"La grande vadrouille", a 5-day gravel epic through the Grands Causses mountains

On the road to Millau, excitement builds as the kilometers tick by. And somewhere in there, the apprehension too. Although I'm used to riding at home in the Aravis massif, setting off on a multi-day sporting trip is a big first. After five hours on the road, as I approach Domaine Saint-Estève, our base camp for the week, a sign reads: "Welcome to Millau, capital of outdoor sports!". It says it all.

🛣 On the road

DAY 1 - 🚲 The prologue 🚲

30 kms

On arrival, I'm greeted by Olivier, one of the three founders of GravelUp. I'm the first to arrive, but JB, my roommate from Aix-en-Provence for the week, soon joins me, and we take our places in our chalet. Although I don't normally pay much attention to comfort on my cycling adventures, I have to admit that having my own room with a large double bed isn't a bad thing. A few goodies bearing the company's effigy are spread out on the bed as a welcome gift: water bottle, reusable cutlery, stickers (which I soon proudly stick on the back of my van 🤩), thank you GravelUp!

Barely enough time for us to move in, the prologue is announced in the late afternoon and rings... the start of the adventure. I meet the other participants, and to my great surprise, some of them have never set foot on a Gravel bike before.

JB, Matthieu, Guillaume, Hugues, Rémi and I, led by our guide Daniel and Olivier, set off on our bikes for the first 30 kilometers of the trip, giving everyone a chance to familiarize themselves with their** gravel beater**. As we pedal along the Tarn, we get to know each other.

Then, as the kilometers roll by, all the fears that I'd had a few hours earlier on the road to Millau fade away with them.

"Once you swim it's good!". Whatever our motives, wherever we come from and whatever our place in society, here we are, all together, butts on saddles, riding along the chemins de traverse, to tackle the dust, the gravel and the uneven terrain.

DAY 2 - 🚲Le Causse du Larzac 🚲

72 kms

Day 2 begins with a yoga class to warm up our muscles, and it feels great! With the rest of the group, we're off for a day of eating gravel on the exceptional trails of the Grands Causses, known as "terres de gravel". That's what's in store for us 😅.

The heart is racing and thighs are whistling, but the arrival at belvédère du Cap de Coste, at the gateway to the Larzac plateau, makes us forget all our woes.

Up there, Julien is waiting for us with coffee and homemade walnut cake, all in a setting that would make a city-dweller move. We'd lost a few feathers on the way up, so this is sure to get our thighs pumping again. As we set off again, the group is left speechless by the beauty of the Larzac slopes, while a few vultures watch over us with grace and a touch of nonchalance.

The descent to Roquefort, then Saint-Jean d'Alcas and the midday refreshment area goes off without a hitch. After lunch, we had two options. The first is to head for Saint-Affrique, 20 kilometers from here, where we'll be sleeping tonight.

But that's all it takes for the troops to approve the second proposal, made by Olivier, , to add a pass and 20 kilometers to the itinerary. It's good to see that the supervisors are listening to the team. They can easily assess the group's level and adapt the itinerary accordingly. Nothing is set in stone, as an adventure like this should never be 💪.

After a few problems with puncture and a fall that wasn't serious, we arrived at our accommodation. ** lodges in the heart of a wooded park** and a swimming pool offer us the perfect base to recharge our batteries after 71 kilometers, 1300 meters of positive ascent and a good bowl of nature. After an aperitif with the creator of the Parc Naturel des Grands Causses and dinner in the town center, a good night's sleep does us a world of good.

Day 3 - 🚲 Rougier de Camarès 🚲

52kms

The next day, it's with heavy legs that we attack the third day of cycling. As has been the case since day one, the first climb makes our quadriceps sing. Then, as we progress, a thick fog envelops us.

The atmosphere becomes almost mystical, the abundant flora of this early spring and the wintry weather create a surprising contrast. It's the perfect atmosphere to take some great pictures, so I try to be active and** capture these powerful moments in my own way**

The muddy terrain slows our progress considerably as we climb. We stay together and we don't leave anyone behind. That's what I liked about Gravel Up too. In this Gravel travel agency, the notion of performance is redefined. No competition, no medals, no unhealthy rivalry. Here, there's just a deep desire tomove forward together, while allowing everyone the possibility of surpassing themselves.

We finally break through the thick fog that covers the summits to find ourselves in the heart of an incredible geological landscape , the Rougier de Camarès. Olivier, as he knows so well, had sold the place to us as an Australian Red Center.

And he was right. Here we are, plunged into a Outback with an Aveyron accent. This change of scenery led us to Montlaur at around 1pm, after 4h30 of Gravel, **50 kilometers and 1000 meters of positive ascent... **Almost too easy after yesterday 🤪. This is where the day ends, and Julien takes us all back to Millau by shuttle, where the Tarn will serve as a natural cryotherapy cabin.

In the evening, we dine at one of Millau's emblematic restaurants, Au Jeu de Paume,, where the southern accent is echoed by all the waiters. We've come to the right place at the right time.

Day 4 - 🚲 Le Causse noir 🚲

80kms

This is **the biggest stage **of the trip. Shortly after dropping into the Tarn valley, to the small village of Peyreleau, the day continues between forest tracks, beautiful roads and plateaus. We branch off in the direction of the summit of the causses overlooking us. Each at his own pace, two groups form. The sporty ones race ahead, while the more contemplative ones enjoy the unique panorama in which they progress.

There's a very wide variety of terrain, to suit all tastes! At the summit, Julien has prepared a hearty ravito, pardon me, refreshment station. The last of the Gravel Up adventure 😢. Successive bumps finally lead us to Pouncho d'Agast, the last viewpoint over Millau from the top of the Causses.

Finally, the final descent to base camp is made under a few drops, while the wind picks up and in the distance the sky paints the picture with beautiful showers, as if to symbolically seal the end of the adventure. We can't escape it, and here we are, rinsed out (literally and figuratively 😂) after 80 kilometers and 1800 D+.

DAY 5 🚲Last ride 🚲

33 kms

33kms to finish in style! Plenty of time to get the legs turning on some great gravel trails before heading home. Tomorrow, we'll all get on with our lives, full of memories and the certainty that we've grown from such an adventure. Thank you Gravel Up for bringing us such wonderful emotions 😍.

As for you, reader, if you're looking for a unique experience, both sporting and human, you know where to come. The Gravel Up door is wide open. Choose your destination, we'll take care of the rest!

To conclude

I've come away from this GravelUp experience with my legs feeling a little heavy and with stars in my eyes. Then, on the way back to my routine, a whole host of images and emotions gathered over these 5 days mingle in my head: from landscapes that lead to total disconnection, to sensations of personal surpassing, from laughter to gourmet meals... and a whole host of memories that naturally draw a smile on my face 🤗.

**Now all that remains is to define the next destination **: Norway or Andalusia?

🎒 The right set-up to reproduce Pierre Guilbaud's journey

🚴🏻‍♀️ Our frames

➡️ Gravel muscular or electric top-of-the-range brand Origin. The Graxx carbon model (8.1kg) (for the muscular version) or our Help electric model (12kg) combine performance, versatility and lightness.

➡️ Front bag to hold a few bars and a windbreaker!

🧦 Our fashion week

**Just enough to get you through the day: **

• Shorts
• Jersey
• Windbreaker
• A pair of cycling shoes
• A helmet
• A pair of sunglasses
• Gloves

🛠 The right tools

An inner tube and a pump, but all repair tools are provided by GravelUp!

GravelUp

GravelUp is the creator of gravel bike adventures and stays, exploring the wonders of mountain ranges all over Europe. Stays for all levels, so that everyone can find their own dose of pleasure or personal challenge, but always on a gravel bike.