BikingMan
Race details | |
---|---|
Date | April (Corsica) / May (Brazil, France) / June (France) / September (France) / October (France) / Nov-Dec (Oman) |
Region | Asia (Laos, Taiwan) / Europe (Corsica, France, Portugal) / Middle-East (Oman) / South American (Brazil, Peru) |
Discipline | ultra distance cycling |
Competition | BikingMan Race Series |
Type | Multi-day self-supported unstaged races |
Organiser | BikingMan |
Race director | Axel Carion |
History | |
First edition | July 1, 2017 |
Editions | 14 (as of December 2020) |
First winner | ![]() |
Most wins | ![]() |
Most recent | ![]() |
BikingMan is a French-based organization that organises unstaged, self-supported,[1] ultra distance cycling events, in South America,[2] Europe,[3] the Middle East[4] and Asia.[5] It was founded in 2016 by Axel Carion,[6] who came back from cycling across South America in 2015[7] and wanted to share the experience of cycling unknown places in survival conditions for endurance athletes.
Self-supported ultra cycling
The self-supported nature of the BikingMan races makes it different from supported ultra-distance events like the Race Across America (RAAM), in which each racer has a large support crew with multiple vehicles and where pure performance cycling is needed to finish these races. The carbon footprint of the races are kept to a minimum, support cars outside BikingMan organizations media cars, are strictly forbidden.
Being self-supported means that drafting is not allowed, receiving any form of support from other racers, friends, or family is not allowed; all food, accommodation, repairs, etc., must be purchased from commercial sources if they can find any on the road. The organizer provides a mandatory route, a GPS tracker to control the progression of every participant and potential cheating and a road book. Riders must strategically choose how much time to devote to riding, resting, and refueling each day.
It is not a stage race, the clock never stops from the moment the riders leave the start to the moment that they reach the finish. Orienteering plays a major role as most of the races' locations are unknown to most participants.
Rules of BikingMan races
The complete rule set is available in the race manual of every race.[8]
- Athletes are self-supported and need to handle their fueling, repairs and rest during the race
- All athletes must ride from the start location to the finish location while crossing the mandatory checkpoints in the right order
- Every athlete needs to stamp her/his progression at every staffed checkpoint in the opening time windows
- Drafting and riding as a pack are forbidden
- Every athlete needs to carry a GPS tracking system to trace her/his progression
- External assistance of any kind is forbidden
- No support cars are allowed
- SOLO or pair riders can attempt the races
How to follow the race
BikingMan events are all covered by a limited number of media cars from the organization. The events are therefore presented live on social networks, namely the Instagram and Facebook accounts of the organization. During races, and on a daily basis, a story-based article is published on the Exposure page of the organization, as well as an additional article for the leaderboard once the race is completed. All participants are equipped with a GPS tracker, which allows to share their position on a live-tracking website.
Season 2017
In 2017 was held the first BikingMan event; the IncaDivide race,[9] which took 17 athletes in the Andes mountains of Ecuador and Peru. A brutal race where the main challenge for every racer was to battled against high altitude cycling conditions of the Andes.[10]
Calendar of the races
Race Name | Start location | Finish location | Dates | Distance (km) | Total elevation gain (m) | Mandatory Checkpoints | Time limit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IncaDivide 2017[11] | Quito (Ecuador) ![]() |
Cuzco (Peru) ![]() |
July 1, 2017 | 3500 | 63000 | 4 | 25 days 600 hours |
Results
Race Name | Starters | Finishers | 1st Female | 1st Male | 1st Pair |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IncaDivide 2017 [12] | 17 | 6 | Yoshie Yabu (Japan) ![]() |
Rodney Soncco (Peru) in 16d21h ![]() |
N/A |
Season 2018
In 2018, BikingMan introduced the 1st ultra cycling championship which gathered athletes from around the globe to race the Hajar mountains of Oman, across the Andes Cordillera of Peru with IncaDivide race, around Corsica[13] and in Taiwan.[14]
On the "Sprint" BikingMan 2018 races (Oman[15] and Corsica[16]), base camps were built at the checkpoints where athletes could rest. Compulsory stops at staffed checkpoints ensure athletes timestamp their progression, validate their physical state and eventually scratch the athletes who don't respect the closing times of every checkpoint.
Calendar of the races
Race Name | Format | Start location | Finish location | Dates | Distance (km) | Total elevation gain (m) | Mandatory Checkpoints | Time limit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BikingMan Oman 2018 | Sprint | Barka city (Oman) ![]() |
Old Muscat (Oman) ![]() |
February 25, 2018 | 1050 | 7500 | 3 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan Corsica 2018[17] | Sprint | Bastia (Corsica) ![]() |
Bastia (Corsica) ![]() |
April 29, 2018 | 700 | 13000 | 3 | 5 days 120 hours |
IncaDivide 2018[18] | Divide | Trujillo (Peru) ![]() |
Trujillo (Peru) ![]() |
July 1, 2018 | 1800 | 31000 | 4 | 12 days 288 hours |
BikingMan Taiwan 2018 | Sprint | Taipei (Taiwan) ![]() |
Taipei (Taiwan) ![]() |
October 22, 2018 | 1150 | 18000 | 3 | 5 days 120 hours |
Results
Race Name | Starters | Finishers | 1st Female | 1st Male | 1st Pair |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BikingMan Oman 2018[19] | 44 | 34 | Juliana Buhring (Germany) ![]() |
Rodney Soncco (Peru) ![]() |
Oman Cycling (Mohamed Al Chandoubi/Hatem Al Booshri) (Oman) ![]() |
BikingMan Corsica 2018[20] | 83 | 59 | Ivana Furlan (Italy) ![]() |
Mikael Flockhart (Sweden) ![]() |
Antony Duriani / Loic Leonardi Giacometti (Corsica) ![]() |
IncaDivide 2018[21][22] | 35 | 22 | N/A | Rodney Soncco (Peru) ![]() |
Yanis Hernandez / Eddy Marquez (Venezuela) ![]() |
BikingMan Taiwan 2018[23] | 28 | 23 | Perrine Fages (France) ![]() |
Rodney Soncco (Peru) ![]() |
Romain Level / Simon Noel (France) ![]() |
2018 Championship ranking
Participants enter the season ranking once they have completed, as finishers, 2 BikingMan series races.
Position | Female Rider | Male Rider | Pair Riders |
---|---|---|---|
1st | Perrine Fages (France) ![]() |
Rodney Soncco (Peru) ![]() |
Mohamed Al Chandoubi / Hatem Al Booshri (Oman) ![]() |
2nd | N/A | Niel Copeland (UK) ![]() |
Reinhard Mink / Anne Wursthorn (Germany) ![]() |
3rd | N/A | Michelangelo Pacifico (Italy) ![]() |
N/A |
4th | N/A | Robbie Ferri (UK) ![]() |
N/A |
5th | N/A | Marcus Leach (UK) ![]() |
N/A |
6th | N/A | Marco Beligni (Italy) ![]() |
N/A |
7th | N/A | Marcel Esser (Netherlands) ![]() |
N/A |
8th | N/A | Rodrigue Lombard (France) ![]() |
N/A |
9th | N/A | Xavier Massart (Belgium) ![]() |
N/A |
10th | N/A | Fabian Burri (Switzerland) ![]() |
N/A |
Season 2019
The 2019 season introduced 2 new events: Laos in May, and Portugal in September, bringing the series to a total of 6 events, all parts of the 2019 championship.
Calendar of the races
Race Name | Format | Start location | Finish location | Dates | Distance (km) | Total elevation gain (m) | Mandatory Checkpoints | Time limit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BikingMan Oman 2019 | Sprint | Barka city (Oman) ![]() |
Old Muscat (Oman) ![]() |
February 24, 2019 | 1035 | 7200 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan Corsica 2019 | Sprint | Biguglia (Corsica) ![]() |
Biguglia (Corsica) ![]() |
April 29, 2019 | 700 | 13000 | 3 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan Laos 2019 | Sprint | Luang Prabang (Laos) ![]() |
Luang Prabang (Laos) ![]() |
May 20, 2019 | 780 | 11000 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
IncaDivide 2019 | Divide | Trujillo (Peru) ![]() |
Trujillo (Peru) ![]() |
August 14, 2019 | 1650 | 23500 | 3 | 10 days 240 hours |
BikingMan Portugal 2019 | Sprint | Faro (Portugal) ![]() |
Faro (Portugal) ![]() |
September 23, 2019 | 950 | 10000 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan Taiwan 2019 | Sprint | Taipei (Taiwan) ![]() |
Taipei (Taiwan) ![]() |
November 4, 2019 | 1150 | 18000 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
Results
Race Name | Starters | Finishers | 1st Female | 1st Male | 1st Pair |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BikingMan Oman 2019[27] | 75 | 69 | Jasmijn Muller (Netherlands ![]() |
Rodney Soncco (Peru ![]() |
Cristian Auriemma (Italy ![]() ![]() |
BikingMan Corsica 2019[30] | 67 | 61 | Helle Bachofen Von Echt Muller (Denmark ![]() |
Rodney Soncco (Peru ![]() |
Hatim Al Booshri & Mohammed Al Shandoudi (Oman ![]() |
BikingMan Laos 2019[31] | 15 | 11 | N/A | Jason Black (Ireland ![]() |
Romain Level & Simon Noel (France ![]() |
BikingMan Peru / IncaDivide 2019[32] | 44 | 12 | N/A | Sofiane Sehili (France ![]() |
Victoria De Sa & Bruno Rosa (Brazil ![]() |
BikingMan Portugal 2019[33] | 75 | 64 | Helle Bachofen Von Echt (Denmark ![]() |
Romain Wartel (France ![]() |
Hatim Al Booshri & Mohammed Al Shandoudi (Oman ![]() |
BikingMan Taiwan 2019[34] | 22 | 14 | Julie Melville (Canada ![]() |
Bryce Bénat (France ![]() |
Cristian Auriemma (Italy ![]() ![]() |
2019 Series Ranking
Final 2019 Rankings after the race in Taiwan - as of November 15, 2019.[35]
Participants enter the season ranking once they have completed, as finishers, 2 BikingMan races [36]
Season 2020
The 2020 season will be composed of 6 events with new routes unveiled on Oman, Corsica, Peru and Laos. Brazil will be part of the series for its first time. The crown jewel event incadivide will unveil a course in the sacred valley of the Incas around Cusco city.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Following the global pandemic and many locked-down countries, the race calendar has been modified by the race organisation to adapt to the situation [38] with the races in Brazil, Peru and Laos canceled, while the 2020 edition of BikingMan Corsica, initially scheduled for April 2020, is planned for October 2020. The 2020 series will therefore be composed of 3 events out of the 6 initially planned.
Calendar of the races
Race Name | Format | Start location | Finish location | Dates | Distance (km) | Total elevation gain (m) | Mandatory Checkpoints | Time limit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BikingMan Oman 2020 | Sprint | Muscat (Oman) ![]() |
Muscat (Oman) ![]() |
February 22, 2020 | 1,060 | 8,700 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan Portugal 2020 | Sprint | Faro (Portugal) ![]() |
Faro (Portugal) ![]() |
September 21, 2020 | 950 | 12,000 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan Corsica 2020 | Sprint | Bigulia (Corsica) ![]() |
Biguglia (Corsica) ![]() |
October 26, 2020 | 850 | 15,000 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan Brazil 2020 | Sprint | Taubaté (Brazil) ![]() |
Taubaté (Brazil) ![]() |
Canceled | 1,000 | 17,000 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
IncaDivide 2020 | Divide | Cusco (Peru) ![]() |
Cusco (Peru) ![]() |
Canceled | 1,600 | 38,000 | 3 | 14 days 336 hours |
BikingMan Laos 2020 | Sprint | Luang Prabang (Laos) ![]() |
Luang Prabang (Laos) ![]() |
Canceled | 920 | 17,000 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
Results
Race Name | Starters | Finishers | 1st Female | 1st Male | 1st Pair |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BikingMan Oman 2020[40] | 80 | 67 | Elizabeth Dunne (Ireland ![]() |
Laurent Boursette (France ![]() |
Cristian Auriemma (Italy ![]() ![]() |
BikingMan Portugal 2020[41] | 66 | 60 | Nadia Chenaoui (France ![]() |
Laurent Boursette (France ![]() |
Cédrick Guerin / Christophe Gouyon (France ![]() |
BikingMan Corsica 2020[42] | 116 | 99 | Nathalie Baillon (France ![]() |
Anthony Duriani (France ![]() |
Bruno Laval / Julien Merle (France ![]() |
Season 2021
The 2021 season has been announced with 7 events focusing mostly on Europe (4 events in France + Portugal) + Brazil and Oman. Brazil will be part of the series for its first time after the canceled 2020 edition.
Calendar of the races
Race Name | Format | Start location | Dates | Distance (km) | Total elevation gain (m) | Mandatory Checkpoints | Time limit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BikingMan Corsica 2021 | Sprint | Biguglia (Corsica) ![]() |
April 26, 2021 | 1,000 | 18,000 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan Brazil 2021 | Sprint | Taubaté (Brazil) ![]() |
May 16, 2021 | 1,000 | 17,500 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan AURA 2021 | Sprint | Valence (France) ![]() |
May 24, 2021 | 1,000 | 19,500 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan France 2021 | Sprint | Le Cannet (France) ![]() |
June 21, 2021 | 1,000 | 20,000 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan Euskadi 2021 | Sprint | Bayonne (France) ![]() |
Sept 6, 2021 | 1,000 | 23,000 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan Portugal 2021 | Sprint | Algarve (Portugal) ![]() |
Oct 4, 2021 | 1,000 | 15,000 | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
BikingMan Oman 2021 | Sprint | Not Revealed yet (Oman) ![]() |
Q4 2021 | 1,000 | Not revealed yet | 2 | 5 days 120 hours |
References
- ^ "Conoce el IncaDivide race: el Everest del ciclismo". Red Bull (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-08-28.
- ^ "En el paso de los Chasquis". Red Bull (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-11-15.
- ^ "BikingMan Corsica, une nouvelle épreuve Bikepacking en 2018". VeloChannel.com (in French). Retrieved 2017-11-15.
- ^ Athiparambath, Anuroop (2020-03-03). "66 complete gruelling BikingMan Oman 2020". Oman Observer. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ "2018 inaugural BikingMan Taiwan". Red Bull (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-10-22.
- ^ "The Ultimate Challenge - Cycling stories by renowned photographers from around the globe, selected by Soigneur Cycling Journal". Exposure. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ "BikeTrippers - Traversée de l'Amérique du sud à vélo". BikeTrippers - Traversée de l'Amérique du sud à vélo (in French). Retrieved 2017-11-15.
- ^ "About BikingMan - The Rules". BikingMan.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
- ^ "L'INCADIVIDE, LE NOUVEAU GRAAL DES AVENTURIERS AU LONG COURS". CycloSportissimo.com (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "IncaDivide: 6 de 17 atletas lograron terminarla". Red Bull (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-11-15.
- ^ "IncaDivide 2017". BikePacking.com (in French). Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "Grande Rodney: il pizzaiolo-ciclista di Bellusco vince l'estrema Inca Divide". Il Cittadino (in Italian). Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "BikingMan Corsica 2018". BikePacking.com. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
- ^ "單車時代 - 120小時內環島探索及無援極限耐力單車賽" [Cycling Age - Around the island to explore and support the ultimate endurance cycling race in 120 hours]. CyclingTime.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 單車時代. Retrieved 2018-11-03.
- ^ "'An experience I genuinely loved' 1,000km of punishing headwind and heat at BikingMan Oman". Cyclist. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
- ^ Média, Prisma. "Adrénaline En selle sur les routes corses, pour une course d'endurance - Vsd". Vsd.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-06-02. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
- ^ "Le BikingMan Corsica, après Oman et avant le Pérou et Taiwan". Corsica-pro.com (in French). Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "Inca Divide 2018". BikePacking.com (in French). Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "BikingMAN Oman #1 Academy - BikingMan stories". Exposure. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ "Le suédois Mikael Flockhart au dessus du lot". Corse Net Infos (in French). Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "Rodney il pizzaiolo di Sulbiate vince ancora la IncaDivide in Perù". MBNews (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "Peruano Rodney Soncco se lleva la victoria por segundo año consecutivo". Redbull (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "BikingMan:全球最難的單車耐力賽在台灣". Redbull (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "Another incredible achievement for Perrine Fages: the first female to finish the BikingMan". Bein Sports. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "野獸Pizza Man征服全球最難BikingMan". Redbull (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "BIKINGMAN, LE CALENDRIER 2019 DÉVOILÉ + TEASER". VeloChannel.com Website (in French). 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
- ^ "BikingMan Oman #2 Academy". BikingMan Exposure. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
- ^ "Turbo women: cyclists show their endurance in BikingMan Oman". Euronews. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
- ^ "Impresa titanica, Rodney Soncco vince nel deserto dell'Oman la Bikingman". MBnews (in Italian). Retrieved 2019-03-24.
- ^ "BikingMan Corsica #2 Academy". BikingMan Exposure. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
- ^ "BikingMan Laos #1 Academy". BikingMan Exposure. Retrieved 2019-05-27.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "BikingMan Peru IncaDivide #3 Academy". BikingMan Exposure. Retrieved 2019-08-28.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "BikingMan Portugal #1 Academy". BikingMan Exposure. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
- ^ "BikingMan Taiwan #2 Academy". BikingMan Exposure. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
- ^ BikingMan unassisted ultracycling races across the globe, retrieved 2019-09-12
- ^ "BikingMan - The Races". BikingMan. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
- ^ "BikingMan Series Ranking". BikingMan Exposure. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
- ^ "Mise à jour Calendrier BikingMan". VeloChannel (in French). Retrieved 2020-04-19.
- ^ "BikingMan Race Calendar". BikingMan Official Website. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
- ^ "BikingMan Oman #3 Academy". BikingMan Exposure. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
- ^ "BikingMan Portugal #2 Academy". BikingMan Exposure. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
- ^ "BikingMan Corsica #3 Academy". BikingMan Exposure. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
- ^ "BikingMan Race Calendar". BikingMan Official Website. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
Links
- (en) official site
- (en) calendar of the BikingMan races
- (en) BikingMan Instagram channel
- (en) Instagram channel of the IncaDivide race
- (en) official Facebook page
- (en) Facebook page of the IncaDivide race
- (en) Blog of Rob Packham, participant
- (fr) Blog of Xavier Massart, participant
- (pt) Blog of Vinicius Martin, participant