22–25 May 2027
L'Échappée
Paris to London | Gravel Ultra | Self-Supported
Two cities. Two velodromes. One rather audacious way home.
A self-supported gravel ultra from the Vélodrome Jacques Anquetil in Paris to Herne Hill Velodrome in south London. Approximately 550 kilometres across northern France and southeast England — with a Channel crossing under sail in the middle.
Velodrome to velodrome. By gravel and sail.
Entries open 1 September 2026 — Limited to 24 riders
The Ride
From La Cipale, the route escapes Paris through the Bois de Vincennes and heads north. Forest roads, riverside trails and the long open tracks of Picardy carry it toward the coast.
There will be long stretches where the kilometres come easily. But 550 kilometres is still 550 kilometres. Where you stop, how long you sleep and whether you reach Boulogne in time for your sailing will be up to you.
After the crossing, the route restarts in Dover and crosses Kent and the North Downs before the final kilometres bring it back through south London to the finish inside Herne Hill Velodrome.
The Route
The final route is approximately 550 km. Full distance, climbing and surface details will be confirmed after the recce. The GPX file will be supplied to all riders before the event.
The Channel Crossing
The crossing is part of the adventure, not an interruption to it.
At Boulogne-sur-Mer, riders and bikes board SailLink for the crossing to Dover under sail. The journey takes around four to five hours, depending on wind and conditions.
The crossing is neutralised. Your French riding time ends at the Boulogne check-in; your British time begins when you leave Dover. Time at sea is not counted. The two times are combined for your result.
Your tracker stays active throughout. Dot-watchers can follow the full journey — land, sea, and land again.
Dover to Herne Hill
From Dover, the route crosses Kent and the North Downs through familiar Hidden Tracks territory before the final kilometres bring it home to Herne Hill Velodrome.
Fast — But Not Easy
This is not the relentless broken ground and accumulated brutality of The Wrecker. The trails through northern France are quicker, more open and less technical. There will be plenty of places where you can settle into a rhythm and watch the kilometres disappear.
That does not make it easy. You will need to manage more than 500 kilometres of riding, unpredictable surfaces, changing weather, food, navigation, mechanicals and sleep. You will also have a sailing to reach.
The fastest riders may treat it as one long breakaway. Others will divide it into three or four substantial days. The challenge is not simply following the route. It is deciding how you are going to ride it.
Self-Supported
There is no support vehicle, no luggage transfer and nobody waiting around the corner with your preferred energy gel. You are responsible for your bike, navigation, food, water, accommodation, mechanicals and reaching the sailing check-in on time.
You may use shops, cafés, hotels and bike shops available equally to every rider. Friends and personal support crews must not provide assistance along the route.
L'Échappée is for riders comfortable with:
- Riding long distances on consecutive days
- Navigating from a GPX file
- Riding alone and after dark
- Finding food, water and somewhere to sleep
- Dealing with routine mechanical problems
- Making sensible decisions when plans change
What's Included
- SailLink Channel crossing, Boulogne-sur-Mer to Dover
- Paris to Herne Hill GPX route
- Individual GPS tracker and live tracking map
- Digital rider guide
- Pre-event rider briefing
- Event number
- Results based on combined French and British riding times
- Finish inside Herne Hill Velodrome
Travel to Paris, food, accommodation, insurance and travel home after withdrawal are not included. A refundable tracker deposit of £150 is payable on entry or two weeks before the event.
The Wrecker is a route you survive.
L'Échappée is a route you chase.
550 kilometres. Three or four days. Paris to London by gravel and sail.
Entries open 1 September 2026 — 24 places only
FAQs
When do entries open for L'Échappée?
Entries open on 1 September 2026 and close on 21 April 2027. The field is limited to 24 riders. We expect L'Échappée to sell out quickly — express your interest now to be notified the moment entries go live.
What is the entry fee and what does it include?
The entry fee is £250 per rider. This includes your SailLink Channel crossing from Boulogne-sur-Mer to Dover, the Paris to Herne Hill GPX route, individual GPS tracker, live tracking map, digital rider guide, pre-event briefing, event number and your finish inside Herne Hill Velodrome.
Travel to Paris, food, accommodation, insurance and travel home after withdrawal are not included.
What is the tracker deposit?
A refundable deposit of £150 is required for every rider's GPS tracker. You can pay this at the time of entry or defer it to two weeks before the event — whichever works best for you. The deposit is refunded once your tracker is returned at Herne Hill Velodrome or via the supplied return envelope.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations made more than one month before the event start date (22 May 2027) will receive a partial refund of the entry fee minus an administration charge. Cancellations made within one month of the event are non-refundable.
The tracker deposit is refundable at any point provided the tracker is returned in good condition.
What kind of event is L'Échappée?
L'Échappée is a self-supported gravel ultra from Paris to London, covering approximately 550 kilometres across northern France and southeast England. Riders start at the Vélodrome Jacques Anquetil in Paris, cross the Channel from Boulogne-sur-Mer to Dover under sail with SailLink, and finish at Herne Hill Velodrome in south London. It is one of the few bikepacking events in Europe to include a sailing crossing as part of the route.
Is L'Échappée a race?
It is a timed gravel ultra rather than a mass-start race. Riders leave Paris and make their own way north at their own pace. Combined riding times — French leg plus British leg — are recorded for results. The crossing time is neutralised and does not count.
The fastest riders may complete it as one long effort. Others will take three or four days, sleeping along the route. How you ride it is up to you.
How difficult is the Paris to London gravel route?
L'Échappée is designed to move. The gravel roads through northern France are generally open and fast compared to more technical UK routes. There will be long sections where you can find a rhythm and cover ground quickly.
That said, 550 kilometres across two countries with a sailing to catch is not a casual ride. Riders need to be comfortable with long days in the saddle, self-navigation, overnight riding and making decisions when tired. Full climbing and surface details will be confirmed after the route recce.
How does the Channel crossing work?
At Boulogne-sur-Mer, riders check in and board SailLink for the crossing to Dover under sail. The journey takes approximately four to five hours depending on wind and tide. The crossing is neutralised — your French riding time stops at the Boulogne check-in and your British time starts in Dover. Time at sea does not count toward your result.
Your GPS tracker stays active throughout, so dot-watchers can follow the complete journey from Paris to Herne Hill — including the crossing.
What happens if I miss my sailing?
Each rider is allocated one of two sailings. SailLink can carry 12 riders and bikes per crossing. If you miss your allocated sailing — due to mechanical problems, illness or any other reason — you will need to make your own way across the Channel independently.
The most practical alternative is to ride to Calais and take the standard ferry to Dover. A foot passenger and bike ticket typically costs around £35 and is purchased on the day. This cost is not included in the entry fee.
Your tracker remains active and your British riding time will begin from Dover as normal. Full contingency guidance will be issued in the pre-event rider briefing.
How do I get my bike to Paris from London without a bike box?
The most straightforward option for cyclists travelling with an assembled gravel bike is the ferry and train route via Calais. You cannot take an assembled bike on Eurostar. The ferry and TER train route is reliable, well-used by cyclists and takes a full day. Here is how it works:
- Catch a domestic train from London to Dover (approximately 1h 20m from London St Pancras or Victoria).
- Ride from Dover train station to Dover Eastern Docks — around 2km.
- Buy a walk-on foot passenger and bike ferry ticket to Calais at the port. Expect to pay approximately £35 each way. No advance booking required.
- On arrival in Calais, cyclists are escorted out of the port by a port vehicle. Follow the escort and then ride independently to Calais Ville station — around 3km through the town centre.
- Take the TER regional train from Calais Ville to Paris Gare du Nord. Assembled bikes are accepted free of charge on the K16 line — a mandatory (but free) bike reservation is required. Book ahead via SNCF Connect or at the station.
- Journey time from Calais Ville to Paris Gare du Nord is approximately 1h 50m to 3h depending on the service. There are around six departures per day, with the first at approximately 05:05 and the last around 20:14.
- From Paris Gare du Nord, ride or navigate to the start at Vélodrome Jacques Anquetil — approximately 13km across the city.
Allow a full day for the journey. We recommend travelling the day before the event start to allow time to register, collect your tracker and get some rest.
What bike do I need for a Paris to London gravel ultra?
A gravel bike with 38mm+ tyres is recommended. The route through northern France uses forest roads, farm tracks, old railway lines and open agricultural trails — surfaces that reward a capable gravel setup rather than a road bike. The British leg crosses Kent and the North Downs on a mix of gravel tracks and quiet lanes.
Your bike should be in good mechanical condition before you start. There is no event mechanic and no support vehicle. Full route and surface details will be confirmed after the recce.
Is there live tracking for dot-watchers?
Yes. Every rider carries an individual GPS tracker from the start in Paris to the finish at Herne Hill Velodrome. Friends, family and anyone following from home can watch live progress across northern France, through the Channel crossing and into London. A link to the live tracking map will be published before the event.
Is L'Échappée suitable for first-time bikepacking events?
L'Échappée is aimed at experienced gravel riders and bikepackers who are already comfortable riding long distances unsupported. If you are looking for your first multi-day gravel event, it may be worth building experience on shorter self-supported rides before entering.
You should be comfortable navigating from a GPX file, riding alone and after dark, sourcing food and accommodation independently and handling routine mechanical problems without support.