional Korean pavilion that offers a magnificent view looking south toward Yeongju. While Jungnyeong is a fairly long climb, it isn’t the part of this course that presents the greatest challenge. The biggest challenge comes with the smaller back-to-back climbs out of or back to Danyang. Whetehr you tackle them before or after Jungnyeong, Janghyeonjae and Nodongjae are vicious little beasts, each between 2km and 2.5km long with average gradients hovering around 10%. If you want to take it a bit easier, you can stop off for a bite to eat and some bad coffee at a local ‘mart’ in the tiny village of Daegang-myeon that lies between Jungnyeong and the two other two hills. Bobaljae ROUTE Heading northwest out of Danyang on this 45km route you are immediately greeted by the immaculate Gosojae, a small climb that overlooks Danyang from its southern slope and a beautiful river valley to the north, through which a myriad of paragliders float through the air from the mountains above. From here, it is a fast, flat 15km to Bobaljae as the road traces the riverside and makes two small bridge crossings that offer beautiful green and blue of the river and the surrounding forest-covered mountains. Turning off toward the Ondal Recreation Area, home to limestone caves and an ancient fortress, the road begins to climb Bobaljae toward Guinsa, one of Korea's most spectacular temples. Guinsa can’t be reached by bicycle but it is possible to drop your bike off at the car park and take the shuttle up to the sprawling temple complex nestled between two mountain peaks. From just past the Guinsa car park, Bobaljae heads uphill for about 2.5km at a 10% average. While never easy, this climb is always worth the effort to enjoy the view from the platform at the top, which reveals a serpentine road below. The 7km descent through a pristine mountain valley tracing a small mountain stream is worth the effort too. In hot and humid weather, the stream offers some refreshment. Hop over the guardrail, sit on the moss-covered stones and soak your legs in the cool mountain water before one more go of Gosojae, then dropping back down into Danyang. Cheongpung-ho Lakes ROUTE This area offers some truly incredible scenery along rolling hills that trace the lakeside. Most cyclists stick to the southern side of the lakes, but on the north side of Cheongpung-ho is some of the best gravel riding in the country. And like all the roads that trace Cheongpung-ho, this gravel section rolls up and down along the hillsides offering gorgeous views of the lakes below. The course from Danyang is just over 100km and doesn’t include any big climbs, but the route still gains 1,700m of elevation. There are virtually no flat sections, just constant ups and downs over small rolling hills. If you are willing to put in a little extra distance, you can cross over Cheongpung Bridge into Cheongpung-myeon, a small town with plenty of food and coffee stops. Visit in April when the cherry blossoms are in bloom; and you’ll be greeted by lurid pink and white trees and roadways littered with fallen flower petals. Jeosuryeong ROUTE Perhaps the most famous place in Danyang for cyclists is Iggi Tunnel, a short stretch of road that passes between tall, angled moss-covered cement walls into which people scratch their names and messages of love. During summer the mosses turn a deep green and vibrant leafy tree branches stretch out over the road giving the illusion of being inside a kind of tunnel. In the height of summer, the light itself takes on an almost greenish hue making it one of the most famous photo spots for Korean cyclists. While Iggi Tunnel is a lovely spectacle, the roads to the south are where the good riding is. Turning south you’ll cross over Jeokseong Bridge into Dansung, a tiny little village where you can stop off for a sit-down on one of the several small riverside pavilions or at the quaintest countryside bus stop in all of Korea painted with a mural depiting the local habitat. Here you can grab an unexpectedly decent coffee and entirely average pastry at the village’s one cafe in order to energy-up for Jeosuryeong, a challenging climb that doesn’t get nearly as much respect as it deserves. Jeosuryeong might not be the most beautiful climb but it is among the biggest in the area. The start of the climb is 1km at 10-13% before it eases off and rises at 5-8% for the final 7km. All along it is dotted with small farms and villages and a couple of roadside apiaries, so in summer be prepared for bees. At the peak is a small rest area and a derelict fuel station that was abandoned long ago. The descent back toward Danyang is something to behold. Halfway down is the village of Olsan, a small mountainside farming community and turning left here takes you toward Daeheungsa Temple through a pristine river valley. Stop off to walk through the temple grounds if you wish, otherwise just enjoy the fast road lined with cherry trees. Four Hills ROUTE The Four Hills course south of Danyang not only includes what might be the single greatest stretch of road in all of Korea, but it also includes four short climbs that are perfectly representative of so many Korean climbs—short and brutally steep. From just outside Dansung the road heading south on Seonam-gaegok-ro weaves its way through a river gorge along immaculate tarmac. This is the kind of road that will make some cyclists shout with glee. The beauty of the surroundings almost requires you to take it slowly yet the road itself begs for speed. And best of all is that it is almost always empty. In fact, it’s only been ridden by 650 Strava athletes in total. It really is a hidden treasure. Out of the gorge, the climbing comes steep and thick with four climbs in succession. First comes Beoljae, 2.3km at 9% with pitches as steep as 12%. Then comes Sunghwangdangjae, a slightly undulating 7km at a 5% average with several 10% ramps, all leading back to Beoljae’s southern slope—2.5km at 10%. And finally there is Jikchi, a mean 2.6km at a 9% average, again with ramps hitting as high as 12%. If this sounds like misery, that’s because it is. The entire 74km course gains almost 1,600m of elevation gain, with 1,100m coming from these four hills in just 28km of distance. This course provides all the best that cycling has to offer: enjoyment, beauty, undeniable suffering, and an easy finish. We might say it’s kind of perfect. Further Riding COINS CACHÉS. BOULDER, COLORADO Nestled on the eastern aspect of the foothills of the Colorado Rockies, the city of Boulder is a unique and idyllic hub for outdoor recreation—including cycling. VIEW MORE COINS CACHÉS. SALZBURGERLAND Whether you are looking for a steep satisfying climb or a gentle Sunday ride, the Bavarian Alps have so much to offer, both on and off road. VIEW MORE COINS CACHÉS. CAMBRIDGE Explore roads less ridden along the flat, exposed Fenlands, over Belgian berg-like climbs and through the iconic backstreets of Cambridge. VIEW MORE COINS CACHÉS. JULIJSKE ALPE A hidden cycling paradise filled with high mountains, rolling hills, forest trails, and coastal rides. Stunning scenery best explored on two wheels. VIEW MORE COINS CACHÉS. ARIÈGE The Ariège rests on the border with Spain and Andorra and is a region rich in history which remains one of the most unspoilt areas of France. VIEW MORE

Il Giro dell'Ichnusa In Sardinian, Ichnusa means footprint and is also the ancient name of Sardinia. The legend goes that the island was imprinted by the giant foot of a Greek god; the Greeks may have started that one but it’s easy to imagine when you look at the map. Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and boasts landscapes of breath-taking beauty. Our bikes, harnessed with panniers and sporting wide tyres, are ready for action as we board the ferry from Nice to make the journey over to this coveted island. The crossing is slow, and the weather expands as we bob further away from dry land, passing Corsica and barely recognising its rocky profile. Finally, the weather clears and the boat drops us into the early morning sun at Golfo Aranci on the north-eastern side of Sardinia. We must reach the village of Cuglieri to the east of the island, a route of 200 kilometres with 3500 meters of elevation. We take the opportunity to discover the middle of Sardinia with its perched villages; sublime but tortuous cork forests; its forever changing, hilly and green landscapes; its deep cirques and its mountains still capped with snow. The small roads we take are deserted, the only encounters with other creatures are countless herds of sheep grazing quietly in the verdant meadows. We also encounter consecutive ‘Patou’, very effective guard dogs who hail from the Pyrenees, and they ensure we keep well away from their woollen assignment. Cuglieri, a typical old village with winding streets and set on a hill 400 meters above sea level, is our base camp. From there, we leave to explore the surroundings mixing road and gravel. To the east, the Mediterranean unfolds, to the west, the Montiferru, a massif of volcanic origin that dominates the surroundings to the west with its imposing presence. In every direction, along each of the four cardinal points, our tyre tracks meet lush natural surroundings. The fauna and particularly the Sardinian flora are abundant. Many species of plants and flowers are native to the island and constantly delight us as we travel. The roads are lined with wildflowers, and the trails cross forests of mimosas whose aroma intoxicates us. We cross expanses of wild orchids, and we scratch our legs in contact with myrtle bushes and thorny brooms. Our itinerary is punctuated with a series of enchanting places: a 10th century church; a small restaurant of Sardinian specialties; a waterfall flowing into the sea; a colourful and timeless village; a white quartz beach; a fishermen's café at the end of a spit of sand; an uncompleted bridge; a pond in which pink flamingos potter; a small pastry shop that makes the best biscuits in the region; and the ruins of the ancient Punic civilization. Five days are certainly not enough to cover the island, but we were able to explore a good part of the North-West. The appointment is agreed already to return and ride the remaining three-quarters, surveying the many small roads and gravel tracks which trace the imprint of Ichnusa. While thinking about this wonderful voyage of discovery, we make the crossing back on the ferry and admire a timeless sunset over the sea, gently bringing us back to the reality of the continent. Further Riding A Tour of the Volcanoes of Auvergne Sophie Gateau explores the Auvergne region, where there are probably more cows than humans per m2, armed with our camera, a tent and a knife. VIEW MORE Tracing the Torino-Nice Rally A legendary gravel ride travelling from Italy to France. Sophie Gateau and Mathias Riquier explore the route ahead of the start of the Rally this September. VIEW MORE The Ultra Distance Gravel Race Sophie Gateau tackles Badlands, an unsupported off-road race through Andalusia, made up of around 725km and 15,000m of altitude gain. VIEW MORE North Cape 4000 Sophie Gateau rides thousands of kilometers north to avoid rabid dogs and make friends with reindeers in her latest Audax adventure. VIEW MORE

The Queens of Gravel Conquer Iceland The Rift, Iceland - Fire and Ice Iceland is a wild and hostile land. Its topology is unique, made up of active volcanoes and huge glaciers covering more than 10% of its surface. The enchantment of the fjords, with coastlines chiselled out of ancient rocks and archipelago spreading as far as you can see, then beyond them neighbouring Greenland. The dramatic landscapes of the island, mostly devoid of vegetation, feature huge expanses of lava and black sand. If there is one Gravel race not to be missed under any circumstances for the beauty and power of the scenery, it is undoubtedly The Rift. In 2022, being a woman and advocating for equality in the sporting world is about action. In this sport women and men take to the same startline, compete over the same distance, battle on the same relief, cross the same rivers, and come up against the same elements. It will be necessary for all of them to prove themselves over 200km of tracks and roads, with more than eight hours of uninterrupted effort in the land of the Vikings. In this game, without perseverance, power is nothing. The race is unrivalled in that it bypasses Hekla, culminating at 1491 meters, over most of the course. Hekla is an active volcano capable of erupting at any moment. On a regular basis, the natives receive messages warning them of a possible eruption; signs indicating the procedure to follow in the event of volcanic activity are placed on all the access roads to the site. In 1970, 1980, 1991 and 2000 when Hekla breathed fire from its belly, seismic activity was detected only 30 to 60 minutes before the fateful moment. This Saturday, as race day requires, Hekla remains silent, and instead a thousand bikes will shake the landscape. After La Traka in Spain and then Unbound in the USA, the women of the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team came to rub shoulders with the best of Planet Gravel in the far north. They shone bright, even more than that, Annabel Fisher, the Swiss-based rider of the Team Café du Cycliste will win the queen race of 200km. However, her race quickly took on an added challenge when she fell badly at the 30th kilometre (it later transpired she had broken two ribs). After 125km of racing, the pain is more violent than ever, the racer, a regular on tarmac more than stony tracks, sees her lead of 17 minutes melt like an ice cube in the midday heat. After 125km of racing, the pain is more violent than ever, the racer, a regular on tarmac more than stony tracks, sees her lead of 17 minutes melt like an ice cube in the midday heat. Pain and nausea take hold, so the brain must gradually opt for survival mode, adrenaline is the antidote. Two minutes is the gap she will manage to hold to the finish line, collapsing on the ground in a heap, immediately after crossing it, raising her arms to the sky in relief, pan and maybe a little joy. Danielle, Maria and Lydia will complete the course in a time capable of making more than one seasoned cyclist pale, finishing respectively in 5th, 7th and 9th place in the race. The ideal result ahead of the qualifying round of the UCI world championship scheduled for September 3 in Italy’s Piedmont. August will not be a vacation month for everyone, far from it. Get well soon, Annabel. Chapeau. MORE FROM THE CDC GT UNBOUND In terms of Gravel racing there is Unbound, and then there is the rest. For Gravel enthusiasts, Unbound is more than a race, it's a pilgrimage, a baptism of dirt and fire that every follower dreams of one day living. VIEW MORE LA TRAKA Girona’s location and laidback atmosphere make it irresistible to Gravel enthusiasts. The Traka has established itself here as the benchmark European Gravel race. VIEW MORE Annabel Fisher In this video we go behind the scenes, speaking to the first of our three athletes, Annabel Fisher at the Traka, Girona - her first ever Gravel race. VIEW MORE Danielle Larson This short film gives an insight into rider Danielle Larson’s fortunes on the 200 mile course at the Unbound, and her general approach to gravel racing. VIEW MORE

Tour de France 2022: Cafe du Cycliste’s PETITE BOUCLE Already into the second week of the Tour de France and the collective enthusiasm for the ‘Grande Boucle’ never seemed stronger. Covid had unfortunately passed its evil wand over the last two editions, eradicating the conviviality which is such a big part of the race. But this year, the supporters and the crazy party atmosphere has been reborn. Taking advantage of the riders' rest day in Morzine in the heart of Haute Savoie, we launched the invitation for our ‘Petite Boucle’, a collective outing of friends and colleagues that would follow a good part of the route of the next day's stage 10 ( Morzine–Megève) to return to its starting point via the famous Col de Joux Plane. A demanding route, but any ride in this part of France worth venturing on rarely avoids the mountains. 140 kilometres with close to 3000 metres of climbing was on the menu, so it was no walk in the park. 8:30 am at Place de Morzine, bright sunshine already heating up the day and the surrounding mountains. No less than six nations were represented in the group of twenty riders including Jérôme Cousin, an ex-professional who participated in the Tour de France just two years ago. Monsieur Cousin would be our ‘luxury’ ride leader for the day. Group photos taken, we descended for 30 kms to the shores of Lake Geneva. Cooler than expected, the wheels span at high speed in the Dranse valley of Morzine. As a group we estimated seven hours on the road today so, taking the time to enjoy the landscapes, we get to know each other by riding at conversation pace and refuelling regularly. Everyone already knows that the Col de Joux Plane will be the apotheosis for this long outing. We will reach it around 2:00 pm, with the sun high in the sky and the heat close to 28°C. The viciousness of the climb is undeniable from the first few kilometres. With the average percentage at 9%, Joux Plane is recognised as one of the most difficult mountain passes on the cycling planet, and has an infamous reputation in Tour history. In 2000, Lance Armstrong crushed the competition, especially in the mountain stages. The stage on Joux Plane, however, Richard Virenque set an unbelievable pace; leading Armstrong to experience the dreaded ‘bonk’ or ‘craving’ – also known as hypoglycaemia, where the muscles run out of sugar. No gifts, no Haribo, no ‘eating the field’ as per usual for the Texan. Alas, Armstrong hit the wall, Jan Ullrich was dropped and Alberto Heras and Virenque continued side-by-side over the crest of Joux Plane. Heras hit the deck on the final corner and Virenque took the stage, much to the delight of the French fans in Morzine. Our riders in 2022 did not have such a bad time as Lance Armstrong. All shone, all climbing at their own pace, which was very high for some trying to keep pace with the ex-pro Jérôme Cousin. Cousin was a gentleman, encouraging and supporting others as we moved towards the summit. A fizzing descent to Morzine marked a fast and furious end to a memorable day in the mountains, and one of the many great theatres of the Tour de France. Further Riding Another Tour : Morzine, July '22 The Tour is life. From the northern cobblestones to the Alps, the Pyrénées to the Champs Élysées. Every dog has its day. The highs and lows, the mountains and the valleys, on and on they race. VIEW MORE The Best Fondue Savoyarde in the World The best fondue Savoyarde in the world is tasted during the Tour de France, at the top of an Alpine pass after a long day waiting to see the peloton whizz past. VIEW MORE It's Ventoux time When the organisers announced that the Ventoux would be climbed twice in the Tour de France 2021 edition, it was certain that July 7th was going to be a historic day. VIEW MORE Ventoux Times Two Scenes from the road side of the Mont Ventoux on Stage 11 of the Tour de France 2021. VIEW MORE

Unbound and the Church of Gravel In terms of Gravel racing there is Unbound, and then there is the rest. For Gravel enthusiasts, Unbound is more than a race, it's a pilgrimage, a baptism of dirt and fire that every follower dreams of one day living. Emporia, Kansas, the sleepy rural town of less than 25,000 inhabitants, stands out as the mecca for a cycling religion that is gaining followers by the hour. The growing appetite for ‘ultra’ events has established Gravel which, through the length of the races and the difficulty of its terrain, meets the specifications of extreme sport in all respects. This is no round of golf. Here we are talking about pushing your limits, the choice ranges from 100 miles (160 kilometres) for the most sensible, to 200 and 350 miles for the most irrational competitors. The latter format will see most spend a night riding (and perhaps weeping) outside, testing their limits of sleep deprivation as well as their battered legs. Nobody could foresee the global success of this race when first held in 2006. Back then 34 riders trundled across a 200-mile course on the rural roads of the Flint Hills in eastern Kansas. Today, the course is essentially the same, but the number of participants has increased dramatically. Back then there was no such machine as a ‘gravel bike’. During this first weekend of June, the entire city of Emporia is transformed to welcome riders of all ages and backgrounds. The surrounding territories crossed by the race also show their hospitality – a restaurant in the middle of the countryside displays an Unbound cheesecake, the local Methodist shack dedicates its worship to cyclists, and everywhere welcome signs and messages announce the event to everyone who draws breath here. One wonders how many CO2 cartridges the bike shop in Emporia has sold in the last 48 hours. To the extreme distance and technical difficulty of the routes can also be added climatic conditions capable of further complicating things. In 2021, the race was hit with a heat close to 40°C, this year in 2022 it was with rain and the subsequent mud that riders had to deal with. Saturday, 500 hours, 6th Avenue in Emporia comes alive. The flashing lights of the vehicles stamped SHERIFF give the place a theatrical atmosphere, a major event like this has the full attention of the local police. At close to 600 hrs, a few minutes before the start time, a swarm of drones take flight, and hover a few metres beyond the start line. More than a thousand bikes cross this line a few minutes later, forming an endless peloton stretching under the noses of a large crowd of spectators. The Unbound course unfurls on wide paths as far as the eye can see. Some portions are for their part hilly, alternating for long, endless kilometres in a succession of dips and bumps. When the rain is unleashed halfway through, the conditions become daunting for all involved. The mud makes its appearance and changes the configuration of the race. It forces riders to stop to unclog drivetrains, it makes its way everywhere, most dramatically painting the faces of every racer, transforming them into underground miners who’ve just surfaced from the bowels of the earth. The 200 miles will be covered by the best in 9 hrs 22 mins, in 5 hrs for the 100er. On the team of the CDC-GT, Lydia Iglesias (winner of the 200km Traka) completed the 100-mile event in sixth place for women in 5 hrs 44 mins. Danielle Larson completed the 200 miles in 12 hrs placing her in the first quarter of the race. Maria, our 3rd racer, was forced to retire after roughly 80 miles. Sunday afternoon, the day after the race at Kansas City airport. An abnormally high number of travellers pushing or pulling large suitcases wander, glassy eyed, through the airport halls. We can clearly see from their swaying gait and tired faces the efforts of the previous day out in rural Kansas. To finish Unbound is to suffer, but it is to undoubtedly belong to the church of Gravel. Further Riding Gravel Advice We sat down with the CDC GT to talk about women’s racing and community, and how it feels to be a female athlete in a traditionally male-focussed sport. VIEW MORE Inside the CDC GT In this video we go behind the scenes, speaking to the first of our three athletes, Annabel Fisher at the Traka, Girona - her first ever Gravel race. VIEW MORE Sound and Force Café du Cycliste’s Gravel racing trio tackled their first event in Girona on Saturday May 1st 2022. Annabel Fisher took top spot in the 100km distance, her first ever Gravel race. VIEW MORE The Traka Girona’s location and laidback atmosphere make it irresistible to Gravel enthusiasts and, unsurprisingly, The Traka has established itself here as the benchmark European Gravel race. VIEW MORE

Electric Epic : Shooting with Yuba The push-bicycle (and also, now, electric) offers us access to the quiet places from which cars and other motorised vehicles are excluded. Some of these places are breathtakingly beautiful and it is even more rewarding that reaching them is earned (perhaps) by propelling ourselves – that it takes special effort to get there. On the French Riviera, between Cannes and Saint Raphaël, the orange rocks of the Massif de l'Estérel plunge into the blue water of the Mediterranean. The Corniche here is a reference spot for cyclists in the area, but many will tell you that it is by taking the small roads, away from traffic and perched on the mountainside, that the spectacle becomes the most beautiful. The asphalt changes colour, from black to pink, and as the bikes rise over the rocks, silence washes over you as nature envelops and hypnotises every rider. Each turn of the wheel is a delight as an extraordinary, dizzying landscape unfolds before the eyes. At the Café du Cycliste it is these extraordinary nearby places that we like to explore, privileged as we are to photograph seasonal collections in this proverbial paradise. Here, natural beauty must be respected, and a photo-shoot takes on the appearance of a somewhat special expedition, with clothing, accessories, crew and photographic equipment. Yuba, a Californian manufacturer of cargo bikes, has been revolutionising the transport of people and equipment while respecting the environment for many years. The modularity of the bikes allows for the transport of heavier goods and also passengers, comfortably seated at the back of the bikes. It is natural that our two brands join forces to remix more conventional shooting techniques. So we took the time to prepare everything and then we crossed the barriers that block motor vehicle access to these small secondary roads, to ride up to the peaceful altitude of the Massif de l’Esterel. Despite the steep slope, the power of the electric motors easily transports crews weighing more than 150 kilograms. The gear and clothing is loaded aboard a freighter bike while our photographer, installed on the back of another of these bikes, begins to give voice to direct the models. And then off we go… The speed that loaded freighters are capable of is more than enough to outrun the muscle bikes of our beautiful cyclists. This January day is a godsend for photographing the spring-summer collection, commonplace in this part of France where we love to reside (we will never get tired of it). Mission accomplished, this afternoon we worked effectively. End of the day on the Estérel Massif, the sun sets over the sea, the red rocks offer a striking contrast. We leave this beautiful playground, promising to come back soon, certainly with magnificent bikes that will allow us to taste the joys of off-roading. Further Riding Exploring the Morvan The Morvan isn’t easily explained. Travelling here is like taking a step back in time, and for those who love cycling, it’s a rich treasure trove waiting to be discovered. VIEW MORE Tracks and Trails in the Ariège Five friends explore routes shared with the incredibly diverse range of four legged and airborne residents of the Ariège by bike. VIEW MORE A Traverse Across the Pyrenees Each summer, I set off on an adventurous trip with good friends who are up for a challenge. Last year, we bikepacked through the Alps and this year we tackled the Pyrenees. VIEW MORE Ride & Create: Rémi Clermont Rémi Clermont is creative director of Café du Cycliste. Here he speaks about creativity, and the vital role his own cycling plays in the process. VIEW MORE

GRAVEL ADVICE : WOMEN OF THE CDC GT We sat down with the CDC GT, our female trio of Gravel racers, to talk about women’s racing and community, and how it feels to be a female athlete in a traditionally male-focussed sport. Do you think Gravel racing is an equaliser, a more level playing field? Danielle: Gravel racing has a lower cost of entrance both in experience and resources compared to other cycling disciplines. You do not have to move up any ranks to compete with the top athletes. It only requires one bike, you do not need a team to enter either. Also, it combines endurance with bike handling – this is one of my favourite parts! It makes both skills important to compete at the top level and you cannot have one without the other. Maria: Yes, I think that is one of the most fun things about the Gravel scene and the community, everybody has the same chance to ride the distance they like or want to challenge themselves in. It will always be different between genders in terms of results in the sport but that’s not what we are aiming for. Pros, amateurs, beginners – of any gender – are riding together with the different goals of the day, gravel is a cultural beauty. Do you have any fun stories about beating men on the bike? Maria: I have raced with and against men so many times in Iceland. One MTB race I started way too fast, totally not my day, and got dropped from the front group. I was so wasted trying to stay in the next group and was hanging with my head drooling on the stem. I heard the guys happily saying, “Hey we are strong today, Maria is in our group”. But my feeling is that men are no longer thinking about if they are beaten by a woman or not, I can feel a difference in the dynamic between genders the last couple of years. Annabel: Of course there are many times when I have dropped men like stones on climbs, most recently in Girona when out for a training ride with Clémence [Marketing at Café du Cycliste] and Christophe [Head of Content]. Christophe (foolishly) upped the pace as we closed in on the summit of a col, and just as he reached a full gas effort, I attacked, never to be seen again, haha.  What do you think the sport as a whole needs to do to keep growing women’s riding and racing? Annabel: The introduction of a minimum wage for those women who are professional, allowing them to dedicate themselves to the sport, creating a higher standard of athletes. And for those who ride and race for fun, a huge push on content showing women of all sorts participating, paving the way for the thousands yet to follow. Danielle: Yeah, racing against only women drastically changes the dynamics of a race and currently in the gravel scene a lot of smaller races haven’t adopted separate men and women’s starts. Also better coverage of women’s racing will help to build the sport; better so that it is equal to the men. In gravel specifically, having a separate men and women’s start will help improve coverage of just the women’s race. Maria: Create a situation and platform for women to make connections with other women. When connections are made, groups begin to form and grow, most women are social animals and women grow courage when they are near other women, I have seen that happening thousand of times as a coach and event organiser. You are the first Café du Cycliste racing team, do you think the brand is helping push the female narrative? Annabel: I’ve never claimed to be a feminist or someone that stands up for the female narrative, because I simply don’t think it’s necessary. By highlighting discrepancies between any two features, be they discrepancies or not, divisions and inequalities are too easily formed. Women, quite frankly, are amazing. And men, despite their flaws, are equally as impressive, and each in their own way. What the Café du Cycliste race team and brand does, in my opinion, is to facilitate the hopes and dreams of each individual, and inspire others along the way. Danielle: Yes. Hell yes. Supporting women’s racing helps support equality across all sports not just cycling. Women’s racing is exciting and with Café du Cycliste’s support, we are able to showcase that! Any top tips to young female riders looking to get into racing? Danielle: Cycling is about the long game, in racing and training. It’s a sport of attrition and depth in both athleticism and experience. Start now and keep at it. It only gets better. Annabel: The most important thing is to enjoy yourself because there’s absolutely no point in putting yourself through the training, the arduous journeys, and making sacrifices if you don’t take immense pleasure from being on that start line and pushing every limit in your body and mind. Oh, and get good kit. It won’t change the result of a race, but it will make a difference to you. Café du Cycliste, DMT, POC and Lauf are highly recommended! Maria: Yes, have fun above everything else. Don’t always totally stick to the plan, consistency is the key and respect the recovery both physically and mentally. And just ride! In one word, #whatisgravel for women’s cycling? Maria: Community. Annabel: Powerful. Danielle: Opportunity. CDC GT The Team Café du Cycliste’s first official racing team. Bringing together three dedicated riders, all hungry for big adventure on mixed terrain. VIEW MORE Annabel Fisher Annabel is based in Switzerland, near Geneva. Having raced at university, she returned to cycling for the Tour de Yorkshire in 2018 and never looked back. VIEW MORE Danielle Larson Danielle is based in Bentonville, Arkansas. She is an ex heptathlete and competitive ballroom dancer but cycling is now her profession and passion. VIEW MORE María Guðmundsdóttir Maria grew up in the Westfjords of Iceland, Isafjordur. She is a bike coach, psychologist, and the 1st woman on the Icelandic national cycling team. VIEW MORE

#whatisgravel: An exploration of Mont Blanc The Roof of Europe, more commonly known as Mont Blanc, culminates at 4810 metres and to circle its base, three countries must be crossed. The subject of many controversies between France and Italy, there is no doubt that this geological monster clearly lives in both countries, but the real issue concerns its summit, and who can claim stewardship of the eleventh highest mountain in the world. This perhaps emphasises the lunacy of territories and borders – owning nature on this scale is surely not possible. The destiny of Mont Blanc is historically linked to that of the city of Nice – another location that has passed between Italian and French ownership. In 1860, Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy, desiring to unify Italy and become its king, ceded the Sardinian states of Nice and Savoy to France by the Treaty of Turin, in exchange for military and diplomatic aid from France. The treaty includes the summit of Mont Blanc. If we still needed to argue the case for Gravel riding’s stature in the velocipedic landscape, this Tour du Mont Blanc will provide sufficient evidence. Asking the question #whatisgravel at this altitude, is an exciting prospect. The approximately 218 kilometres of this gravel route achieve the perfect synthesis of road and MTB riding, placing us most of the time in the heart of the mountain and far from traffic, while allowing us to comfortably borrow parts of asphalt to cross between passes. In terms of how you travel, there are two ways of attempting the journey. One opts for the comfort of a light bike by selecting hotels along the route (and the half-board that goes with it), the other for a heavier bike but capable of offering us total autonomy and the 100% outdoor experience that goes with it. We did this trail in early October with uncertain weather and opted for the comfort version. From Chamonix to La Fouly, the Swiss stage. The reputation of Chamonix as a mountaineering paradise comes from the story that two Englishmen, William Windham and Richard Pococke, tell of the valley they have just visited and mention in particular a gigantic glacier which they baptize the Mer de Glace. This was in 1741. 45 years later, on August 8, 1786, two Chamoniards, Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard were the first mountaineers to reach the summit of Mont Blanc. Sadly, the Mer de Glace now looks more like an ice lolly that a kid would have already eaten down to the stick. Global warming has got the better of it. The largest glacier in France retreats 10 metres each year. Being at the foot of this giant and going around it remains an event, and the different glaciers that we see there captivate by their size and their strength. The morning temperature is not very high when we leave Chamonix in the direction of Le Lavanchet via the paths which in winter form a cross-country ski trail. From Argentière, the tour then leads to the Col des Montets towards Vallorcine, by paved road. The arrival in Chatelard by an alternation of roads and paths marks our arrival in Switzerland. The 13 kilometre climb to Champex Lac which follows the lunch break in Martigny marks the start of a real battle. When we pass the doors of the Auberge in the evening at La Fouly, our counters show 76km and a total ascent of nearly 2600 meters. La Fouly – Beaufort: one day, three countries. The most demanding day of the Tour, the first challenge is the Grand Col Ferret at 2537m, which is reached by taking some off-road sectors. This pass marks the border between Switzerland and Italy, offering a remarkable view of the Grande Jorasses in good weather. We crossed it in a thick mist, leaving us with not much to write home about. Dropping down 500m to the Elena refuge on the Italian side required walking beside the bike. The refuge, built shortly before the Second World War, was destroyed by an avalanche in 1960 and was not rebuilt until 1995, which explains its modern construction. The arrival in Courmayeur presents a typical alpine landscape with all the clichés of torrents spanned by wooden bridges, rustic chalets, green meadows, and sumptuous evergreen forests. This valley experienced intense activity during the 16th century due to its gold mines. Courmayeur would also take its name from the Latin Curia Mayor (Court of Justice) as law enforcement was needed in the city because of the large number of people who arrived and fought for this gold rush… We will not linger, the ascent of the Col de Seigne which awaits us is substantial and relatively difficult because of the stony paths which lead to it. The playful descent on the French side, before embarking on the short ascent of the Cormet de Roseland is offered as a reward. The night in Beaufort at the foot of the former Imperial Gendarmerie marks the end of a long and demanding day in and out of the saddle. Beaufort – Chamonix: on the slopes The shortest of our stages on the Tour but demanding for the long ascent of the Col du Joly (22km +1250m). We start the day at a thunderous pace and due to the very steep slopes of more than 26% we are already cooked as we reach the Voza pass. Here we encounter a view of the Aiguille de Bionnassay which rises to 4052 metres, just under four kilometres west of Mont Blanc. The descents on the ski slopes on the Contamines side require you to stay focused, here too you would see yourself having more success on a full suspension mountain bike. Hikers who climb the slopes on this sunny Sunday seemed intrigued to see us tumble down on these loaded bikes. The 10km on the banks of the Arve mark the last part of this extraordinary journey and the salt left by perspiration on our jerseys and shorts attests to these three days of effort in a place that is both mythical and sublime. Further Riding What is gravel cycling? It’s off-road and on-road. It’s riding and not riding. It’s racing and not racing. It’s everywhere and nowhere. Can it be pinned down? VIEW MORE Tracing the Torino-Nice Rally A legendary gravel ride travelling from Italy to France. Sophie Gateau and Mathias Riquier explore the route ahead of the start of the Rally this September. VIEW MORE Roc d'Azur Three fierce female riders, Holly, Charlotte and Maria, take on one of the greatest gravel events in the world. VIEW MORE Tracks and Trails in the Ariège Five friends explore routes shared with the incredibly diverse range of four legged and airborne residents of the Ariège by bike. VIEW MORE

The Traka : Girona and CDC GT It’s not hard to see why some people believe Girona to be Europe’s premier cycling destination. There is of course a point of bias in this sentence, when one is attached to the Côte d'Azur, to its extraordinary routes where the most beautiful passes dip their toes into the blue of the Mediterranean, to the softness of its climate, with the unparalleled atmosphere of its perched villages. But Girona also has the personality and the physical assets to court cyclists from all over the world. A few dozen kilometres away from the bustling and noisy resorts of the Costa Brava, once you enter the old town you take the pulse of this city whose heart beats for cycling. Here, beautiful bike shops have sprung up everywhere, and bicycle tourists from all over the world roam the narrow streets alongside those who, seated on the terraces of trendy cycling-themed bars, measure their belonging to the wheel-world by the performance of their Instagram notifications. Girona is definitely ‘the place to be’ when you are a keen cyclist. Long before the arrival of US Postal and its infamous leader Lance Armstrong, other professional cyclists like Johnny Weltz had chosen the city as a training and vacation spot. Cheaper than the Côte d'Azur, the small Catalan town has been attracting pros and amateurs for several decades. Ensconced in the heart of a landscape that is full of possibilities, Girona’s location and laidback atmosphere make it irresistible. Today aficionados of every bike discipline will find their holy grail here. On tarmac, quiet roads meander towards the heights, crossing through picturesque medieval villages and past immense flowery fields and verdant meadows. For mountain bikers, it seems that every exit from the road is a natural wonder. But it is undoubtedly the Gravel enthusiasts who speak best of the region. The surrounding hills are riddled with wide paths, the countryside is dotted with trails as far as the eye can see. From here it is possible to reach the sea some 40km away by riding only on beaten earth and return by a route of the same topography. Unsurprisingly the offroad race – Traka – has established itself here as the benchmark European race in the gravel discipline. Without yet reaching the number of participants in the American races, this 2022 edition of Traka welcomed more than 800 participants from 35 different countries, competing in one of the three races offered in the program: 100, 200, and a whopping 360km. In the cool of the early morning, the competitors gather on the starting grid, satisfied to see that the sun pointing its nose above the gloomy clouds. The excitement is palpable, eager to do battle, these two years of interruption have seemed like an eternity. The girls of the CDC-GT – Café du Cycliste’s new racing team – are in the starting blocks, and Traka is for them the first race of an international tour on the Gravel circuit. The Seigla, the latest generation of Lauf bikes, have been delivered to them a few days before, and they too are waiting to be unleashed at the gun. This race marks the start of the competition for these top-of-the-range frames from the Icelandic brand. The bikes will keep their promise today, and they will see two girls raise their arms to the sky. The first bump a few kilometres after the start makes the selection, then groups are formed and the race is on. It’s a good day’s racing ahead of them. The countryside is coloured with moving bodies and machines everywhere, as if a painter, a student of pointillism, was trying his hand at an animated canvas. Cyclists swarm the territory, they cross the land for miles around, raising characteristic clouds of dust. Zoom-in to the finish area and faces, jerseys, bikes are covered in mud. As for the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team, Annabel Fisher will never be tested at the head of the 100km loop and crosses the line in 1st, Maria Ögn Guðmundsdóttir will take 3rd place on the 200km course. And Danielle Larson will fail 15km from the finish line after breaking her rim when she was in 5th place. Next stop – the United States for Unbound, in the court of the giants of the discipline, a month from now. Further Riding CDC GT Café du Cycliste’s first official racing team. Bringing together three dedicated riders, all hungry for big adventure on mixed terrain. VIEW MORE María Guðmundsdóttir Maria grew up in the Westfjords of Iceland, Isafjordur. She is a bike coach, psychologist, and the 1st woman on the Icelandic national cycling team. VIEW MORE Danielle Larson Danielle is based in Bentonville, Arkansas. She is an ex heptathlete and competitive ballroom dancer but cycling is now her profession and passion. VIEW MORE Annabel Fisher Annabel is based in Switzerland, near Geneva. Having raced at university, she returned to cycling for the Tour de Yorkshire in 2018 and never looked back. VIEW MORE

The Night Rider In this heady corner of the globe, temperatures can reach 40°C during the day, with a humidity level of 90%. Sweat trickles through every pore. Without making even the slightest movement there is an unpleasant sensation of permanent dampness. It’s what the British might call ‘close’. As you ride out here in daytime under the beat of the United Arab Emirates sunshine, the UV index reaches new heights. The rays work like the grill of a giant toaster, burning bare skin in a matter of minutes. The air-conditioned buildings of urban luxury here are real refuges, without which it seems impossible to survive. But further in the desert, the natives seem to master the phenomenon of heat and humidity, dressed in white, exploiting every corner of shade, every slightest draft. In the Middle East, from June to September, riding a bicycle means using the home trainer and said air conditioning, giving up on the outdoors, unless, that is, you choose to ride at night. The idea is not so absurd, and many seize upon it to continue riding on the outside, even if it means living against the grain of the rest of the air-conditioned world. The height of extravagant infrastructure, here in Dubai, kilometres of cycle paths are illuminated throughout the night to allow cyclists to ride, transforming the adventure of a night ride into a real attraction. It’s a fascinating notion, ​​pedalling through under the stars when a good part of the city is sleeping. Here, to hope to ride at a reasonable temperature of 28°C, you have to roll out well towards midnight. But at this time traffic slows down, and can even disappear. The city becomes an amusement park where the night is never really present, thanks to electric beacons buzzing above, and below. But the experience seems artificial, and quite lonely, with no one else around. Despite the effort made pedalling, it feels like a dream. Seeing the yellow road markings scroll for miles under the wheels is reminiscent of the irreplaceable feeling of racing day after day, where you have to fight against the repetition of fatigue, and the elements. Like those hallucinations that come to you when your mind seems on autopilot, when your body is nothing more than a machine, responding only to the order to roll as fast and as far as possible. Just as at the races, in this lonely atmosphere we can’t stop; sleeping is for those who don’t ride, sleeping is for the uninitiated. In the distance the lights of the tallest towers in the world mingle with the stars. From here the halo of megawatts might be mistaken for the moon, and the moon mistaken for a street lamp. Around me the sand returns the heat it has stored-up during the day, and being in motion on the bike is the only way to benefit from a little air. As soon as you stop the machine, the atmosphere quickly becomes heavy, and as the British might say, ‘very bloody close’. 70 kilometres in a little over two hours. Not really a long outing by an ex-pro’s standards but it's almost a luxury here at this time of year. A luxury that requires staying awake, a luxury that will probably become a regretful ache or two when the alarm clock rings in a few hours from now… Further Riding Jebel Jais – A Mountain in the Desert What might you expect from a bike ride in the desert? The United Arab Emirates is a burgeoning cycling scene in a place you might not expect. VIEW MORE Ride & Create: Izu Ani Izu Ani is a well-known chef on the Côte d'Azur, he has a habit of appearing at the Café du Cycliste in the port of Nice like magic. VIEW MORE Jérôme Cousin: From the Peloton to the Desert Less than a year ago, Jérôme Cousin was still a professional bike racer. Now, pedalling in the desert, Jérôme’s only onlookers are the occasional farmer and his camels. VIEW MORE Audax Lookbook: Light and Long The devil is always in the detail, especially when the ride is long.There are no half measures on full days, no short cuts to big distances. VIEW MORE

Jebel Jais – A Mountain in the Desert What might you expect from a bike ride in the desert? Sand in your face, crosswinds dragging at your wheels, and an unbearable heat? Not quite. We visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to discover a burgeoning cycling scene in a place you might not expect. Instead of the obvious images of bling cars, skyscrapers and palm trees, Dubai has a welcoming feel for cyclists looking to find warmth in winter and some training rides at elevation. Beyond the cycle paths and city limits is a playground of rolling roads with silky smooth tarmac, and very distinctive mountains. You might also see the odd camel or oryx on your ride too. Since 2019 the WorldTour has come to Dubai and the UAE for the premier race in the Middle East, the UAE Tour. The stereotypical image of a peloton battling in the echelons on flat roads is countered by a number of climbs in the region, notably Jebel Jais. Located in the Al Hajar mountain range, the stark geological structures set against the hazy desert sky give these roads an otherworldly appearance. The highest summit in the UAE, the climb was the finish for stage four of this year’s race, won by current Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar, and rider for the UAE Team Emirates, no less. We tackled Jebel Jais early one Tuesday morning in March, to avoid traffic out of Dubai and the heat at the bottom of the valley. Beginning from Ras Al Khaimah, where we parked up, the first few kilometres we saw construction sites and trucks carrying rubble down the mountain. This is another constant alongside fancy cars in this part of the world – building work. But that was virtually the only traffic we saw on the road. Perfection. Jebel Jais is a 35 kilometre climb with a smooth average gradient of 4.1% and all the way up and down, there were mountain goats (caution on the descent as they often cross in small groups) scurrying about. We discovered riding in a group helped against the inevitable desert winds rolling through the valley, but the smooth grip of the road helped us along. The road was wide with perfect black tarmac, and switchbacks offering scenic views of the surrounding mountains and rock forms. The top of the climb takes you up to 1608 metres above the sea, and when we got there we felt very far from the ocean indeed. Where the climb ends you will also find the highest restaurant of the UAE with iridescent Bentleys and stretch Hummers parked outside. You can also find the longest zip-wire in the world here, if you decide that is a sensible form of transport. The road actually continues up into the mountains from here but is closed to the public as Sheik of Al Khaimah has a palace tucked away there. Once over the summit you cross the border into Oman. Temperatures are of course much cooler at 1600m, making our coffee break under the sun very enjoyable. On the way back down we see Emirati rider and teammate of Tadej Pogacar, Yousif Mirza, climbing at an impressive pace. The change in temperature is very sudden, and arriving at the bottom a wave of hot air crashes down on you, and you realise you are back in the heat of the desert. With thanks to our wonderful partner Pedal CC Dubai for logistical support and provision of bikes. Further Riding The Lozère: Hellhound on the Trail Lozère in the Massif Central is typical of France Profonde. Connected by quiet and winding roads, there is very little traffic, a cyclist’s dream. VIEW MORE The Camargue – Between Sky and Sea There are places in the world that are sanctuaries for nature, where wildlife is untouched by modern life. The Camargue is one of those special places. VIEW MORE Exploring the Morvan With Sophie Gateau The Morvan isn’t easily explained. A mountainous massif lying in the centre of the undulating Burgandy region. VIEW MORE Tracks and Trails in the Ariège Five friends explore routes shared with the incredibly diverse range of four legged and airborne residents of the Ariège by bike. VIEW MORE