Le Pilgrimage – A gravel cycling adventure in the Alps

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H salute we’re on the pilgrimage this [Music] Ro this is the secret spot it’s Fort for S rock is uh our patron saint of the pilgrimage uh he’s an inspiring figure he is probably the first International influencer uh he traveled this region uh he went to Italy he went uh into France and he loved to drink and to eat that’s why he inspired us but his adventures uh made it all across Europe so um he’s known as s Rock Soko s [Music] roas there’s a small hike bike and yesterday’s forecast said there was snow over there hi I’m hope I don’t get [Music] [Applause] sick all right Josh um welcome to the B Rush you’ve seen one of these before they called bre cards keep it with you at all times please for the in it’s a bit windy [Music] still people in the [Applause] [Music] Chalet the pilgrimage a 4-day adventure in the French Alps [Music] so the first stage of the pilgrimage will be the the views are stunning even if it is a a tad bit nippy Bon Gage B rout [Music] the idea of the pilgrimage is that we share food together uh we share writing together each Loop comes back at the base camp where we have food where we share conversations together and the idea is that uh that that we have kind of yeah it’s sometimes I say like it’s Ultra during the day Comfort during the night and at the checkpoints we want to have some Mountain [Music] Comfort we’re 30k in and a third of the way through today’s route we’re now climbing again for another 5K so we have to go to the wood there but I don’t know if I will go there with my bike or leave it here because there is like a treasure treasure you say treasure yeah sorry I’m French so let’s see [Music] he the pilgrimage is a three-stage journey into the French alss we’re right here at stage one checkpoint stage one over there you can see some new pilgrims coming up getting a stamp we have some cheese from Mar we have from sausage on a barbecue they’re halfway they have 2 hours to go left we’re now at 2,000 m in altitude and this is only the first stage tomorrow we go to the Gali we have a very nice iak section section all the way to another ref and then at third stage we will go to Italy aeta call the finestra and the checkpoint at 2,700 M at mon shaal how’s your ride is it good yeah I really enjoy uh so PR the is the is the base camp in uh in Chalet alalon which will be the base camp of the three stages the first stage and the second stage will have a have a loop on one day and the third stage will be a two-day route 90k into today we’ve ridden uh total Ascent of 3,200 M which is mental in that distance yeah looking forward to an oranga some pasta and uh yeah relax in the hot tub almost at the end day one [Music] [Music] very good day very good day a bit cold at the start but very good day and it’s nicer to ride in group nicer toide in group and we almost kill everybody with uh when we enter the front with Josh but uh we’re big guy big tight big white so no it’s good it’s good we have more than 12 hours to rest before tomorrow so it’s the first time for us so so it’s good see you tomorrow good day Lucy yeah perfect I love the clim and the and the nice cot and the pasta and the pasta because you told me on the you told me on the rout you wanted Orangina so you how was today how was the and we had Sunshine after all what it was quite windy at the The First beginning oh the plan is uh the root the old G root uh all the way say that descenting down on the other side then there’s a beautiful gravel climb all the way to the the start of the uh Clare River there are a few Lakes there’s a small hi bike and yesterday’s forecast said there was snow over there this morning it’s beautiful um dry Sky uh weather uh that means uh it will uh the snow will disappear like snow before the Sun so and then there at the at the end there will be U uh a checkpoint refu where we have another treasure for our pilgrims [Music] a look at that stage two h of pilgrimage heading up to the G Can’t Wait never been up there before looking forward to get to the Snow Line and uh yeah it’s a bluebird day no clouds in the sky hopefully it warms up more than yesterday apparently during the first T the France editions the the Riders went to the top that way so let’s see if we can do it with a gravel bike they did it with regular bikes so it should be easy but we’ll see [Music] what are your shoes for hiking apparently have to hike and with my bike and these shoes are super stiff so and slippery these are a little bit bendy so hopefully they will make it easy not even an easy hi bike no I I hate it like even it was like a couple hundred meters like now it’s a 4K as long as it’s dry going be way better than last year we’re going to have a view this time we might have a view the clear sky it’s amazing we’ll [Music] see hello hello I’m I’m using my bigest spret too much already that’s not a good sign the w Is Yet To Come so we’ll see my St game still strong I think the Steep slops there will also will be a lot of [Music] wind we’re currently climbing up the Gia we’ve reached patches of ice there snow cap mountains to the left and stunning scenery absolutely [Music] mindblowing beautiful it’s cold it’s windy yeah but the view dude The View woo wow my mouth is Frozen [Music] [Applause] [Music] we’re climbing again uh we’re nearly at the hiker bike and then we’re dropping down to the Refuge where the checkpoint of day two is uh I just want to take a photo around every corner it’s just breathtaking you just don’t know where to look it’s stunning in every direction [Music] [Music] we’re now almost at the Refuge just got to hike the bikes over this walking trail [Music] we are at ref checkpoint number two you’re here I was questioning the first few hours like [Music] for and love if you [Music] love it’s the last climb of the day we’re in the top four got a lot of cheating going on some water getting decanted some holding on to Vehicles who’s going to win in 4. in 4k we will know probably not with me but who knows maybe I have something left in the [Music] [Applause] tank changing your is fine I mean it took me a moment to realize it I like what what did you do trick it was up my sleeve there somewhere if I would have attacked I would have done it in the last turn but yeah I’m very happy that almost every Pilgrim reached the the checkpoint checkpoint number two uh except two ladies but they had a very nice lunch in between they got distracted but there but there there’s there’s a tunnel from I think it will be like 1 and a half 2 kilm pitch dark you need to carry a light with you front and yeah it will be pitch dark in the tunnel and after the tunnel the the world will open again and then and the road in the tunnel is [ __ ] morning Josh today it’s the queen stage uh the Pilgrims go out on their own for the first time they’re heading into the mountains uh ski area uh super hard climb is on the menu super nice descent then uh and the finer down to Souza and there people will need some food I guess and then tomorrow final checkpoint on a super nice location and a bonus checkpoint for you and a few othero Riders I guess we’re going to Italy we’re going into Italy yeah get to Al leise Souza maybe a bit further ready maybe an Airbnb maybe well give it my set up setup I’m definitely not beinging but let’s see what I can find somewhere to sleep and my Italian uh snod on though in honor of crossing over the Border yeah not looking forward to this where you going to sleep in a boutique [Music] hotel start of stage 3 it’s a two day we’re heading to Italy with a coffee is better than France coffee should be better and cheaper car sum 2 out of 15 this is it we’re in for a smooth ride right [Music] [Music] just [Music] ah grapes in hand looking [Music] up endless wine FS [Music] our need some need some extra energy how are you doing Josh not too bad tough climb wow what’s the scenery like up here it’s pretty mind-blowing H it’s good to get above the trees a [ __ ] sucked oh I think we hiked to bite the last like kilometer and a half oh man GL to be at the top yes it’s beautiful though look at the mountains like it’s worth it in the end but while you’re doing it you’re in your sanity but it’s worth it Barcelona which way I don’t know if it’s worth it the views are nice but there’s a lot of suffering [Music] [Music] we’re currently climbing up to cestria which is about 4 5K away going to stop there for some lunch have a nice cold Coke and whatever Italian food we can find maybe some pasta pizza sess to the air 4K Coke and food that’s all I need at this moment C I like that it’s not minus 4° night right right now that’s fun otherwise we’ll see got a long time ahead and I think it’s still good good to have a Coke and pizza is [Music] delicious a little bit harder to breathe given that we’re now at 2400 we’re going to stay up above 22 for a while but just look around it’s just amazing um a little bit harder to push your way up here but just awesome [Music] [Music] you [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] so uh while we are up at well pretty much 2500 M let’s find out how how high these peaks in the background uh seem to be quite high up what app we using we’re using this app Gold Peak finder wow the highest peak up there was nearly 4,000 M it’s not even that far off from the mon BL right what did you that’s good man Italian lemonade contains sugar that’s all we need [Music] [Music] can’t complain can’t complain cannot complain good day very good day the best Inc I have stuff but the is Tech Up Down super currently heading up the last climb before the 20K descent down to soua it’s on road and then push on to find a bivy spot [Music] just had a great marinara pizza and some french fries now starting the big climb going to bivy somewhere when I get out of town but now 100K do we get back to the Chalet and that’s the end of the pilgrimage [Music] pilgrims good night you’re used to getting a briefing uh each night before the stage and tomorrow is the last stage we see you at the checkpoint but there is a extra treasure Sim the treasure is just shared via WhatsApp in the groups app we see each other tomorrow the checkpoint will be open from 10 to 1:00 be safe out there and we will see you at the check [Music] [Music] good morning good morning how was your sleep hey great wait I there is a it’s going sloping downwards a bit Yeah so um I was uh rolling rolling down the hill yeah there was no one you should have camped next to me it was flat where I was yeah actually um that was my spot I I already uh discovered it uh on the on the map but I saw you were there so I love you that’s very kind of you B bjo how was your night uh I woke up this morning in my baby and got up just before the sunrise and had a nice morning of riding into the the glowing mountains and then I passed Michelle who is uh camps in his tent on quite the gradient and he tells me he he was sliding down to the bottom of the tent I waited for him to pack up and we’ve just come around the corner and we’ve found the most amazing flat pitch that he could have been on like 100 meters from where he was camped sliding into the bottom of his tent I was [Music] tired made it to the checkpoint um it’s currently just me and Javier at the checkpoint um we’re half an hour early um the most amazing like a kilometer tunnel through the mountain on a gravel track which is some engineering feet hot up that’s all I can think of fot up have you been in it yet no no no no I don’t know I don’t have shorts with me maybe just with the BB shorts but yeah I mean cannot complain with the temperature but you’re going to go into the hot tub with dirty bib shorts if you don’t tell if you don’t tell Simon yeah but let’s see let’s see but I mean we have been lucky also today with the weather we are at 2,200 M and it’s still okay to be short short but but yeah in theory we have to climb up till 2,800 if we have to if we want to find the treasure so let’s see y yeah welcome to the checkpoint yeah ah glad to be here yeah no one else is here yeah tunel was a little bit scary last two stages I’ve treated myself to an orangea cold oranga after every stage after this one I’m going to have two um welld deserved night in the bivy in the Italian Alps Crossing back into the the French Alps uh soon this is the carer m Del curette it’s named after the tunnel up the other side there’s a very long tunnel [ __ ] dark this is checkpoint number three final checkpoint of the pilgrimage and then we’re heading back to Jal Alon after this we heading back but first there is a treasure to be picked up yesterday evening we shared the coordinates a few of them are willing to go there I I think you will add some extra lmers it’s up to them afterwards they will descend back into the valley cross the border to France and head back to the base camp that’s me name what I I asked you to keep it dry are you going for the treasure I am okay enjoy checkpoint three that’s one full R card of L well done man normally when there is a treasure there’s only one person there’s enough there’s enough treasure for everyone I’m riding on the most insane Road feel so isolated and remote with fortresses and snow capat [Music] mountains was hard to get to this Fortress because you could see that it was a lot of cobblestone so I was worried about puncturing but but yeah we made it we are through pilgrims this is the secret spot it’s fort fort CHF there a treasure treasure box for each program you can leave a note you can make a photo you can grab some cheese or take them take some sausage we have even some jenipe it’s El liquor is that meant to be a treat it’s a help it’s a it’s a herb you only will see it you’ll now know why I don’t make it back it’s this you won like to be sent one [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] we’re now climbing up and out of Italy and heading back over to France food tonight SAA jacuzzi and a bed [Music] [Applause] well done [Music]