M A U R I T A N I EL'AVENTURE EN LIBERTÉ
TRACE NOMADE
JOIN THE ROUTE SCOUTING EXPEDITION AT NO COST :
The Trace Nomade scouting expedition will take place between mid-November and mid-December 2026, over a period of approximately four to five weeks.
The purpose of this reconnaissance is to finalize the GPX route, verify water points, validate sections that must be navigated without GPX guidance, identify any areas where riders may need to push their bikes, and assess the time required to complete the entire event.
If you would like to take part in the scouting expedition on a fat bike — using either your own bike or one provided by the organization — please contact us by email.
However, proven experience in long-distance cycling events (road, gravel, or mountain biking) is essential.
A support vehicle will be available throughout the expedition. Nevertheless, on certain sections of the route that are inaccessible to 4×4 vehicles, participants should be aware that they will face complete isolation while riding.
THE ULTRA IN A FEW KEY FACTS :
- Mauritania
- 10 Novembrer 2027 (in order to coincide with the full moon on the 14th)
- 1125 miles - including 517 of absolute OFF-ROAD riding, and only 3 mi of tarmac
- Start : Atar / Finish : Terjit
- Non-electric fat bike / Electric fat bike
- Continuous timing from start to finish
- Solo or team of two
- Rankings : men / women / transgender / men's, women's and mixed duos / Electric
- Registration by application or invitation, limited to 35 entrants non-electric fat bike and 5 in electric fat bike.
- 2027 entry fee : Bring a photo that inspires you, with a handwritten quote or personal reflection on the back.
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A COMPLETE CHANGE OF SCENERY :
Throughout the race, you will pass through an extraordinary variety of landscapes: the remarkable table mountains of the Adrar ; the endless dune chains stretching across the heart of the Maqteir Erg and the Ouarane Erg ; the sand-filled valleys of the vast El Mrayer wilderness ; the cliffs of the Dhar Tichitt, guardians of fascinating Neolithic remains ; the paleolakes of the Aouker and their striking diatomite outcrops; the canyons of the Tagant, home to gueltas where crocodiles still survive ; the majestic untouched dunes intertwined within the Amatlich Erg ; and finally, small palm groves offering unexpected pockets of greenery in the midst of this mineral world.
THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE ULTRA :
This is arguably the world's most psychologically demanding ultra-distance cycling race, due to the total isolation and the impossibility of receiving outside assistance (except from the organization in emergency situations).
For hundreds of kilometers, there is not the slightest trace of human presence — no mobile signal, no 4x4 tracks or trails to follow, with only the sand, the wind, and the sky as companions.
Days spent battling on your bike, not against the other competitors but against your own limits, against the silent and indifferent nature, against the wild and unyielding space that surrounds you.
While the total elevation gain remains relatively moderate (less than 5,000 m), the sand provides more than enough challenge. Rainfall is rare in November, although the wind may sometimes become part of the adventure, even if its most intense season generally begins in January.
Here, the true Grail is not victory, but becoming a finisher and seeing the adventure through to the end.
Beyond the mental challenge lies the physical one. Yet difficulty itself is highly personal, as it ultimately depends on the energy you choose to invest with every pedal stroke. Everything comes down to how you manage that effort: success or failure, euphoria or disappointment. Whatever happens, this confrontation in the heart of the Sahara will transform you at the deepest level of your being.
For competitors who may have underestimated the demands of the Trace Nomade, a separate classification may be established for an intermediate event, with a finish line in Tichit, at mile 569. Even if you are registered for the the Big Loop, you will be allowed to stop in Tichit without penalty and be ranked on this intermediate course.
From Tichit, a 4×4 taxi service operates to Tidjikja twice a week. From Tidjikja, minibuses run daily to Atar and Nouakchott.
Every participant must understand that the route includes a 546 mi section without any settlements or oases, as well as a 236 mi stretch without access to water sources.
Before you even think about entering this extraordinary ultra, come back down to earth and ask yourself the right questions : can you handle 546 mi with complete food self-sufficiency ? Are you able to travel 236 mi across sand while being self-sufficient in water ? Can you imagine what it means to travel through the dunes at night, completely off-road, unable to see beyond the beam of your light, with no GPX route, no landmarks to guide you, and not even a single set of 4x4 tracks on the ground to follow ? ...
If, on a typical ultra, your gear weighs around 8 kg, be aware that on the Trace Nomade you will have to carry a load two to three times heavier - mainly for water - comparable to that required for the Iditarod.
AN ELECTRIC FAT BIKE CATEGORY :
For the first time in an ultra-distance event, an electric fat bike category is being introduced to open the Trace Nomade to beginner amateur athletes. However, even if you are new to cycling, this category is intended for participants already experienced in demanding adventures, whether trekking, trail running, or any expeditions in harsh environments.
You will be able to reach higher top speeds than muscle-powered fat bikes, particularly in sand and dunes. In return, you will have to manage an additional factor: stops required for solar recharging. Optimising your battery usage will also require regular pedalling effort.
It’s up to you to define the most effective strategy, for example by driving continuously at night when temperatures are cooler, and taking advantage of the hottest hours, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., to rest while recharging the batteries.
For safety reasons, only fat bikes with pedal assistance limited to 25 km/h (15.5 mph) are permitted. In addition, a speed-limited bike will provide greater range. They may be equipped with either single-wheel drive or two-wheel drive. There is no limit on the number of batteries allowed.
THE ORGANISATION OF THE ULTRA :
For those familiar with it, the format is similar to that of the Tour Divide. This is a fully self-supported event, where you are responsible for managing your own water, food, sleep, mechanical repairs, and navigation on sections where no GPX route guidance is provided.
No organised outside assistance is permitted. The clock never stops, making the management of effort and fatigue just as decisive as physical and psychological abilities.
There are no intermediate cut-offs, no volunteers stationed along the route, no official aid stations, no race marshals, no dedicated medical support, and no follow vehicles. The organisers are not physically present along the course. Riders are solely responsible for their own safety during the event. To allow everyone to fully experience the adventure at their own pace, a time limit of 432 hours is granted to reach the finish line, corresponding to an average of 100 km per 24 hours.
The number of participants is limited to 40 : 35 on traditional (non-electric) fat bikes and 5 on electric fat bikes, and each competitor is assigned an individual start time. The highest-ranked participants will set off first. The objective is for every participant to experience, from the very first moments of the race, the psychological intensity of being alone with themselves and facing the vastness of the Sahara.
The role of the organisation :
- Defining and publishing the race rules
- Providing the official route track
- Publishing rankings and race updates
- Reviewing and ruling on any post-race rule violations
The organisation of the Trace Nomade is intentionally minimalist. It provides a regulatory framework, remote tracking, and result validation, while participants are entirely responsible for all logistical, technical, and safety aspects of their adventure.
It is precisely this lack of support and supervision that makes the Trace Nomade not only an endurance race and an exercise in complete self-sufficiency, but above all a profound psychological and inner challenge*.
However, should a participant become injured, suffer a mechanical failure, lose their way because of a GPS malfunction, or choose to abandon the event, they would be unable to manage the situation independently along 80% of the route, which is located far from any inhabited area — Unless they are comfortable operating in a Saharan environment. In such cases, they must trigger a pre-programmed emergency message via their tracking device to alert the organisation.
A support vehicle will then be dispatched. Response times range from 24 to 72 hours, depending on the location and terrain difficulty. The costs are the responsibility of the participant and will be negotiated by the organization with Mauritanian service providers. Participants should budget approximately €150 per day, in addition to fuel expenses. Fuel consumption typically ranges from 15 to 30 liters per 100 km, depending on the type of terrain encountered, whether fast tracks, sandy terrain, or dunes.
THE ULTRA REGISTRATION PROCESS
There are two ways to register for the Trace Nomade :
- By invitation,
- Through an application process, entries open on March 15, 2027.
A distinguished race résumé is not considered a preferential route to entry.
Trace Nomade is not a race reserved for sporting elites. It is intended for participants who are able to assess their technical, physical, and mental abilities honestly in a remote and demanding environment. The selection process is designed first and foremost to ensure participant safety and to determine whether each applicant's profile matches the event's requirements. Here, sound judgment matters more than speed. The 432-hour time limit to complete the ultra event is precisely intended to make registration accessible both to cycling travelers and adventurers, as well as to athletes specialized in the discipline.
In traditional ultra-cycling, a withdrawal due to mechanical failure or physical breakdown can always happen, but it is usually possible to reach a village or town relatively quickly.
In the heart of the Mauritanian Sahara, a misjudgment of one’s abilities or equipment can turn a simple withdrawal into a genuine safety issue. For this reason, every application will be reviewed carefully.
As part of your application, you will be asked to provide information on several points :
- Your experience in ultra-distance, or self-supported expedition travel, or in any other endurance sport,
- Concrete examples of how you have dealt with unexpected situations (major mechanical failures, navigation challenges, food self-sufficiency, difficult bivouacs, etc.),
- If you have previously practised fasting (water fasting, dry fasting, or intermittent fasting),
- The equipment you intend to use,
- The strategy you plan to implement for sections without water resupply points
You are, of course, welcome to include any additional information that you believe may help us better understand your experience, your preparation, and your motivation for taking the start of the Trace Nomade.
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* Understanding the difference between psychological and psychic difficulties :
- Psychological difficulties mainly concern the conscious, functional mind, related to managing effort and behaviour during the race :
Decreasing motivation (“why am I doing this?”),
Managing doubt (“I’m not going to make it”),
Discipline to keep eating and drinking properly,
Tolerance to discomfort (fatigue, pain),
Mental strategies (setting intermediate goals, breaking the race into sections),
Coping with loneliness,
In summary : this is the ability to stay on track despite difficulty by using conscious mental strategies.
- Psychic difficulties refer to the overall mental state, including deeper and sometimes less controllable dimensions :
Altered mental state due to extreme fatigue (confusion, “mental fog”)
Mild derealisation (feeling “disconnected”)
Hallucinations (common after prolonged sleep deprivation)
Intense emotional fluctuations (euphoria, irritability, despair)
Cognitive overload (difficulty making simple decisions)
Sometimes the emergence or worsening of pre-existing psychological vulnerabilities
In summary: this concerns the overall functioning of the mind, especially when fatigue and physiological stress become extreme.
WHERE THE ROAD DISAPPEARS, ADVENTURE BEGINS
If you do not master the basic mechanics of your bicycle, do not come ; if extreme isolation and silence frighten you, do not come ; if your body is not prepared for periods of limited water, food, and sleep, do not come ; If you can't challenge your own assumptions, do not come ; if you lack strong resilience, do not come ; if you are unable, when necessary, to silence the doubts in your mind and simply keep moving forward, do not come.
Contact :