No. The Half To Peak is a non-competitive ultra-distance event.

There is no podium, no prize money, and no financial reward at stake. Your sole reward will be overcoming an extraordinary route and crossing the finish line surrounded by alpine peaks. Of course, some participants will complete the track at a very fast pace, but every finisher shares the exact same prestige: having conquered the route entirely by their own means.

By registering, you must embrace this philosophy:

Individual Accountability: The organization provides a logistic and safety framework (via the tracking beacon), but it is never a substitute for your own common sense.

Spirit of Independence: You set off under your own responsibility. Your progress, your safety, and your success will depend solely on your choices, your decisions, and your ability to ride self-sufficiently.

Yes, there is a strict time cut-off to be officially recognized as a Finisher.

To validate your event, you must imperatively cross the final checkpoint (CP) in Saint-Véran before Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 8:00 PM.

The math is simple: starting on Saturday, July 25 at 6:30 AM, you have a maximum time limit of 8 days, 13 hours, and 30 minutes to complete the 1,040 km and 24,000 meters of elevation gain ($24,000\text{ m D+}$).

• Beyond this limit: If you cross the finish line after this time cut-off, you will be considered “outside the time limit” (hors délais). Your satellite tracking will be deactivated, and your finish cannot be officially validated.

Manage your sleep strategy and your pace wisely right from the very first days in Auvergne to keep a safety margin for the Alpine finale!

Yes, but it strictly depends on the category you choose during registration: SOLO or DUO.

If you register in the SOLO category, you must be 100% self-sufficient. You must carry your own gear (bivouac, tools, medical kit) without relying on anyone else.

Here are the rules to follow on the trail:

• No Permanent Groups in Solo: Forming small, temporary groups as you encounter other riders along the route is tolerated and is part of the charm of ultra-distance. However, riding together for the entirety of the route is prohibited.
• The Group-Pace Trap: On an event this demanding, trying at all costs to match your pace with others is often a strategic mistake. Everyone’s low points, rest stops, and mechanical issues differ. Forcing a permanent group dynamic puts you at risk of burning out or finishing “outside the time limit.”

👥 The Solution: The DUO Category

The DUO category is the one and only way to legally ride the entire route as a pair:

• Both team members must register at the same time.
• The two partners are inseparable throughout the entire route.
• Please note: If one member of the duo scratches (withdraws), the remaining rider is allowed to continue their adventure to Saint-Véran, but will be classified as “Off-Event” (unranked).

⛔ Strict Reminder: It is formally forbidden for anyone outside the organization (friends, family, local club members) to ride alongside you to keep you company, even for just a few kilometers. The route is strictly reserved for official participants.

The principle of being “unsupported” (self-sufficient) is the golden rule of the Half To Peak.

It  means you must rely solely on yourself and on resources that are equally accessible to everyone.

The principle of self-sufficiency is absolute: neither the organization nor your loved ones can intervene in your logistics. You must be capable of managing the entirety of your daily adventure completely on your own.

In concrete terms, you must be 100% independent when managing:

• Accommodation and Sleep: Finding your own bivouac spots or looking up and booking your own hotel rooms on the go, while on the route.
• Resupply: Managing your water and food based on the local shops and businesses available along your way.
• Mechanics and Health: Repairing your own mechanical failures, treating minor physical ailments (wounds, aches), and handling your own navigation.

What is strictly prohibited:

• Having a support vehicle or a person waiting for you at specific points with clean clothes, food, or spare parts.
• Benefiting from the assistance of family, friends, or acquaintances along the route (such as pre-booked free accommodation at a relative’s house, trailside mechanical assistance, etc.).

🛒 The only authorized exception: You are allowed to use any commercial or public service that is equally available to all participants (bakery, supermarket, hotel, local bike shop, public water fountain).

By registering, you sign a pact of loyalty: cheating on the unsupported rule distorts the event and destroys the fairness among participants.

[Document summarizing these rules – Mandatory reading before registering]

There is no single perfect bike, but rather a strategic choice to be made based on your own abilities.

The Half To Peak takes place on a massive variety of terrains: you will transition from small asphalt roads and smooth forest gravel tracks to rugged, rocky, and technical mountain singletracks. Your choice should be made by honestly analyzing your strengths and weaknesses:

• The MTB (Hardtail or Lightweight Full-Suspension): This is the choice for comfort and safety. You will be able to ride through almost anything, save your body from fatigue in the rugged sections of the Massif Central and the Alps, and minimize the risk of mechanical failure. On the flip side, it will be a bit heavier and slower on tarmac or smooth tracks.
• The Gravel Bike: This will make you fly on the rolling sections and track climbs. However, it will prove to be extremely physically demanding, exhausting for the upper body, and highly technical to handle as soon as the terrain degrades. Hike-a-bike and pushing sections will be more frequent.
• The “Monster Cross”: This is often the ideal compromise and a popular favorite on this event. It features a gravel or rigid MTB frame equipped with drop bars, but fitted with wide mountain bike tires (widths greater than 2.0″ or 50 mm).

📊 The Verdict from the Trail: During the 2024 and 2025 editions, MTBs and Monster Cross bikes made up the vast majority of the fleet. Do not underestimate the roughness of mountain trails: over 1,040 km and 24,000 meters of elevation gain ($24,000\text{ m D+}$), comfort is the number one factor for speed and success.

Whichever you choose, opt for very easy gear ratios (granny gears) to ensure you can climb steep gradients at high altitudes with a fully loaded bike!

The golden rule : aim for the easiest gears possible. You will never find yourself with gears that are “too short” in the mountains, but you will very quickly come to a grinding halt if your gearing is too big.

The Half To Peak is a mountainous route passing through highly hilly ranges. With 24,000 meters of elevation gain distributed over 1,040 km, the climbs are steady, sometimes very steep, and can stretch over several kilometers (such as the ascents of Mont Ventoux or the Col de Valbelle).

Do not forget that you are not riding an unladen bike:

• Your bike will be loaded down with your bikepacking bags (sleep system, spare clothes, tools, medical kit).
• On top of that, you must factor in the weight of water (often 1.5 to 2 liters in remote areas or during high heat) and food.
• With the fatigue accumulating day after day, pushing a big gear ratio becomes a physical nightmare for your knees and your back.

⚙️ Our Gearing Recommendations:

• If you ride an MTB (1x / Single Chainring): A 30 or 32-tooth chainring maximum in the front, paired with a 10-51 or 10-52 cassette in the rear.
• If you ride a Gravel / Monster Cross (1x / Single Chainring): Do not set off with a road chainring. Opt for a front chainring of 36 or 38 teeth maximum, with a very wide rear cassette (11-42, 11-46, or ideally a “Mullet” setup with a 10-50/52 MTB cassette).
• If you ride a Double Chainring (2x): A sub-compact crankset (such as a 46-30) paired with a 34 or 36-tooth cassette in the rear is the bare minimum required.

Testing your fully loaded bike in its exact race configuration on real climbs before the start is absolutely essential to validate your choice!

A broken bike often means a sudden end to your adventure. Over a 1,040 km course through rocks and rugged mountains, your rig is going to take a beating: anticipation is key.

Riding over rough terrain, through dust or mud, and with the added weight of your bags puts immense stress on your gear. Your drivetrain, tires, and brakes will be pushed to their absolute limits.

🛠️ Your Obligations Before the Start:

• A Full Service: Never set off on a whim. Your bike must undergo a comprehensive overhaul, either done by yourself or a professional mechanic. Remember to check chain wear, cable conditions, bearings, and perform a brake bleed.
• Reliability Over Novelty: Do not swap out major components the night before the grand start. Ride with reliable, robust gear that you have already thoroughly tested and broken in during long rides in your full race configuration.
• Anticipating Wear and Tear: Even if they are brand new at the start, some consumables (like brake pads) wear down at lightning speed in wet weather or during long Alpine descents. Always pack spare parts that are perfectly compatible with your specific bike model.

🚴‍♂️ Your Skills on the Trail: Under the “unsupported” rule, you must be capable of diagnosing and repairing common mechanical breakdowns entirely on your own:

• Knowing how to fix a broken chain (using a quick-link).
• Managing punctures (tubeless plugs/bacon strips, installing a emergency inner tube, boots for a slashed tire sidewall).
• Changing brake pads and indexing a stubborn derailleur.

🔧 The Local Wildcard: If a mechanical failure exceeds your skill level or the tools you carry, you are allowed to stop at any bike shop or repair workshop located directly along the route to seek help. It is entirely up to you to manage the logistics of getting there.

The route is resolutely off-road oriented (MTB / Off-Road). Forget about asphalt; you will be spending the vast majority of your time on dirt and gravel trails.

The track is a living entity that evolves with the regions you cross. You will swing from one extreme to the other, which is exactly what makes this adventure so beautiful and varied:

• The Heart of the Route (Off-Road): A mix of wide, smooth forest or agricultural gravel roads, mountainous fire roads (DFCI tracks), and narrow, rugged, rocky, and sometimes technical mid- to high-mountain singletracks.
• Transition Zones: To give you a much-needed breather and help you tick off the kilometers, the route regularly utilizes forgotten back country roads, bike paths, or greenways.

🌍 Different Regions, Different Terrains

Keep in mind that you are crossing half of France, and the nature of the ground changes constantly:

• Auvergne and the Massif Central: Breathtaking volcanic gravel tracks, crossings of grassy plateaus (Aubrac, Cézallier) that can be a bit bumpy and jarring, and forested sections in the Margeride. The elevation profile here is wearing and relentless, acting like a non-stop roller coaster.
• The Alpine Turn and the Peaks: As soon as you cross the Rhône Valley, the terrain enters a new dimension. Climbs become massive (several hours of continuous climbing like Ventoux or Valbelle). The gradients are steeper over shorter distances, and the ground becomes typically alpine: loose shale, rocky, and technically demanding—especially on the descents.

💡 Pacing Tip: Don’t burn through your matches on the “easy,” rolling sections. Keep some energy in reserve, because the high mountains will force a much slower pace and demand constant focus and handling skills.

Navigation is done exclusively using a GPX track that you must load onto your navigation device (bike GPS computer or a dedicated smartphone).

To preserve the spirit of discovery and the excitement of adventure, the finalized track will be shared by email at least 10 days before the start.

📱 Your Technical Obligations:

• Total Mastery of Your Device: It is imperative that you know the operation of your GPS or navigation app (Komoot, RideWithGPS, Garmin, Wahoo, Hammerhead, etc.) inside and out. You must know how to load a track, restart a route mid-ride, zoom in/out efficiently, and manage battery life.
• Self-Orientation Skills: In the high mountains or isolated forests, you must be capable of making the right decisions if you lose the track or if a trail is temporarily blocked.

⚠️ The Organization’s Observation: Every year, we see too many riders take the start without fully mastering their GPS devices. This is the number one cause of routing errors, frustration, lost time, and wasted energy.

Mastering your navigation is just as crucial as your physical training. Do not overlook this point: the Half To Peak moves through demanding mountain terrain that leaves no room for guesswork. Test your gear in real-world conditions—both day and night—well before the grand start!

Energy management is a core pillar of ultra-distance riding. Since the clock never stops, you must be fully self-sufficient to recharge your safety and navigation devices. Two main options are available to you:

Dynamo Hub: Utilizing a dynamo hub (such as a SON hub) coupled with a USB charger, which is the ideal setup for long-haul self-sufficiency.

Power Banks: Carrying one or more high-capacity external batteries (minimum 10,000 to 20,000 mAh), which you can plug in and recharge during your stops at shops, restaurants, or hotels.

Navigation is done exclusively using a GPX track that you must load onto your navigation The choice is entirely up to you, as long as you comply with the regulations! Since booking accommodations before the start is strictly prohibited, you must choose your strategy:

Bivouac Option (Tent, Tarp, or Bivy): This option offers total freedom to stop whenever and wherever you want, especially in the remote areas of the Massif Central or the Alps. However, make sure to strictly respect the local bivouac and camping regulations of the natural parks you cross.

Hotel / Gîte / Campsite Option: For those who prioritize comfort and optimal recovery. You will need to look up and book your spots on the go each day, depending on your progress.

Scratching is a part of ultra-endurance, but it must be handled properly. If you decide to call it quits, you must imperatively:

Handle Your Own Repatriation: The organization does not manage or coordinate the return of participants or their bikes. You must find your own way to the nearest train station.

Return the GPS Tracker: The return procedures (either via mail or by dropping it off with the organization) will be detailed in your route guide.

Notify the Organization Immediately: Send a text message or call the race director right away (the emergency/race control number is provided in your roadbook).

Expect any and all extremes! Starting directly from the heart of the Massif Central and finishing at the top of the Alps exposes you to radical and lightning-fast weather changes.

Unlike longer cross-country events, you won’t have a smooth transition through western plains. Right from the opening kilometers, you will be riding at elevation. You must be equipped to face two completely opposite climatic realities:

☀️ 1. Scorching Heatwaves (The Valleys)

During valley transitions—especially when crossing the Rhône Valley (south of Bollène) and through Drôme Provençale—the thermometer can easily skyrocket, exceeding 35°C or even 40°C in the shade.

• The Challenge: Managing continuous hydration, coping with the complete lack of shade on the trails, and enduring the sun’s harsh reflection on the exposed limestone of Mont Ventoux.

🥶 2. Freezing Cold and Frost (The Peaks)

You will spend a large portion of the event at an average altitude of 900 meters, with iconic climbs peaking at 2,000 meters (Saint-Véran) and 2,400 meters (Col de Valbelle). At these elevations, even in the dead of summer, nights and late afternoons can be freezing.

• The Challenge: Temperatures can drop close to 0°C, with risks of morning frost on the Aubrac plateaus or in the high mountains.

⚡ 3. Violent Mountain Thunderstorms

This is the primary hazard in July and August over the Massif Central and the Alps. In the late afternoon, fueled by the daytime heat, extremely violent storms can roll in out of nowhere. They are frequently accompanied by heavy hail, fierce winds, and a sudden 15°C temperature drop in just a matter of minutes.

🧥 The Organization’s Advice: Your clothing system must be modular and highly technical. Do not skimp on sunblock and high-capacity water bottles, but do not compromise on a high-quality waterproof cycling jacket (such as Gore-Tex), long-finger gloves, thermal layers, and an emergency space blanket either. The mountains do not forgive a lack of preparation.