BikingMan Alpes-Maritimes: Émilien Mottet Wins After 1,000 km of Riding

The BikingMan Alpes-Maritimes once again lived up to all expectations. At 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, participants set off from Valberg for an extraordinary challenge: to cover 1,000 km and climb more than 19,000 m in elevation gain entirely on their own through the Southern Alps.

Source: Press Release – Photo credit ©BikingMan

The route, renowned for its difficulty, took competitors up several legendary climbs, including the Col de la Couillole, the Cime de la Bonette, and Mont Ventoux. After passing through iconic landscapes such as Montagne Sainte-Victoire and Lac de Sainte-Croix, the participants reached the Alpes-Maritimes region via the Préalpes d’Azur.

While the altitude occasionally offered some respite, participants mainly had to contend with high temperatures, which were particularly grueling during the final kilometers of the race. These conditions put the riders’ bodies to the test in this ultra-distance event.

After two days and two nights of effort, Émilien Mottet won the 2026 edition with a remarkable time of 40 hours and 16 minutes. Already a winner of the BikingMan AURA in 2023, the rider has now secured his second victory on the international BikingMan circuit.

Thanks to masterful race management and consistent performance despite the heat, he was able to set himself apart from a strong field of competitors. Behind him, Jérémie Allinger finished in second place with a time of 43h05, while Florian Darboux rounded out the podium with a time of 48h08.

This edition was also marked by a special story: Jérémie Allinger, who finished second behind Mottet at the finish line, had been his coach for a year and a half. This symbolic duel adds a human dimension to this athletic achievement.

Beyond the result, Émilien Mottet emphasized that he experienced this adventure as a true respite—a blend of pushing his limits, immersing himself in nature, and embarking on a personal quest, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.