Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Simon, I’m 35 years old, and I live with my wife in Puy-Saint-Vincent. We moved to this mountain village four years ago, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Before this, I worked as a guide for cycling and trekking tours in developing countries. When the pandemic hit, my work came to an abrupt halt, and my wife, Anne, who is a chef, also found herself without work. That’s when we decided to make a change and move to France. We found a place in the mountains where we could blend our passions for food and mountain sports. Over the past four years, we’ve made this village, nestled on the edge of Parc National des Écrins, our home. My wife now owns and runs the restaurant at Hôtel Saint Roch, while I work as an outdoor producer, organising various guest experiences for the hotel, guiding groups and creating custom travel adventures for various clients.

When did your passion for the outdoors and cycling grow?

Cycling and exploration have been constants in my life for as long as I can remember. As a young kid, I travelled with my parents and sisters on cycling trips across Europe. Later, my work took me to some of the most remote parts of countries like Uganda, Malawi, Guatemala, Nepal, and India. After my work assignments, I would often embark on personal cycling journeys, either alone or with Anne. I’ve always sought out the most isolated and secluded paths, passing through small villages and crossing valleys and mountain passes, leading to encounters with people and experiences along the way.

What inspired you to create Le Pilgrimage?

With my cycling travel experiences, I wanted to test myself in ultra races. A few years ago, I started with the Further event in the Pyrenees. It’s a small, intimate event organised by Camille McMillan. Because it’s so small, you get to know everyone involved. The routes are gruelling, reserved for the few who can endure them – traversing isolated landscapes, often requiring hours of hiking with your bike on your back in sometimes brutal weather conditions. The experience is unlike anything else. Your entire world narrows down to covering kilometres, moving through the mountains, finding food and a place to rest. After I finished my first Further race, I spent several weeks processing the experience. I couldn’t stop talking about it – with fellow racers, friends and family. This intense social connection fascinated me. You travel like a pilgrim through the landscape, meeting fellow travellers, encountering unexpected challenges and overcoming obstacles.Le Pilgrimage brings these elements together, but with the added benefit of returning to a basecamp each night. This creates some comfort, as well as a strong social bond, as you share meals and stories of the day’s adventures each evening. On the first night, our pilgrims might still feel a bit awkward sitting next to each other, but by the last supper, they’ve become close comrades.

How would you describe Le Pilgrimage to someone who has never heard of it?

Le Pilgrimage is a gravel journey into the Alps, inspired by the travels of Saint Roch, the patron saint of pilgrims. Known for his pilgrimages through mountainous regions, Saint Roch faced many challenges along the way. He crossed hidden valleys, passed isolated refuges, reached high-altitude mountain lakes and tackled rugged trails.Our pilgrims follow in his footsteps. A pilgrim wanders, searches, pushes their limits and yearns for a safe haven at the end of the day – a basecamp to meet others and share stories before continuing the journey the next day, seeking new experiences and destinations, all in the spirit of Saint Roch.Le Pilgrimage has three stages, with each stage ending back at basecamp AlpeLune. The final stage is so long that pilgrims must find a place to sleep somewhere along the way. This year’s Pilgrimage will cover 461 km with an elevation gain of 12,820 m. The area around Puy-Saint-Vincent is blessed with breathtaking mountain summits in natural areas like the Parc National des Écrins, the Galibier and the Vallée de la Clarée, and the infamous military gravel roads such as the Strada dell'Assietta that run along and over the border with Italy.

This year is the second edition of Le Pilgrimage after a successful launch in 2023. Anything different this year?

In the previous edition, the long route took us through the mighty Tunnel du Parpaillon, which served as a checkpoint at an altitude of 2,700 metres. The tunnel provided much-needed shelter for the soaked pilgrims who made the climb in heavy rain, with thunder not far away. A campfire in the tunnel offered warmth and camaraderie.This year, the long stage will cross into Italy. We live near the Italian border, where there’s a rich network of old military gravel roads. The routes wind past forts that echo the historical tensions between the two neighbouring countries, which were once fierce enemies. Pilgrims will ride along ancient alpine paths, tracing the footsteps of history and the stories of past conflicts.Along the way, there are various treasures hidden at checkpoints and along the course. These are like little lifelines, small comforts that every pilgrim longs for on their journey.

It seems you have a secret you want to share with us for 2025…

A true pilgrim travels by bike, but also on foot. Our beautiful region is criss-crossed with ancient routes that are well worth exploring. From the 1st to the 6th of July 2025, we will host the first Pilgrimage Trail – a trail-running journey through the Écrins landscape, with Hotel Saint Roch serving as basecamp in between.

Anything you want to add?

This project wouldn’t have been possible without my friend Cyril Chermin, who helped to bring this idea to life and give this event its unique identity. Aaron Griffiths is responsible for the design and artwork, and thanks to his talent Le Pilgrimage has its distinct character. My wife, Anne, who is also the chef, will be nourishing our hungry pilgrims – her support in this project is something I am very grateful for. And last but not least, I want to thank Café du Cycliste for believing in this and adding great value to help us reach new pilgrims eager to start their pilgrimage journeys.

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