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

MY REVIEW OF LA TRACE NOMADE

I find this event exceptional in its concept, probably far more interesting than a classic ultra-gravel race, but it must be approached as a true Saharan expedition—not simply as a bike race.

The figure of 1,125 mi is almost misleading. The real challenge lies in the combination of :

• Approximately 80% sand, although the organizers specify that it is rideable for the vast majority of the route ;
• 360 mi of off-road navigation with no GPX track ;
• Up to 236 mi without access to water ;
• 546 mi without any settlement or oasis ;
• No organized resupply ;
• No outside assistance permitted ;
• No human presence along large sections of the route ;
• Full self-management of water, food, sleep, mechanical repairs, and navigation.

And it is precisely this combination that makes the race unique.

WHAT I PARTICULARLY LIKE

The concept is extremely coherent.

The organization is not trying to turn the Sahara into a controlled, fully secured race course. It accepts that participants must be self-sufficient and capable of handling themselves. The individual start, satellite tracking, the absence of a peloton, the off-GPX sections, and the limit of 40 participants all point in the same direction.

I also really like the fact that the Trace Nomade seems to want to reclaim the right not to go fast. With 432 hours available, it is possible to adopt a relatively steady and controlled pace. The organization itself says that selection favors clear thinking and sound judgment rather than speed.

In my view, the real competition is against the terrain, the equipment, and yourself.

And the 360 mi without a GPX track are, for me, the heart of the event. You will genuinely need to know how to read the desert, plan your navigation, choose between different routes, and sometimes accept riding a few extra kilometers in order to save a huge amount of energy.

WHERE I FIND THE AUTHENTIC PROJECT

The difficulty isn’t artificial.

This is an important point. Many “extreme” events create difficulty through elevation gain, carrying heavy loads, or absurd time cut-offs. Here, the difficulty comes from the environment itself :

• Managing the right amount of water depending on the distance between wells. Water is, to me, the true heart of the challenge. It becomes a strategic variable, just like sleep and navigation ;
• Knowing how to find the best lines off-road ;
• Deciding when to ride and when to sleep ; 
• Dealing with mechanical issues ;
• Managing energy for electronics ;
• Accepting that progress will be slow in certain areas ;
• Making a rational decision when the situation starts to deteriorate.

To me, this is far more interesting than simply being a race of watts. La Trace Nomade also emphasizes that the opponent isn’t necessarily the other competitors, but the environment and the decisions you make yourself.

WHAT SEEMS DIFFICULT TO ME — AND NOT NECESSARILY WHERE YOU MIGHT EXPECT

In my view, anyone who looks at La Trace Nomade and focuses primarily on the 1,810 km is missing the point. I don’t think the distance is the main challenge.

The organizers themselves point to a relatively modest amount of elevation gain (5,000 m), fairly manageable temperatures (15–34°C in November), and note that 90% of the sand remains rideable.

The real challenge will be more about :
water + load + sleep + sand + navigation + mechanics + decision-making.

It is a system in which a small mistake can have disproportionate consequences.

A poorly repaired puncture, a bad line through the dunes, a miscalculation of your water needs, or a few poorly managed hours of sleep can cost you far more than a few hundred extra watts on the bike.

WHERE I WOULD PUT A BIG CAUTION SIGN

Safety.

The organization is very transparent about this: depending on a participant's location and the terrain, it can take 24 to 48 hours for an assistance vehicle to reach someone in difficulty, and the cost of the intervention is the participant's responsibility. There are no doctors on the course, no support vehicles following the riders, no volunteers, and no aid stations.

So the right mindset is absolutely not :

"I'll set off, and if something goes wrong, rescue will come."

It is :

"I need to be able to manage a deteriorating situation on my own for long enough for rescue to reach me."

That is a fundamental difference.

And ultimately, I find it rather reassuring that the charter and regulations are so explicit about this: the organization is not selling participants a false sense of security. It clearly tells them what they are signing up for.

WHAT REALLY CONVINCES ME

After analyzing the four pages, I don't think this is a "crazy" race that has been put together lightly.

On the contrary, the project seems thoughtful and coherent with its ambitions.

The reconnaissance missions planned for late 2026 are intended, among other things, to finalize the route, check the water points, validate the sections without GPX tracks, and identify the areas where riders will have to push their bikes.

The application-based selection process also makes sense: the organization asks candidates about their experience, how they deal with unexpected situations, their equipment, and their strategies for long sections without water or resupply.

And the fact that there is an intermediate exit point in Tichit at mi 569 seems very smart to me: someone can experience a huge adventure without feeling psychologically compelled to continue all the way to the finish at any cost.

The “First Ultra” category, as well as the photo ranking, give the impression that the organizers want to create an adventure that isn’t exclusively about competition. I think that’s a very good idea.

The photo ranking is particularly telling: you can take part simply to experience something, not just to chase a time.

And the option of racing as a duo, drawing on each other’s complementary strengths, can be a real advantage in an event where navigation, off-trail terrain, and isolation are at the heart of the adventure.

MY CONCLUSION IN ONE SENTENCE

La Trace Nomade strikes me as an extraordinary ultracycling adventure, provided you absolutely do not approach it as just another ultra race.

What i think is excellent :

• An exceptional setting ;
• A clearly identifiable concept ;
• Genuine self-sufficiency ;
• Navigation that is truly integrated into the challenge ;
• A time limit that allows for an adventurous rather than purely sporting approach ;
• A small number of participants ;
• A relatively inclusive philosophy ;
• A two-person category ;
• The inclusion of handbikes ;
• A genuine emphasis on preparation and real self-sufficiency.

I would rate it :

• Concept : 10/10
• Originality : 10/10
• Sporting challenge : 9/10
• Adventure : 10/10
• Navigation / self-sufficiency : 10/10
• Mental challenge : 10/10
• Logistical challenge : 10/10
• Risk : high in the event of an accident, with medical assistance potentially taking up to 48 hours to reach you

If I had to summarize the ideal participant profile, it wouldn't necessarily be "a powerhouse."

It would be someone patient, resilient, methodical, self-sufficient, a good mechanic, a good navigator, able to sleep and get back on the bike, able to change their plan without ego, and above all, able to know when to keep going and when to stop.

That's probably what I like most about this event : it rewards the intelligence of adventure more than pure performance.

And, very honestly, after analyzing the presentation pages, if I had to choose an ultra to experience a truly extraordinary adventure rather than simply rack up the kilometers, this one would be very high on my list.

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