M A U R I T A N I EL'AVENTURE EN LIBERTÉ

ULTRA SCOUTING & INFORMATION

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 free of charge 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
• 15 Novembrer 2027
• 1125 miles - including 517 of absolute OFF-ROAD riding, and only 3 mi of tarmac
• Star Atar / Finish Terjit
• Continuous timing from start to finish
• Solo or team of two
• Registration by email reply
• 2027 entry fee : € 1.50

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).

Hundreds of kilometres without a single sign of human presence, without roads, tracks, or trails to follow, with only the sand, the wind, and the sky as your 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, 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.

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.

From Tichit, a 4×4 taxi service operates to Tidjikja twice a week. From Tidjikja, minibuses run daily to Atar and Nouakchott.

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 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.

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 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 cut-off times, 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.

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 competition and a psychological battle, but also a test of absolute self-sufficiency.

However, if a participant is injured, suffers a mechanical failure, gets lost due to GPS malfunction, or decides to abandon the race, they will not be able to manage the situation alone across approximately 80% of the route, which lies beyond any inhabited area. 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. All costs are borne by the participant, at a rate of approximately €80 per day plus fuel expenses, negotiated by the organisation with Mauritanian service providers.

Read the Commitment Charter

Read the Race Rules

GOING FURTHER

What you must carry with you :

• A SPOT, inReach, or similar satellite tracker (GPS tracking device)
• A second backup beacon*
• A GPS device to download and follow the GPX route (e.g. COROS DURA for autonomy)
• A bivy shelter to protect against scorpions and horned vipers (very rare in winter, but once is enough)
• A certified helmet
• Powerful lighting, preferably dynamo-powered
• A first-aid kit and survival blanket
• A 3-liter CamelBak as emergency reserve (in addition to your main water supply) for the 380 km section without water points
• A phone or GoPro to record your thoughts and emotions at selected checkpoints**

* In particularly exceptional conditions, an adapted solution is required. A second SPOT or inReach device is essential for your safety in case your primary tracker fails, especially in the 236 mi section where you will navigate by heading alone, without a GPX track allowing the organisation to locate you.

If you cannot borrow one, a tracking device costs between €150 and €300 to rent for four weeks.

** As the entry fee is almost symbolic, we ask participants to take a few seconds to record their emotional state at key points along the route, or whenever they feel the need.

What you must do during the Trace Nomade :

• Drink a minimum of 100 ml per hour. This is an absolute survival minimum under low-intensity effort.
• Take electrolytes to improve water retention in your body.

You will only be able to recharge your devices in Atar, Tichit, and N’Beika. Make sure to bring a solar charger and a power bank, especially if you are not using a COROS DURA or a dynamo system.