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Race Across France by Van Rysel, the now unmissable ultra-cycling race in France, returns from June 22 to July 2 for its 6th edition. Nearly 850 participants will set off solo, in duos or quartets, on one of the 4 distances offered: 300, 500, 1000 or 2500 km. Starting from Le Touquet, Megève or Saint-Jean-en-Royans for the 3 longest distances, the 300 km race participants will start from Mandelieu-La Napoule on the French Riviera, a major new feature of this 2023 edition!
Photos: © Quentin Iglésis
2500 Km: 10 days to challenge yourself on the queen distance
With nearly 35,000 meters of elevation gain, this event has been designed to offer participants a diversity of landscapes and challenges. The start will be given from the picturesque town of Le Touquet in Pas-de-Calais (62), thus offering riders a magnificent setting for the beginning of this extraordinary 2500 km adventure, crossing no less than 21 departments. They will have the chance to discover several emblematic regions of France, including:
>> The Vosges, with their green hills and winding roads, will be the first obstacles to overcome, testing the endurance and determination of the cyclists.
>> The Jura, a mountainous region renowned for its majestic passes and breathtaking panoramas. The steep climbs and descents add an extra challenge, but also offer moments of pure beauty and adrenaline.
>> The Alps, where cyclists will face legendary ascents of mythical passes, such as the Col de la Madeleine and the Col de La Croix de Fer, two new features of this year’s route. A magical moment awaits them with the descent of Montvernier, a pass famous for its characteristic hairpins. They will experience this spectacular stretch combining grandiose panoramas and demanding technical sections, which make this part of the route a true test of courage and perseverance.
>> The French Riviera, which from its peaks to the coastline, offers a unique sea-mountain playground in France. Sports enthusiasts and those seeking tranquility can only marvel at the diversity of its preserved landscapes, rich in exceptional fauna and flora.
They will then have 240 hours, or a maximum of 10 days, to cross the finish line located in the heart of the city of Mandelieu-La Napoule in the Alpes-Maritimes (06). The first riders of this distance are expected around Wednesday, June 28, in the late afternoon.
1000 and 500 Km
Starting from Megève in Haute-Savoie (74) for the 1000 km event and starting from Saint-Jean-en-Royans in Drôme (26) for the 500 km event, these two distances offer cyclists the opportunity to test themselves on portions of the queen distance of Race Across France. With respectively 23,000 and 8,000 meters of elevation gain, they will have to meet the challenge of completing their race in record time, with a limit set at 5 days for the 1000 km and 40 hours for the 500 km.
New: The 300 Km by Mandelieu!
A major new feature of this 6th edition of Race Across France, the city of Mandelieu-La Napoule, a Sport Par Nature destination, will host the start and finish of the 300 km event. On June 30, competitors will set off from the Centre Expo Congrès starting at 10 p.m., on a route exclusively nestled in the heart of the Alpes-Maritimes. With an elevation gain of 7000 D+ to cover in 24 hours flat, participants will be invited to cross the Tanneron for the first time via the Montée du Grand Duc before reaching the Grasse and Vence hinterland, then the Préalpes d’Azur towards Valberg. They will then rejoin the coast not without climbing, one last time, the Tanneron Massif, the birthplace of Mimosa cultivation considered the largest Mimosa forest in Europe!
A dedicated village in the heart of Mandelieu
For this 2023 edition, the city of Mandelieu-La Napoule will host the official village on the Esplanade of the Centre Expo Congrès, which will open its doors to the general public on Thursday, June 29, for the “TOUS EN SELLE” festival. From 8:00 p.m., spectators can discover a selection of 7 films, lasting from 6 to 25 minutes at the Centre Expo Congrès, highlighting human adventure, sporting achievement, disability, women’s cycling, and ecology.
In the village, many exhibiting partners will be on display: VAN RYSEL, ASSOS, BOLLÉ, HOLY FAT, KOMOOT, THÉ BEAM, GO LUM, MANDELIEU. For enthusiasts, a giant screen installed in the heart of the village will allow them to follow the progress of the riders live, and will also offer the broadcast of the first stage of the 2023 Tour de France!
On July 1 from 5 p.m., riders, support staff, and cycling enthusiasts are expected for the unmissable Finisher Party of Race Across France, an opportunity to gather to celebrate the achievements of the participants, whatever the distance covered. This evening promises a great moment of sharing among cycling enthusiasts but is also a moment of recognition and gratitude towards all those who make this unique experience possible.
Visitors are expected in large numbers in Mandelieu-La Napoule until July 2 to cheer on the participants!
Registration: HERE
Practical information
- Thursday, June 22 – from 3 p.m.: start of the 2500 km from Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
- Tuesday, June 27 – from 10 a.m.: start of the 100 km from Megève
- Friday, June 30 – from 8 a.m.: start of the 500 km from Saint-Jean-en-Royans
- Friday, June 30 – from 10 p.m.: start of the 300 km from Mandelieu-La Napoule
To experience the event from the inside and contribute to its success, the team is looking for volunteers for a wide variety of missions (reception, GPS tracking, catering, etc.). The registration form to become a volunteer is accessible HERE.
Source: Press Release
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