Julien Chorier is no stranger to pushing limits. A veteran of trail running and ultra-distance racing, he recently turned his attention to gravel and ultra cycling, taking on the GRAAALPS 500km, a gravel ultra-distance adventure that loops the Alps around Mont Blanc. He crossed the line in 2nd place after a race defined by relentless climbing, storms, and long nights on the bike. We caught up with him to talk about the race, the doubts, and how his eco-responsible, circular VELOR kit performed over hundreds of kilometers of bikepacking and self-sufficient riding.
Photo : Robin Issartel
Can you introduce yourself quickly and tell us what brought you to GRAAALPS this year?
I'm Julien Chorier, and trail running and ultra-distance racing have been my passion for many years. What keeps me motivated is discovering new playgrounds and testing myself against demanding courses. GRAAALPS ticked every box: a committing alpine route, serious elevation gain, real adventure, and strong competition. It's a race that had been on my radar for a while. The Tour du Mont Blanc concept was also part of the decision. I've ridden it several times on a road bike, done it dozens of times on foot, and once by gravel bike in the other direction (a shorter version starting from Chamonix).
What was your goal going into this race: win it, finish it, test something?
When you take on an adventure like this, you're there to do your best, plain and simple. The goal was to aim for the best possible result while staying clear-headed about managing my effort. In a mountain ultra, you constantly have to adapt. I wanted to be an active player in the race from start to finish, without redlining or taking unnecessary risks.
How would you describe the terrain and conditions at GRAAALPS this year (elevation, weather, toughest moments)?
The course is genuinely demanding, a relentless string of long climbs, technical descents, and very few chances to truly recover. The weather added another layer of difficulty depending on the time of day, with temperature swings that force you to manage your gear carefully. Heavy storms overnight between Thursday and Friday forced a long shelter stop, in front of a garage, wrapped in a survival blanket. The hardest moments were when fatigue sets in, usually after many hours of racing, when every climb feels a little longer than the last. And we got plenty of that with the long climbs to the Cormet de Roselend, the Col du Joly, and the Col de Voza, with long stretches over 15% gradient.
Photo : Robin Issartel
At what point in the race did you doubt yourself, and what kept you going?
On an ultra, doubt is part of the journey. There are always moments when the legs respond a little less well, or the mind starts to negotiate. In those moments, I try to come back to simple things: get to the next summit or the next aid station, keep fueling properly, and not let negative thoughts take over. Experience also helps you put things in perspective, because you know the sensations are constantly changing. But for the first time, the heavy storms made me question whether the project was even feasible. Luckily, after a five-hour stop, the sky cleared and rewarded me with a magnificent climb to the Petit Saint-Bernard as the sun rose, a new day was starting.
What did you feel about your gear during the effort (comfort, chafing, thermoregulation)?
On a race this long, you quickly forget about your gear when it's doing its job well, and that's exactly what happened. The cargo bib short performed perfectly : no chafing, no discomfort at all. The cargo pockets stayed full the whole time without a single issue. Same story for the RELOV jersey : the only thing I had to manage was the zip, opening or closing it a bit on climbs and descents to regulate temperature. Really solid, and reassuring to know it's made from circular, eco-responsible materials on top of performing this well.
Photo : Robin Issartel
How do you prepare for a race like this?
My approach to sport has completely changed over the past few years, and I now treat my training like a hobby. I ride when I have time, and/or to commute to the office by bike. Depending on motivation, I'll extend the way home with a few extra climbs. But I've been focused on cycling since the end of February to prepare for Bikingman Corsica and this GRAAALPS. Riding the Tour du Mont Blanc two weeks ago, over two days, with Scott and Jean Suplice, was solid preparation and a good gear test.
What does this 2nd place change going forward (goals, next race)?
This result confirms that the work I've been putting in is heading in the right direction, and it makes me want to keep testing myself on the most beautiful ultras out there. The goal stays the same: enjoy the mountains, stay competitive, and keep building a season around races that genuinely motivate me. And I'll actually be shifting a bit more back toward trail running now.
Julien's gear
- RELOV jersey : circular, eco-responsible design built for long days in the saddle.
- Men's Cargo Bib Short : the storage and comfort Julien relied on for self-sufficient ultra cycling and bikepacking.
Want the full story behind the race? Read more about the GRAAALPS 2026 project and the adventure that took Julien Chorier around the Alps.
What is GRAAALPS?
GRAAALPS is an ultra-distance gravel bikepacking event across the Alps, run in semi-autonomy: no closed roads, no peloton, no support car, just riders covering three hundred to eight hundred kilometres of asphalt and unpaved tracks between basecamps, managing their own food, repairs, and pacing. The 2026 edition runs from July 14 to 19, linking Mandelieu-la-Napoule on the Mediterranean to Crans-Montana in Switzerland through France and Italy, with three routes finishing in Crans-Montana: an 800 km full crossing (~21,000 m elevation) via the Italian military tracks and the Great St Bernard Pass, a 500 km loop (~12,500 m elevation) built around the Tour du Mont Blanc, and a shorter 300 km loop (~7,500 m elevation) for riders new to the format.
FIND MORE ABOUT GRAAALPS
