Thomas on the Route des Grandes Alpes® Gravel: "Total immersion in the Alps".

In July 2025, 29-year-old Thomas Guillaud leaves Paris with two friends for his first Gravel adventure... and not the least: the mythical Route des Grandes Alpes® Gravel. A trail he'd spotted two years earlier, and dreamed of traversing.

Objective? To cross the Alps from north to south, taking time to enjoy. "We'd ride for four days, then take a break. It was a vacation, as much as a sporting challenge!" The result: 13 days on the road, two and a half days off, and plenty of memories in the saddlebags.

Logistically, it's minimalist and efficient: no stove, no freeze-dried food. "We wanted to travel light and stop and eat just about everywhere, to support the local economy." Two tents for three, a few nights camping, and sometimes unexpected bivouacs, like in Crévoux: "The owner of the restaurant offered to let us pitch the tent in his meadow. Breathtaking views!"

The route? A perfect balance of asphalt and trails. "We chose to descend some mythical passes on road, for the pleasure of the eyes. Le Galibier, l'Iseran, la Bonnette... Magical." His favorite? The stage between Les Saisies and Beaufort, with the impression of truly entering the great Alps.

And to prepare all this, the Route des Grandes Alpes® website was a real ally: "We downloaded the GPX track, everything went perfectly. And every day, we consulted the site to choose our stage or accommodation."

👉 The full interview with Thomas soon in the Témoignages.