BikingMan Alpes-Maritimes 2026: A 6th Edition Dedicated to Extreme Exploration

The BikingMan ultra-cycling challenge returns to the Alpes-Maritimes for its sixth edition, which promises to be particularly demanding. The race will start on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. from Valberg, for a 1,000-km loop through the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and some of the most iconic mountain passes in the Southern Alps.

Source: Press Release – Photo credit ©BikingMan

This edition will bring together cyclists seeking athletic achievement, adventure, and the chance to push their limits in a fully self-supported ultra-distance format.

A route through legendary mountain passes and extreme landscapes

The 2026 route promises a series of major challenges, including several iconic climbs in European cycling. Participants will tackle, among others:

the Col de la Cayolle (2,326 m) Col de la Cayolle
the Cime de la Bonette (2,860 m), considered the highest paved road in Europe Cime de la Bonette
Mont Ventoux (1,909 m), a legendary peak in French cycling Mont Ventoux

Beyond the mountain passes, riders will also traverse major natural sites such as the Cians and Daluis Gorges, the Dévoluy Massif, Sainte-Baume, Sainte-Victoire, as well as the Préalpes d’Azur Natural Park and its hilltop villages.

Three formats for three ultracycling experiences

The 2026 edition offers three distinct formats, opening up the experience to participants of various profiles:

Road – 1,000 km / 19,000 m elevation gain

The flagship event of the BikingMan, limited to 120 hours, remains an extreme endurance challenge requiring complete self-sufficiency.

Road Half (new for 2026) – 500 km / 10,500 m elevation gain

A new introductory format for ultra-distance racing, it offers a condensed crossing of the Alpes-Maritimes in a maximum of 60 hours.

Gravel – 555 km / 10,000 m elevation gain

A more adventurous route, combining roads and trails, also with a 60-hour time limit.

A race with complete self-sufficiency and GPS tracking

Participants will race solo or in pairs, without outside assistance, with real-time GPS tracking. This format reinforces the physical and mental commitment unique to the BikingMan format, where managing effort, navigation, and self-reliance is key.

A vision of ultracycling as exploration

For Axel Carion, founder of BikingMan, this new edition embodies the project’s DNA: “Following the success of previous editions, we are thrilled to offer an even more ambitious and varied route in 2026. Connecting these legendary peaks—such as La Bonette, Mont Ventoux, and La Cayolle—from Valberg offers ultracyclists a unique adventure in the heart of the Southern Alps. BikingMan isn’t just a race: it’s an exploration, a challenge to push one’s limits, and a total immersion in exceptional landscapes using the gentlest mode of transportation there is: the bicycle.”