A modern-day pilgrimage through the French Alps

Hi Simon, what was the inspiration behind creating Le Pilgrimage?

Le Pilgrimage started as a gravel cycling event, a way to blend physical challenge with mountains, community, and the simple moments we share, like meals and stories around the dinner table. After two successful editions on the bike, we’re now expanding into trail running.

I’ve taken part in several ultra-distance events myself. I remember that after finishing my first one, I couldn’t stop talking to friends and family about everything I’d experienced. The need to process and share was overwhelming. But the problem with most of these events is that many participants are still out on course or finish hours apart, so those post-race conversations only happen with a handful of people, if at all. I wanted to create something where that connection wasn’t a bonus, but the whole point. A modern-day pilgrimage through the mountains, where the reward is just as much about the people you meet as the ground you cover.

What makes the Le Pilgrimage experience different from other multi-day trail events?

Le Pilgrimage is not a race, it’s a journey through wild terrain, where each day ends back at the same basecamp: Hotel Saint Roch. That daily return creates a rhythm of effort, comfort, and connection.

The gravel edition follows old military roads and crosses historic fortresses along the French-Italian border. The trail version brings together the most beautiful routes of the Écrins massif. Participants carry their own gear, follow the trail, collect stamps at remote checkpoints, and return to a warm meal and a shared table.

Le Pilgrimage is designed for sharing stories, not chasing podiums. It’s a journey, not a race.

How do you want runners to feel during and after the event?

I want to challenge them, not by total exhaustion, but by finding that sweet spot on the edge of discomfort, when you’re tired but still smiling. The kind of tired that makes you crave a hot meal, a shared story, and a good bed. That hunger is part of the experience. The physical effort during the day makes the evenings richer. I’m not looking to drain people, but to bring them to a point where connection and recovery feel deeply earned.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of signing up?

First editions always have a special kind of energy—raw, exciting, and full of surprises. That goes for the participants and the organizers. The first gravel edition two years ago was unforgettable, and I expect the trail version to have the same spirit.

You don’t need to be elite. You need to be open—to challenge, surprise, and the beauty of not knowing exactly what’s ahead. At the beginning, it’s normal to sit a bit awkwardly next to strangers at dinner. But after a few days in the mountains together, you part ways as friends.

The daily distances are around 30 km, with a proper day to complete them. Speed doesn’t matter. This is about the experience, not the clock.

As we open this new chapter, we’re looking for trail runners who believe in the magic of a first edition. Just like those who joined us for the inaugural gravel event, we invite you to help write the first lines of this new story and experience the raw beauty of the French Alps in a way a pilgrimage can offer.

Could you tell us about what it’s like to organise and host an event like Le Pilgrimage? What logistical challenges are involved?

I honestly wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. I spend most of my time piecing trails together, scouting routes, digging into local history, and discovering old cabins that can offer shelter or serve as checkpoints. I like connecting loose ends into something that makes sense on the ground. There’s nothing more satisfying than setting up a moment at a location that’s remote, and hidden.

At the same time, I have to admit it can be nerve-racking. These events take place in some of the highest and most remote areas in Europe, so organising them comes with its own set of challenges. Weather conditions can change quickly, trails can get damaged, and sometimes that means adjusting the route at the very last moment—or worse, avoiding situations where someone’s health could be at risk. I’m constantly monitoring the forecast, checking in with local contacts, and trying to make good calls based on the information I gather. I do my best to keep participants informed and aware of what’s going on.

In the end, I share all of this with the participants during daily briefings. I also encourage them to take personal responsibility, to stay aware, and to make their own decisions based on their own capabilities and the info I share.

The innuagral edition of Le Pilgrimage takes place from July 1-6 2025. Limited places are available at the time of writing.

Sign up here

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