ALPS DIVIDE; bikepacking across the Alps

This video follows my journey on the 2025 edition of the Alps Divide. This 1000km bikepacking event starts in Menton, France and finished on the shores of Lac Leman in Thonon Le Bains

You can find more details about the route event here:
https://alpsdivide.com

For more route details and photos of the ride check out my substack, I’ll be posting about the ride in the coming weeks:
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They come to see [Music] That’s where we started down there behind the hill this morning at Menon. It’s the Albs divide. 2 weeks after I scratched Silk Road and uh going again. So what,000k is it George? 152,52k. Uh from the the Mediterranean to Lac Lemon on Leans to finish across the Alps. So here we go. [Music] Hello and goodbye. [Music] [Music] In case you wondered how steep this climb was, the guy on the moped is scooting it. Well, welcome to Italy. Crossed the border a while ago, actually. And um yeah, it’s been really hot in the day, like 30°, some really steep climbs as you probably saw. It’s cooling off now about 6:00 and I’m feeling pretty good in the rhythm at the front of the race. I think it’s Yuran is up here with me. Just stopped at the fountain, hence the excuse me, the dripping uh clothed and face just getting the salt off and get the get the body temperature down. And yeah, climbing altitude now about to take on the section which I think is called the salt road. I did it last year in reverse on the Trinu Nice Rally route. So, yeah, looking forward to getting off road properly and getting into those uh properly into the spectacular mountains. [Music] Little bunker up there. [Music] came down this last year, so kind of know where I am and what to expect, which is nice. Yeah, just going up to the sort of balcony road, salt road, and uh be up there most of this evening, I guess. [Music] Hello. [Music] [Music] Hello. [Music] Nice sunset. This is why we do it. [Music] [Music] dreamy. I also know exactly where I am now. So, I camped probably a few from here last year. So, uh, yeah, it’s nice to have that knowledge in the bank. [Applause] All right, into the night. Don’t know if you can see this, but the moon’s full and I’m above the clouds. All the moonlight reflecting off the clouds. Still fairly mild. Getting up towards 2,000 m, I expect. And yeah, feeling good. Um, I want to get over this high ridge tonight and then as soon as I’m in front, might have a little sleep, you know, keep some uh powder for late in the race. But yeah, see how it goes. Just beautiful though. Spectacular. [Applause] Bonjour. First morning. Had a little sleep last night. Just under 2 hours. And um yeah, I think one guy’s ahead. about 10k out the road. So, I’ll um finish my cross up, get my head down, get pedaling. [Music] [Applause] All [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] right. Nice little gravel pass I did and quite a long descent and now heading into sort of the I think it’s the Isela valley or certainly the villages isol and up the coldet 2,800 m part growl part road should be one of the highest points of the race. So yeah, I guess that’s going to be the rest of the afternoon on the cold bonnet. I reckon it’s going to be three or so hours maybe four. Getting pretty warm now. 29°. So yeah, tough day. [Music] [Music] cheeky little gravel connector up to the bonet just up there and come back down here in a second before we drop down to the checkpoint. But yeah, it’s hot high now. I can feel the altitude. See you have this lock. [Music] Just about to hit the road. That was tough. So yeah, up here around the top around the loop and back down where I just came from. [Music] [Music] [Music] Woohoo! Woohoo! [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] So just rolling out of CP1. That was first there. Um saw the guy in second on the climb on the outback and uh he looked like he was suffering a bit. So quick turn around in the checkpoint, had a meal and um carry on. I suppose I mean nothing better to do ever. So couple of hours since the checkpoint now. Managed to resupply in Barcellet, the little town. Um luckily the shop open. It’s Sunday in France. Everything was shut apart from one little shop. So we got enough stuff to get to bring Son. Imagine I’ll be there tomorrow. Um, so yeah, I got a little climb coming up, then a big climb, and then a hiker bike. So that’s going to be the rest of today and probably most of tomorrow morning, I expect. So this is this is the small climb about three miles 5k quite steep but just ticking over. Had some good food at the checkpoint. So that’s soaked into my legs now. And then we got the big one next. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] Heat I’ve done the small climb now. Kind of missed the bit in the middle which is up and downy sort of in and out of towns woods. Bit annoying to be honest. So doubt we get over the climb tonight. So I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m just going to ride and uh somewhere between 11 and 12 if I find a good bivy spot and I’ll stop. So yeah, see how that pans out. [Music] Hello. Just went to the toilet in case you wondered in a ski resort. Didn’t quite get over the climb last night. Had a good 4 hours sleep. Felt pretty good this morning. And um yeah, a bit cold in the descent. So I wrapped up. Hopefully town might be open. I might get a cross on, but not getting my hopes up too much. So yeah, it’s nice and warm here. Don’t really want to leave again. That’s all right. Breakfast down there. Got myself a sandwich, a bag of cookies, coffee. So I’m all set for the next bit, which is going to be a long climb. There’s a theme here on that. And there’s a hiker bike on this one. Then drop down into Breenson. And the sun’s just coming up. So yeah, should be another good day. [Music] All right, making some progress to this hiker bike. Well, the top of it is about 6 milesi away, so I imagine it’ll be two or three miles of hiker bike. Gradually climbed up on the road onto these gravel tracks and then uh yeah, I guess it just turns into hiking trail up over the top. I actually passed over the other side of the mountain last year on the colder peas. So, I think I know what to expect. Hopefully, it means some good trails on the way down. [Music] Slowly [Music] getting there. I’m pretty slow on the other hike bike, but top’s just behind me. It’s up there somewhere. So, yeah. Hopefully another 10 minutes or so and I’ll be up and we can hopefully enjoy some single track. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] What’s wrong from grandson? on quick supermarket sweep, get a few uh resupplies and then back on it up to Monteneva. Although I’ve not been this way because the off-road route expect to involve some pushing and then down um down the road the other side which I rode up last year. [Music] There [Music] comes Lea. Take that one off. Head straight down those little town at the bottom. Maybe get some water and a a quick snack. I had a good ice cream there last year. And uh yeah, kind of nice. There we are. D. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. N. [Music] This one. This one. So, back in the valley again, still in Italy. Uh, but next up on the next big challenge is the coldest Somalia, which is uh it’s the highest point in the whole event, just under 3,000 m. So, um, yeah, I guess I’ll have to do that tonight. I expect to be 3 or 4 hours to get up there. Probably a couple of hours to get there. So, I guess maybe half a chance of doing it in the daylight. So, uh, yeah, that’s kind of the plan for the rest of the day. So, the climb begins. Yeah, [Music] I’m I’m this one. [Music] Making progress 5 miles to the top now. So I’ll be around a bit and a half maybe be up there before it’s dark. The clouds are starting to loom. So hopefully I’ll get away with it. And yeah, back down. Probably go straight back to the bar I stopped in earlier cuz I had some good pizza. and uh get some resupply. [Music] Up on that on [Music] Well, that’s the top. Nice point. Just under 3,000. Now I’m going to put on my warm clothes and hopefully next time you see me I’ll be shoving some pizza in my face back down in the valley before the night shift. [Music] [Music] didn’t really go to plan. Just got caught in a massive rainstorm, but I found this little little church. So, probably stopping an hour earlier than I I wanted to, but it’s basically a 9 mile climb. Take a couple hours to get up there and then a long descent. So, um it’s not really worth the risk if I get wet and then freeze on the descent. It’ be pretty bad. So, let’s stop here, semi- dry my kit, then I’m going to dry and warm tonight and then uh see what the weather’s doing tomorrow. Well, good morning. You can see probably not. The moon’s up. I’m surrounded by these amazing mountains. I’ve just about two hours now. Come all the way up this this valley behind me. Sun’s or the first light’s just just coming up. So yeah, it hammered it down to start with and then the last sort of 20 minutes or so it stopped raining. So I think maybe it was a good call to stop where I did last night. Feeling fairly good. And then I’ve got to drop down and uh maybe I’ve timed it right to find a binger. I hope so. So yeah, all good in France. He’s got very lucky with resupply. Shop’s not meant to open till 7:30. It’s quart 6. Just getting light. And I just uh just caught up with um the guy in front again. So he’s about 10 minutes up the road. As long as it’s been at this resupply, but I need to get food. So yeah, looking good. a bit rainy but it’s spectacular. So basically Reese blood splir and um yeah as I said he caught me and he must be well probably 20 minutes ahead now stopped to go to the l resupply. I imagine he resupplied in town here. So now the next big climb, 10 miles or so, maybe more, then drop down and then drag up to the checkpoint. It’s about 50 mi away. So see if I can catch him again. [Music] [Music] [Music] Right, working awareness climb. I think that’s the top up in the clouds ahead of me. a couple of miles away. So, probably a good half hour to get up and over. I’ll be to get this one done though. It’s just steep. Bit of a gravel. Glad I put the 30 to chain ring on for sure. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Right into the next climb now. Quite a long descent and then I stopped down in the big supermarket in the valley. Got some lunch and some resupply. And now making my way CP2, which is probably about 20 mi away. Predominantly uphill, but it looks like mostly on tarmac, so it should be fairly easy going. Easier than small anyway. And there’s the Alps behind me. Pretty cool, eh? [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] Cheeky bit of single track on that descent. And now onto the climb up to CP. So about 10 miles or so. I suppose another 2 3 hours and then uh maybe get some food. That’ be nice. [Music] I’m just about to hit CP2. I’m not sure if I’ll I’ll see the guy in front or not. I always forget his name. I’m too tired. But uh yeah, get some food, quick fuel up, turn it around as quick as I can, and then get over this mountain and then just see how far I can go. That’ll be 150 mi left. Doubt I’ll do it in a 1 hour, but I’ll try and go to 1:00 or so. Few hours sleep. See where I get to. There’s our food refuge. Got as much food as I could. So, uh, yeah. Not sure if I’ll get any resupply tonight. So, I’ll be on the harabos. So, I’ve got to be a bit careful with energy. Yeah, just get my head down, see how far I get, and hopefully try and sleep in one of the little towns and these couple of mountain passes first. Just cover the ground while it’s light. [Music] Today’s edition of This is Why We Do It. All [Music] right, stop at the hiker bike. And hopefully I got a fairly big percent and uh yeah, it’s going to be dark soon. So settling into the night again. Let’s just see how far I can get before I fall asleep. [Applause] [Music] So had a disaster basically torn this knob off and four plugs to hold it. So I think I’ve got to put a tube in. At least there’s this little sh so could be worse. What a discovery. Pizza machine. So, I’ve ordered a pizza, prepared my puncher, got down the mountain to Sanjave or the the little town in San. So, get my pizza and see if I can get back up and over towards Shaman. But, I’ll need to sleep somewhere, I think. But maybe pizza will put me up. 2 minutes left. Maybe not as good as advertised, but food is food. A half burnt china pizza. Living the dream. Good morning. Hopefully the last morning of the race. Just heading out of the Shamley Valley. You can see that behind me. And uh yeah, woke up, had my little 2hour sleep. Hard work this morning. Only had a bag of Haribos. They were dwindling fast. But it’s amazing how things can turn. Found a vending machine with these super sugary uh flapjacks brownies. So I brought like three of them and a coffee. Not looking forward to the bank statement on that one. Then a few down the road found a bakery. So, I got pana, raisin, some chocolate cookies, and life’s all good and my legs feel strong. It’s amazing that when you get stuff in, the body responds. It might be a caffeine day today. I think I lost probably half hour, 45 minutes of my punch last night. Seems to be okay at the moment. And then probably 2 hours on sleep to Ziggy up front. So, probably four to five hours behind now. So that probably means that the any chance of winning’s gone, but just get it done now and enjoy the ride. [Music] [Music] Welcome to Switzerland. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] skills I didn’t think I’d be using on a rainy Wednesday morning in Switzerland. I’ve punched my tube. Um I think I just there was a guy sort of doing some hedge cutting and stuff out the back. So it’s probably a thorn or something. So I’m just going to patch it for now and keep my good tube just in case the um the tube splits where the uh knob got tied off um torn off. Yeah, I think it’s just going to be one of those days like just about 8 five miles left to go. Just surviving now, I think. In all honesty, think I’m just surviving. Oh, you [ __ ] Still going down. Do it again. Right, back riding again. took ages to sort the puncher. So, I ended up having to take the repair tube out because it was covered in sealant. Obviously, the patch wouldn’t stick. Got my my last tube in, whacked in a lot of air pressure. And actually, the uh the puncher was a little cut. Not where the the tire was damaged, but there’s a little little barcode sticker like quality QR sticker inside the tire. I think that might have sliced it. So hopefully we’re all right. Just need to get it done now. [Music] [Music] a bit. Surely no way you can ride this. [Music] So still this 2 milesi to the top 21% average does make you wonder why sometimes [ __ ] I do just like to run a bike in the bike race to be honest. But there we go. M to go to the top. Got back rolling. Thankfully, we’re almost at the top now. Was quite a bit ride at the top. And I’m sure the reason it’s in this route is because of the beautiful views, which obviously I’m not there today. But as I slept an hour and a half last night, you just have to excuse me for being grumpy. [Music] Hey girl. You girl. Not quite on the descent. One more little bit up and over the pass and uh starting to clear. As you can see, it’s quite spectacular. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hey girl. Hey girl. [Music] [Music] Call the dry 2,210 m. [Music] [Applause] [Music] I reckon this might be the last resupply. [Music] All [Applause] right, on to the last push. Had a good resupply. Got that nice rice dinner. Um, actually got a few messages saying, “Oh, come on. Push hard. I might be able to catch a guy in front, but I’m not going to read the look at the tracker.” Main priority is just finish it today. Kind of over it now. [Music] call. Mhm. So that’s the big road climb finally done. Now just rolling along the edge of this valley and then kind of up in a few steps up to the the remaining high point and then uh yeah I guess gradually down to uh Lake Lemon. We’re getting there slowly but surely. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] So, I’ve been heading all around that valley behind today or this afternoon. Now, just on the last little push up to the top up and over into France. We’re probably going to be dark by the time we get there, but should be then just under 40 mi downhill and mostly down a few little laps. [Music] There’s one last hike in there. One mile past the passing top. [Music] There we go. Made it top of the last the last big mile last mile last mile last mile last mile last mile last mile last mile last mile last mile last milestone. It’s about 35 miles 38 miles full on a van. I imagine that will take good 4 hours. So it’s about 9 now. So about 1ish in the morning I suppose. So yeah, put the camera away now and uh hopefully next time I see you, I’ll be rolling down the side of the lake ready to finish. We are rolling into a fun on a bar. Just about an hour and a half from finish. Getting another one in the books. Glad I finished this one after the sort of disastrous Silk Road. did have its moments though, but pretty good all around. And um I assume I’m probably second, which is good. Would be nice to try and win. I think I had the form to do so, but not the staying up a weight form. Um yeah, Zika did a great job. We’re going to roll into the finish and catch up with them. [Music]