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Ditch the superfluous and get back to the essentials for a few hours on legendary courses.
From Flanders to Marrakech, via Brittany, the Jura and even Auvergne... Choose the challenge that suits you and embark on the adventure.
What kind of adventure are we talking about here?
Self-supported ultra-distance cycling events, including 2 distances and 2 types of courses: 120 km and 350 km respectively available in road and gravel format.
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Gravel, road, mountain bike... whatever your ride, embark on a timeless experience.
- Embark on the 2022 edition of GravelMan Verdun-Paris with Julien Rabier
Julien Rabier has challenged himself to participate in the GravelMan Verdun - Paris on Friday, November 11, a 350km bike ride. Ambassador Holyfat tells us about his adventure.
Friday, November 11, 5:44 a.m., it was a few minutes early that I
leave the parking lot of this hotel in Verdun to go into the
fog. This is in order to reach Paris at the end of the 350km route
this Gravelman in which I participate in the road version.
I haven't said it too much yet, but today my idea is to go
fast. At least to go as fast as I can. I want to
test and really evolve at my own pace. I want to see if
the training and experience accumulated again this year
allow better effort management.
There's one thing I know, I need to eat a lot! It's
So with my pockets full I left.
Even though I had a decent breakfast, I quickly start a
Holyfat coffee puree. I want to get the calories in from the start so I don't
not be bad later. Why coffee? Well because it's early in the morning
It's not extremely cold but the humidity is very high.
I have a problem with my hands being sensitive to the cold… Sometimes even 10/12
degrees I am in the bad side there… But, rather than ensuring the
With heavy gloves, I tried a combo of 3 thin layers. Again
once, it's to test me... With 2 layers I quickly get pain, in
putting on the 3rd is manageable… Anyway I have planned equipment
light clothing, keeping in mind that if I'm cold, it will motivate me
to drive fast
And, maybe it's because of the cold, I quickly get a little peckish.
then pulls out a first Peanut bar which I consume in 2 or 3
times. I'll do the same a little later.
Hydration-wise, I have two bottles on my bike: one for clear water and the other
with Holyfat electrolytes. Ginger to start then mint for
the rest. In total I would have used 3 bags. The water remaining fresh in
This season this drink is even more pleasant to drink and
clearly nicer than still water (not to mention its interest for
bring in mineral salts).
On the other hand, I find that I don't drink enough. The many breaks
morning pee tells me that I am still well hydrated but,
In the afternoon, I once felt that I needed a little more
liquid in the system. A sensation I'm starting to know well.
and so I was able to react immediately.
The kilometers pass by, sometimes a little less quickly when it climbs, but
I'm making good progress. The main thing is to keep eating.
regularly and above all to succeed in calming my stomach which is crying out for food
after a while. I know that if I don't swallow something like
sandwich or a somewhat substantial meal every 3.5 hours, 4 hours, I have 1.5 hours
in front of me before it gets complicated
So I had prepared sandwiches with bacon and comté cheese. Not
always the easiest to slide while rolling but it works. It
There remains one point to improve because I had some small slumps after the
having eaten. Maybe it wouldn't have been the case if I had
arrested for that… But, as the goal was to go down as little as possible
cycling but also to manage the event only with what I had
embarked… Anyway, it reduced the feeling of hunger and,
after a bit of digestion, gave back some juice.
The fog struggles to lift but dissipates by the time we cross
some vines in autumn colors, magnified by a ray of
sun and animated by a few flights of starlings. This passage
will remain, I think, my most beautiful memory in terms of landscape on this
route... I must say that afterwards... with still fog we didn't see
big thing
leave the parking lot of this hotel in Verdun to go into the
fog. This is in order to reach Paris at the end of the 350km route
this Gravelman in which I participate in the road version.
I haven't said it too much yet, but today my idea is to go
fast. At least to go as fast as I can. I want to
test and really evolve at my own pace. I want to see if
the training and experience accumulated again this year
allow better effort management.
There's one thing I know, I need to eat a lot! It's
So with my pockets full I left.
Even though I had a decent breakfast, I quickly start a
Holyfat coffee puree. I want to get the calories in from the start so I don't
not be bad later. Why coffee? Well because it's early in the morning
It's not extremely cold but the humidity is very high.
I have a problem with my hands being sensitive to the cold… Sometimes even 10/12
degrees I am in the bad side there… But, rather than ensuring the
With heavy gloves, I tried a combo of 3 thin layers. Again
once, it's to test me... With 2 layers I quickly get pain, in
putting on the 3rd is manageable… Anyway I have planned equipment
light clothing, keeping in mind that if I'm cold, it will motivate me
to drive fast
And, maybe it's because of the cold, I quickly get a little peckish.
then pulls out a first Peanut bar which I consume in 2 or 3
times. I'll do the same a little later.
Hydration-wise, I have two bottles on my bike: one for clear water and the other
with Holyfat electrolytes. Ginger to start then mint for
the rest. In total I would have used 3 bags. The water remaining fresh in
This season this drink is even more pleasant to drink and
clearly nicer than still water (not to mention its interest for
bring in mineral salts).
On the other hand, I find that I don't drink enough. The many breaks
morning pee tells me that I am still well hydrated but,
In the afternoon, I once felt that I needed a little more
liquid in the system. A sensation I'm starting to know well.
and so I was able to react immediately.
The kilometers pass by, sometimes a little less quickly when it climbs, but
I'm making good progress. The main thing is to keep eating.
regularly and above all to succeed in calming my stomach which is crying out for food
after a while. I know that if I don't swallow something like
sandwich or a somewhat substantial meal every 3.5 hours, 4 hours, I have 1.5 hours
in front of me before it gets complicated
So I had prepared sandwiches with bacon and comté cheese. Not
always the easiest to slide while rolling but it works. It
There remains one point to improve because I had some small slumps after the
having eaten. Maybe it wouldn't have been the case if I had
arrested for that… But, as the goal was to go down as little as possible
cycling but also to manage the event only with what I had
embarked… Anyway, it reduced the feeling of hunger and,
after a bit of digestion, gave back some juice.
The fog struggles to lift but dissipates by the time we cross
some vines in autumn colors, magnified by a ray of
sun and animated by a few flights of starlings. This passage
will remain, I think, my most beautiful memory in terms of landscape on this
route... I must say that afterwards... with still fog we didn't see
big thing
But this fog still brings this mystical atmosphere that
I appreciate it. Calm too. It adds that little something that makes
feel like we're in the middle of an adventure. Finally, you'll tell me what you think about it.
think.
In the morning a Cocoa-Salt puree also left my pocket and, in
In the afternoon, it was 2 Macadamia-Vanilla purees that nourished me
alternating with other bars or cakes. Not forgetting sandwiches.
I like to vary the pleasures, to consume what gives me pleasure on the
moment or which I know will get me going again.
I'm enjoying this vanilla puree more and more. I like to eat it.
after a few hours of effort. When stronger flavors are appreciated
less. And then, I don't know why, but it really boosts me up.
I am already in the last kilometers, at the entrance to Paris, after
having bombed along the Canal de l'Ourcq. The last few kilometers which
seem endless as crossing the capital is hell.
But there you go, after a little less than 15 hours of walking, it's done! And even
that I am happy with myself.
I managed to manage the down moments. Whether it was a little lack
energy or that back pain after climbing. Just lift
a bit of a kick, to eat and wait for it to pass before
get back to work.
In total I would have consumed around fifteen bars and purees as well as 2
half sandwiches (1 sandwich = 2 slices of wholemeal bread, 2
slices of bacon, 1 small piece of comté cheese). I'm definitely not the
more economical with food but, personally, it's what I need!