Ultra-distance cycling has always been more than a sport to me. It is an ongoing conversation with my limits, a search for meaning in exhaustion. It is also a way to connect with landscapes in a way that’s both fierce and intimate. The UBF Pyrénées Orientales ultra distance cycling race, organized by Ultra Bike France, promised everything I crave: 511 kilometers of wild, mountainous terrain, an intimidating 9000 meters of climbing, 36 hours to finish, and the raw reality of self-provisioning. Signing up wasn’t just about testing my legs—it was a leap into the unknown, a challenge to my body, mind, and spirit.
A Personal Journey Through 511 Kilometers, 9000 Meters of Climb, and the Full Depths of Endurance
Chapter 1: Preparation and Training for the UBF Pyrénees Orientales Ultra Distance Cycling Race
Months before the race, my life revolved around the approaching start line. Ok, I am a fairly experienced ultra distance rider, cycling more than 25000 kilometres per year the past years. I have completed challenges like a 10K Everesting on the Ballon D’Alsace, various everestings, 15 300 k+ ultra rides, the Bicinglé de Ventoux (6 times the Mont Ventoux in one day) and ultra distance races like the Tour du Mont Blanc cyclo. But this was going to be my first 500+ kilometres ultra distance race ever.
My weekends blurred into centuries, and I racked up nearly 12,000 kilometers through the 1st half of the year. Each ride a brick in my ultra-endurance foundation. I dedicated one week to a grueling training camp in the Alpes, riding from dawn till dusk, rehearsing the relentless climbing and sudden descents that would define the UBF Pyrénées Orientales ultra distance cycling race.
The 24 hour ultra cycling test
As part of my preparation for the UBF Pyrénées Orientales, on 24 July 2025 I embarked on a 24-hour ride from my home. I traversed the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium to experience what it truly meant to cycle through day and night. The aim was not only to test my endurance over such a long period. But also to experiment with nutrition and assess exactly which gear I would need to bring along. Everything from lighting and layers of clothing to repair tools and other essentials. During this non-stop ride, I covered roughly 640 kilometres and climbed nearly 3,000 metres. It gave me invaluable insights into what would work (and what wouldn’t) during an ultra-endurance event like the UBF.
The importance of the right nutrition
But it wasn’t just the legs. I spent the past few years testing a range of nutrition brands, searching for what worked best for me on ultra rides. Eventually, I dedicated myself to Maurten, a Swedish sports food brand. The choice of nutrition is highly personal, but for me, Maurten stood out. It is because its products contain no acid, which spares my teeth and stomach, and their drink mixes and gels have virtually no flavor. That’s a huge relief on long-distance rides when you’re forced to drink more than ten bottles per day.
Flavored energy drinks become a real challenge after just a few bottles. I’m sure I’m not the only one who craves plain water after three or four. During shorter rides, that’s fine, but on ultras you really need those carbohydrates. Maurten’s 320 mix offers another major advantage. One 500 ml bottle with a sachet of Maurten 320 delivers 80 grams of carbs. For most amateur athletes this is almost the maximum you can process per hour. In principle, you don’t need anything else but one bottle of this drink mix per hour to keep your energy topped up.
From 90 to 110 grams of carbs per hour
Interestingly, thanks to advancements in training and nutrition strategies, professional athletes today can often absorb more than 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour. This increased capacity is the result of deliberate adaptation, as consistent high-carb fueling trains the gut to handle much larger amounts of carbs efficiently during endurance events. It’s remarkable how the body can adjust to support such extreme energy demands. It allows elite cyclists to push their limits even further. Since I have been ulta riding for about 8 years now, I can handle around 100 to 110 grams of carbs per hour now. So I try to combine one bottle of Maurten with one gel or one energy bar.
I take everything with a grain of salt
Beyond carbohydrates, I realized how crucial it is to pay attention to salt, magnesium, and other essential minerals to avoid cramps and keep my muscles functioning smoothly during such long efforts. On ultra rides, sweating for hours can deplete your electrolyte reserves, so I made sure to include sources of sodium and magnesium in my fueling plan—whether through electrolyte tablets, salted nuts, or salty energy bars. Alternating between sweet drinks, gels, solid foods and something salty not only helps maintain electrolyte balance but also provides a much-needed change in flavor, which can lift your spirits when the monotony sets in.
It’s also important not to overlook other nutrients: a bit of protein can help stave off muscle breakdown, and healthy fats—like those from nut butters—offer slow-burning energy that keeps you feeling fuller longer. Balancing these elements alongside carbohydrates made a noticeable difference in my endurance and overall well-being throughout the UBF Pyrénées Orientales adventure.
My UBF Ultra Distance Cycling Bike Set-Up
One item I would like to specifically highlight is my 58 gram carbon saddle from Gelu. I won’t have to tell you how important a high-end comfy saddle is for ultra distance cycling rides. The Gelu K-4 carbon saddle is my favorite partner in ultra cycling crime. Both my bikes have a K-4 carbon saddle. People call me crazy because the saddle is as hard as a diamond, but I have never had such a comfortable saddle. You can find their saddles here.
- Bike: Winspace T1550 Gen 2
- Wheels: Lún Hyper Light 50 mm Wheels
- Groupset: Dura Ace DI2
- Pedals: Time XPro 12 SL
- Saddle: Carbon Gelu K-4 Saddle
- Frame bag: Ortlieb Toptube RC
- Power meter: Inpeak Powercrank-E Twin2
- Rear lights: Wahoo Tickr & Garmin Varia
- Front lights: Ravemen FR500 (+external battery) + Rockbros 3000 LM
- GPS: Garmin 1050
- Camelbak
Winspace T1550 Gen2 Bike
As an ultra-distance cyclist, I’m brutally picky about equipment, and my experience with Winspace has been nothing short of impressive. I ride a Winspace T1550 Gen2 paired with Lún Hyper Light wheels, and for me it hits that rare sweet spot between aerodynamics and real-world comfort. Over long hours and endless kilometers, the bike stays fast without beating me up, holding speed effortlessly while remaining stable and forgiving when fatigue sets in. It’s a setup that feels purpose-built for ultra-distance challenges and races — efficient, reliable, and confidence-inspiring when everything comes down to endurance and consistency.
Chapter 2: Pre-Race Experience
Arriving in the quiet town that would host the start, I felt a fizz of nervous anticipation. The UBF organizers greeted us with warmth and French humor, and the energy at the pasta party was infectious—nerves and excitement mingling over plates of carbs. I checked and rechecked my gear as the GPS tracker was attached to my camelbak, a silent witness to every kilometer I’d ride.
The impeccable UBF organisation
The race organisers, Hubert and Jean-Marc, had prepared every detail of the UBF Pyrénées Orientales ultra distance cycling race with remarkable precision. In the weeks leading up to the event, they hosted online Teams sessions where every aspect of the race was discussed, ensuring no question went unanswered. Participants received comprehensive PDF files outlining all the rules and guidelines, and the organisers remained accessible at all times via WhatsApp for any queries. The route itself was provided in advance as a GPX file, and I must say, it was flawless—spectacular roads from start to finish. Truly impressive work by the UBF team!
The pre-race briefing highlighted the self-provisioning ethos: “No support, no outside help, only what you find on the road.” One checkpoint, at 220 kilometres were you could leave a bag with personal stuff. Have a good think before the start what you put into that bag; some extra clothing for the night and enough food to survive that night.
Besides, the day before, I also carefully mapped out where I’d find water, where I might grab a sandwich, and committed the emergency contacts to memory.
The Eau Cyclisme website (https://www.eau-cyclisme.com/) proved incredibly useful for locating water points along the route. Before the race, I always made sure to map out both a plan A and a plan B for refilling my bottles every 80 kilometres. Having these options in mind gave me peace of mind, knowing I wouldn’t be caught out in remote stretches without access to water, and allowed me to focus more on riding and less on worrying about hydration logistics.
Chapter 3: My UBF Ultra Distance Cycling Race Begins
At dawn, we rolled out under a chilly, pastel sky—the collective hum of wheels and whispered encouragement. My early strategy was simple: keep the watts steady, eat before I was hungry, and savor the immensity of the mountains. The opening hours felt almost meditative, the Pyrenees revealing themselves in quiet beauty and steep switchbacks. I navigated to the first checkpoint at 220 kilometres grabbing a quick snack, and moving on before the clock could unsettle me.
The race’s GPS tracking system meant friends and family could follow from afar. This gave me a strange sense of accountability and camaraderie.
Chapter 4: Setbacks and Resilience
Ultra events always have a moment when things fall apart. For me, it was a sharp descent off Col d’Ares. My front wheel slipped from the road, and in a heartbeat, I was tumbling into a shallow ravine. I scrambled up with a bruised hip, a bleeding knee and a jolt of adrenaline-fueled self-assessment. Nothing broken, just battered pride and a torn bib. At the next checkpoint, a volunteer handed me a painkiller. His kindness grounded me, reminding me that ultra-cycling is never a solitary endeavor. Still 280 kilometers to go…here we go.
But just after the checkpoint, I was suddenly hit by another setback—my navigation system crashed without warning. My bike GPS kept shutting down, flashing the dreaded “diagnostics” error every time I tried to restart it. After nearly 20 minutes of fruitless attempts, I reluctantly retraced my route about five kilometres back to the only checkpoint, where organiser Hubert kindly offered to lend me his own GPS for the remainder of the race. Without his help, that might well have been the end of my adventure. I lost more than an hour with these two setbacks and moved from 2nd place to the 9th place, but I am still alive. Next time, I’ll definitely bring a spare GPS—lesson learned. That was the second stroke of bad luck, but quitting simply wasn’t on my mind. The “Do or Die” mentality—that’s just who I am.
Chapter 5: Night Riding and Adversity
As dusk faded, the mountains grew colder. My breath became clouds, and my hands stiffened on the bars. A sudden flat tire, miles from the nearest village, became an exercise in patience and numb fingers. Fixing it under the light of my mobile phone, my heart thudded with both cold and resolve.
The night tested me further. I fought off shivers bordering on hypothermia, layering every piece of clothing I had. Fatigue gnawed at my focus, and the route’s solitude felt absolute. My mind conjured self-doubt and ghosts, but I counted pedal strokes, repeated my mantras, and reminded myself that every dark valley would eventually yield to sunrise.
Chapter 6: The Final Push
When the sky finally lightened, painting the peaks in gold, I was a different rider—emptied out, yet filled with stubborn hope. The final kilometers were a mosaic of pain and elation. Local villagers cheered through farm gates, and I found energy in their smiles.
Crossing the finish line was shockingly emotional. I made it—511 kilometers, 9000 meters up and down, within the 36-hour limit. The organisers of this UBF ultra distance cycling race welcomed me and congratulated me as if I’d just conquered Everest. What a warm and cosy feeling!
Chapter 7: Lessons Learned
I learned that gear matters—my lighting system was barely enough, and next time I’ll bring a backup. Layered clothing is non-negotiable, especially for these unpredictable mountains. Nutrition isn’t just calories; it’s morale, and having a “comfort food” can lift spirits when everything else fails.
Most crucially, I learned that suffering is temporary, but the memory of overcoming it endures. The race didn’t just test my endurance—it expanded my sense of what’s possible.
This ultra-distance race taught me several invaluable lessons that I’ll carry into every future event.
- Most importantly, always bring a spare GPS. My navigation crashed about 280 kilometres from the finish. Under normal circumstances, that would have meant my race was over. By sheer luck, I was close to the only feed station. Hubert from the organisation kindly lent me his GPS, saving my race.
- I also learnt that it’s far better to pack too much clothing than too little. Despite all my prior experience riding thousands of mountain kilometres in every condition, the cold at 2,000 metres in the evening and night caught me off guard. An extra layer for both my upper and lower body would have been a godsend. Especially when I had to change a flat tyre at 2 a.m. It was a task that took me 20 minutes, thanks in part to the biting cold.
- Sufficient lighting is critical, especially for autumn or spring events. In September, darkness comes early and lingers late in the mountains, and I was nearly caught short, arriving with my lights barely lasting through the morning. Next time, I’ll take a third front light, as running them on high beam at night quickly drains the battery.
- Finally, always pack a headlamp. This time, I didn’t have one and ended up struggling to replace a flat in pitch darkness. I had to rely on my mobile phone for light. A headlamp would have made things much simpler. This is not just for repairs but also for rummaging through pockets or refilling bottles at night.
Conclusion: Reflections and Gratitude
Looking back, the UBF Pyrénées Orientales ultra distance cycling race was more than a race. It was a pilgrimage through self-doubt, pain, and sublime joy. I’m deeply grateful to Ultra Bike France for their impeccable organization. And also to every volunteer who offered a smile, a snack, or a word of encouragement when I needed it most.
To anyone considering the UBF or any ultra-distance event: do it. You will be humbled, challenged, and changed. Bring curiosity, resilience, and respect for the mountains—and trust that every hardship will become a story worth telling.
Ultra cycling is, at its core, an act of faith. In our bodies, in the kindness of strangers, and in the possibility of reaching the horizon, one pedal stroke at a time.
UBF Ultra Distance Cycling Races 2026
UBF has just released their ultra distance race calendar for 2026. I would highly recommend participating at one of their events. The atmosphere is great, the organization is impeccable and both Hubert and Jean-Marc are Hubert are the epitome of calmness, friendliness and professionalism.
If you have questions or would you like some additional ultra cycling tips or hints, don’t hesitate to contact me.
