FAQ
Find out all about the Challenge du Tourmagne!
How much does registration cost ?
Registration is free. However, the costs you incur to complete the challenge are your responsibility.
Do I really need to read the regulations ?
Yes, we highly recommend you don’t do what you usually do when accepting terms and conditions without reading them.
Why? Because we’ve kept the rules short (less than 3 pages), and it would be a shame to miss out on completing the challenge after a week of hard work simply because you didn’t invest 10 minutes into reading and understanding the regulations.
I’d like to study the reference route. How can I download it ?
You can view and download the route via VisuGPX.
Please note that the route may undergo slight changes: small adjustments could be made due to roadworks, trail closures or openings… or simply because we’ve found a better track! We’ll send you the updated route once you’ve registered, as well as a few days before your departure. To avoid overloading your GPS with over 900 kilometers of data, the course will be divided into 9 GPX files that correspond to the stages of the two pioneers the challenge is based on.
What’s the ratio of road to trail ? Is it advisable to do this challenge on a mountain bike instead of a gravel bike ?
Whilst we don’t have an exact breakdown, the route is roughly divided as follows:
– 50% on asphalt
– 25% on smooth paths that allow for efficient riding (canal paths, white roads, or slightly grey-violet roads tinged with volcanic soil…)
– 25% on more rugged and challenging terrain
The challenge is designed for mixed-surface riding, a hallmark of gravel biking. Of course, it’s entirely possible to complete the route on a mountain bike, though the distinction between gravel and mountain bikes can sometimes blur.
What about taking my touring bike?
Tricky question!
The Tourmagne Challenge is more of a physical and athletic challenge than a bike tour.
Even if you’re used to showing your touring bike the world, you and she may not be ready for the Challenge: as explained above, some sections do require all-terrain piloting skill.
Before setting off on the Tourmagne, make sure you’re capable of maneuvering your bike and its load, both in the saddle and when helping it overcome the inevitable obstacles you’ll encounter.
Can I take part in the challenge on an electric bike ?
Yes, e-bikes are welcome to take part in the challenge. However, e-bike users are asked to identify themselves upon registration, and they will be recognised on the honour board. We actually believe that, due to constraints of battery life and management, completing the challenge on an e-bike could be more challenging than on a traditional bike.
Can I take part in the challenge with others ?
Absolutely. It’s even encouraged to help each other out, or even share a drink when the opportunity arises. 130 years ago, Léon and Marius opened the route together, and we bet their story would have been less exciting if one of them hadn’t been there.
Note, however, that the winners of the challenge are individuals, not groups. Registration and post-challenge reporting must be done by each participant who wishes to win.
Is there a prize ?
The winners of the challenge will receive :
- The book recounting the journey of Léon Giran-Max and Marie-Antoine Barret, two friends who, in August 1897, embarked on a new form of adventure: cycling travel.
- A bike bottle in the challenge’s colours ;
- A handlebar bag in the challenge’s colours ;
- The privilege of having their name added to the list of past winners on the challenge’s honour board ;
- An embroidered patch in the challenge’s colours.
Please note that the embroidered patch is exclusive to those who meet all the challenge requirements, while the other prizes may also be awarded to participants who didn’t complete the challenge but demonstrated real merit.
Beyond these prizes, the most valuable rewards are the memories you’ll create: stunning landscapes, epic climbs and descents, moments of struggle and triumph, and the unparalleled freedom that bike travel offers.
Is the Tourmagne Challenge time-limited ?
No, there are no time restrictions on the challenge. If your calendar is already full with other cycling goals this year, feel free to take on the challenge next season.
Camping or fixed accommodation ?
The choice is yours. We won’t list the reasons for choosing one over the other.
Camping or fixed accommodation ?
The choice is yours. We won’t list the reasons for choosing one over the other.
I'd like to complete the challenge in multiple stages; is this possible ?
Yes, that’s absolutely possible. However, doing so means you won’t be eligible to win the challenge. The rules specify that you must cover at least 50 km on the route every 24 hours between the start and finish. To be a winner, you therefore can’t even take a day off. While this may seem unfair considering that Giran-Max and Barret took a well-deserved rest day in Nevers after a lunch with white wine in Pouilly-sur-Loire, this rule reflects the spirit of the challenge: it’s a test of preparation, physical endurance, and mental strength.
If you still prefer to take the challenge in stages, you’re free to do so—just register and, below the list of winners, we’ll include a separate list of cyclists who, while not fulfilling the criteria for victory, still showed great merit and honoured the legacy of our two legendary predecessors.
I’m interested in the challenge, but I’m not sure who I’ll go with or when. Is it recommended that I register now to secure my spot ?
No. You can register 6 months in advance or just 72 hours before your departure—there’s no rush. Wait until your plans are set, then submit your registration when you’re ready.
I plan to leave the reference route to resupply or sleep. Is that a problem ?
Not at all. However, we strongly recommend you re-join the route where you left off. To be eligible for the challenge victory, the rules require you to have completed at least 98% of the route. If you leave the track and pick it up further along, you could easily fall outside of this rule.
I have a very busy schedule and can only do the challenge before May (or after September). Is it reasonable to do so ?
That’s a tricky question. Regardless of the season, it’s possible to have a good week with favourable weather.
That said, sections above 1000 meters can be risky in bad conditions. The Cézallier and Margeride areas are known for being wild and difficult to escape from. If you’re planning to go off-season, be prepared to turn back rather than start a day in uncertain conditions.
If I understand the rules correctly, to complete the challenge, I need to follow 98% of the route and ride at least 50 km per day ; is that right ?
First, completing the challenge is simpler than that: you just need to follow the track in one trip from Melun to the Tour Magne to do so: even if you don’t meet all the conditions to be a graduare, when you have sent us your text and your GPX recordings and we know that you reached Nîmes by overcoming the difficulties of the route, we will be happy to consider you a finisher and send you the book. You will then be included in the honor roll as a poet.
Second, if you want to play to become a graduate, the 50km condition is more subtle than “ride at least 50 km per day”:
On the one hand, this minimum distance of 50km refers to the distance you have advanced the track. If you do 20 km round trip off track to reach your accommodation, this is not counted.
On the other hand, you don’t need to advance the route by 50 km every day, but rather “for any 24-hour period during the journey between the start and end points”. For example, if you’ve had long days but on Monday you mostly rode in the morning, and on Tuesday, in the afternoon, it’s possible that between Monday at 12:48 PM and Tuesday at 12:48 PM, you may not have covered 50 km, and therefore wouldn’t meet the conditions set out in Article 5 of the regulations.
Not an easy task, as you’ll see! We didn’t say it would be simple—it’s almost as if we take a certain sadistic pleasure in imagining you wracking your brain.
I’ve completed the challenge and want to send my report to validate my performance. But I need to send GPX files, and the GPS recordings I have are in .FIT format. Is that okay ?
Sorry, our certification program only accepts files in GPX format.
On the Internet, you’ll find tools that allow you to convert your FIT streams into GPX. For example, https://www.alltrails.com/fr/converter or https://gotoes.org/strava/Combine_GPX_TCX_FIT_Files.php. Strava also lets you download your recordings in GPX format, even if they come from a Garmin GPS whose native format is FIT.
Now, it’s your turn…
To maximize my chances of sending you correct recordings, do you have any tips on how to use my GPS effectively?
Oh yes, plenty of tips!
Don’t forget to bring what is necessary to recharge your GPS. While most modern GPS devices last more than a day on a single charge, you’ll likely need at least one recharge during the challenge.
In your GPS settings, disable the automatic recalculation feature when you deviate from the track. This function is a real trap—at the slightest intersection where the GPS detects (or thinks it detects) that you’ve left the track, it will suggest an alternate route, which can mess up your ability to follow the original track accurately.
Don’t pause your GPS every time you leave the track or take a break. If you do, you might forget to restart it when you resume your route. Our homologation calculation ignores recordings that don’t advance the track, but it considers segments where the GPS didn’t record anything as not having been followed.
Break your completed route into several recordings. Many GPS devices don’t handle 900km-tracks well. Some challengers have lost everything when stopping the recording at the Tour Magne. Garmin, the market leader, will have trouble exporting a GPX file (the format we require) if your track is too long. However, there’s no issue with making multiple recordings (one or two per day, or one for each of the 9 provided tracks…): our program will reorder the files you submit, reducing the risk of losing everything.
If you’re not cutting corners, you might have a backup GPS to follow the track and record your route if your main GPS fails (a smartphone with the right app makes a good backup GPS—just load the tracks onto it). However, be careful not to have two GPS devices recording your progress at the same time: our homologation program won’t accept files with overlapping recording times. So, only start recording with your backup GPS once your main GPS is turned off.
Finally, remember that the GPS recordings must be your own: if you go with friends and rely on them to record the route, you won’t be eligible to be named a graduate (though you can still be a “poet finisher”).