10/07/2026
🥇 at the
Let's start with the race report before I ramble about what an amazing weekend Gravel du Parc was.
10am start, lots and lots of attacks in the first 20km, until a strong selection of 9 gets a small gap.
The break is still in view and we hit a twisty section with two back-to-back steep climbs. I'm able to get a small gap and bridge as fast as I can to the lead. Some of the favourites are still behind, including and , but our group has flawless chemistry; we paced the uphills and railed the downhills with organized, quick relays.
The gap increases, and with the kilometres passing we all eventually realize this is the winning move. At 35km from the finish, there's a 2.6km technical sector. I push the pace, and at the exit, there are three of us with a small gap. Behind , , and others are fully committed to the chase, and we're all back together with 20km to the line.
The finishing circuit is one of the most selective of the season. You go up a ski hill (0.7km at 19%) and then down a ±5min technical singletrack. I have a 10sec gap on top and I'm able to increase it slightly on the singletrack to cross the line with a ±30sec gap.
The finish-line celebration is followed by an ice-cold dip in the river, a great lunch, a campfire catch-up, a dance party and late-night poutine. All leading up to the next morning's 230km bikepacking journey home (head over to my profile to read Alexis recap of how the 2nd mission of the weekend went down).
Merci et toute l'organisation de la GDP, j'ai déjà vrm hâte à l'année prochaine!
Photos par .mercier
