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 four 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, assess the time required to complete the entire event, and to produce the promotional teaser.
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 : Trace-Nomade [at] ecomail
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 :
- Location: Mauritanian Sahara
- 10 novembrer 2027 (in order to coincide with the full moon on the 14th)
- 1125 miles (99.7% gravel & sand / 0.3% paved roads ; 46% off-trail / 32% route finding (no GPX track))
- Start : Atar / Finish : Terjit - Generous time limit : 432 hours (62 mi per 24 hours)
- Full self-sufficiency (no assistance, no organizer-provided aid stations / only 5 small shops along the route)
- Continuous timing from start to finish, and satellite tracking
- Solo or Pairs Category (Being a pair allows for efficient equipment distribution)
- Non-electric fat bike / Electric fat bike / Non-electric fatbike handcycle / Electric fatbike handcycle
- Ranking : men / women / transgender / pairs male, female, mixed / para-cyclists* / electric / photos
- Registration by application or invitation (Limited to 40 participants)
- 2027 entry fee : Send a photo that inspires you, with a handwritten quote or personal reflection on the back.
* Depending on the type of impairment, athletes in this category may be permitted to have their own support team during the race.
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.
AN ULTRA IN EXTREMELY REMOTE TERRAIN :
This is widely regarded as the most psychologically demanding ultra-distance cycling race in the world. Participants must cope with complete and genuine isolation, with almost no possibility of external local assistance. 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.
The Sahara, unlike any other place, will carry you through its vastness along the hidden paths of your soul.
The event confronts you with six off-road* navigation sections totaling 360 mi, with no GPX track provided. These sections require careful preparation beforehand, including the study of Google Earth satellite imagery to identify the most suitable bearings and routes, to avoid dune fields and difficult rocky areas. This will help you save valuable time and conserve energy throughout the crossing.
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. At times, navigation and instinct will take precedence over physical performance alone.
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.
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 ? ...
Here's a 3-minute short clip of an area of tangled dunes. It's definitely best crossed in daylight!
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.
* The term “off-road” can sometimes be misleading. Here, it refers to moving entirely outside any human-made trace : no roads, no tracks, no paths, not even footpaths. On the Trace Nomade, 95% of the off-piste terrain is highly rideable.
A PARACYCLING CATEGORY :
For the first time in an off-road ultra-distance event, a paracycling category has been introduced - for both muscle-powered and electric bikes - opening the Trace Nomade to athletes with disabilities who share the same spirit of adventure, self-transcendence, and freedom as all the other participants.
- Category C.1 – No Assistance. Participants must be fully self-supported, under the same rules as non-para competitors.
- Category C.2 – Level 1 Assistance. Assistance is permitted only in sections officially designated as requiring competitors to push or carry their bike.
- Category C.3 – Level 2 Assistance. In addition to the assistance permitted in push/carry sections, the support team may also transport the participant's equipment, food, and water, except for the mandatory safety kit, which the participant must carry at all times.
Electric-assist bicycles, which must be speed-limited to 15.5 mph, are divided into only two categories : Ce.1 and Ce.2, the electric equivalents of categories C.1 and C.2, respectively.
AN ELECTRIC FAT BIKE CATEGORY :
For the first time in an ultra-distance event, an electric fatbike category is being introduced to open the Trace Nomade to beginner amateur and resourceful riders. This is a proof of concept, or an experimental edition, designed to develop and refine the concept for future editions. 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.
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.
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*.
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 take part in Trace Nomade :
- By invitation,
- Through an application process, entries open from March 15 to September 30, 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,
- Your strategy for 879 km without resupply.
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.
Registration is free of charge. We simply ask you to send us a photo that inspires you, accompanied on the back by a handwritten quote or a personal reflection.
A €500 deposit is required. Half of it must be paid upon validation of your participation, and the second half no later than one month before the start of the event. Information about the role of the deposit is available here.
WHERE THE ROAD DISAPPEARS, ADVENTURE BEGINS
Click on the image to watch
the presentation video
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.
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 MP 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.
This is not a road ultra like the RAAM. Nor is it an ultra following well-defined tracks and trails like the Silk Road Mountain Race. And it is certainly not a conventional bikepacking ultra where a saddle bag and a handlebar bag are all you need to carry your gear.
Here, you enter a different dimension : that of ultra-exploration. A wild land where self-reliance is paramount, navigation is part of the challenge, and only your determination and carefully selected equipment will see you through to the end of the adventure.
Depending on the nature of the disability, an assistance vehicle may be authorized. For example, a participant using a handbike who is unable to walk may receive appropriate assistance in technical sections where the handbike must be pushed or carried.
Depending on their category, competitors will race either without assistance, with a Level 1 support vehicle, or with a Level 2 support vehicle.
Tested during our latest bikerafting expedition in the Sahara.
Four flexible solar panels and a surfboard mounting system.
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.
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, with individual start times for every rider.
This reflects the true spirit of the Trace Nomade : a race where adventure and self-reliance are at the heart of the experience. From the very first kilometres, every participant will face the vastness of the Sahara and the psychological challenge of complete solitude.
There is no group effect here. No one will be there to guide you through navigation sections, motivate you during difficult moments, or help you solve problems along the route. Every decision, every mistake, and every success is yours alone.
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.
On this final point, it will be impossible to carry, on this section, the calories required to maintain a competitive pace. You will therefore need to switch to bicycle touring mode to preserve your energy. The question is whether your mind will accept this decision…
DIFFICULTY AND CLIMATE ON THE TRACE NOMADE :
Being objective, the Trace Nomade — within its 432-hour time limit — is accessible to all cyclists and “Sunday athletes” who are normally fit and at least somewhat motivated. Note: Sunday athlete, not Sunday stroller. There are 52 Sundays in a year, so 52 sports outings represent a reasonable baseline. Of course, this is completely insufficient if you aim to finish the ultra in under a week.
While being a casual weekend cyclist is physically sufficient, the Trace Nomade may require considerable mental resilience, heightened by the isolation and absolute solitude of the unforgiving Sahara :
- Resilience : the ability to bounce back after difficulty.
- Perseverance : continuing despite fatigue, obstacles, or doubt.
- Self-confidence : believing in your ability to succeed or find solutions.
- Self-control : managing emotions, impulses, and stress.
- Adaptability : adjusting to unexpected situations.
- Patience : accepting that some things take time.
- Determination : staying focused on a goal.
- Autonomy : making decisions and acting without relying on others.
- Tolerance to discomfort : enduring fatigue, uncertainty, solitude, or harsh conditions.
- Realistic optimism : staying confident while remaining clear-sighted.
If the psychological aspect is merely a formality for you, there is only one remaining barrier: becoming resourceful and mastering improvisation (“systems D”) to get out of difficult situations with almost nothing. A real MacGyver, in short.
For example, your freehub fails 200 kilometres from the nearest oasis, and your pedals just spin without driving the wheel. A makeshift repair is to lash the largest sprocket to the spokes using wire passed through the small holes in the sprocket. This should get you home, provided you pedal gently to avoid bending the spokes or the sprocket.
Finally, you must adopt a pragmatic approach, be organized, and be particularly rigorous in selecting your equipment. Some people start an ultra without spare spokes or patches — why not for a TCR... — but on the Trace Nomade, off-road and hundreds of kilometers from any inhabited area, that would, at the very least, be playing with fire.
What kind of terrain will you encounter :
- Elevation gain is almost negligible: about 5,000 m of ascent over 1,810 km of route.
- Sand makes up nearly 80% of the itinerary, but remains relatively firm and rideable in 90% of cases.
- True complex dune fields account for less than 5% of the loop.
- Longitudinal dune ridges rarely exceed 10 meters in height and can all be bypassed within a few hundred meters.
- Sections requiring you to push the bike are very limited outside the dunes, with only a few short passages in certain canyons, not exceeding 200 meters.
What kind of climate will you encounter in November :
- Transient winds between 15 and 25 km/h, dominant NE–SW direction (stronger from December to February).
- Temperatures between 15°C at night and 34°C during the day.
- Almost no rain (rainy season is between June and September).
* 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.
Contact :