La Transvolcanique

Friday, September 18, 2026 — The Eve

• 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM — Early collection of participant packets at the Blanzat sports complex.

Saturday, September 19, 2026 · Blanzat to Le Mont-Dore

• 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM — Collection of participant packets at the Blanzat sports complex. Each packet is personalized and includes a numbered frame plate with mounting ties, a personalized wristband, a route map, and—for those who booked accommodation—a luggage tag indicating the assigned location. Packets must be collected by the participant or the group leader who registered them.
• Before departure — Breakfast for participants who selected this option, and luggage drop-off: mandatory weighing, 10 kg maximum per participant.
• 8:30 AM — First wave departs from the Blanzat stadium, rue de Clermont-Ferrand.
• 8:30 AM – 9:10 AM — Subsequent waves depart every 10 minutes. Ready participants wait in a holding area for their wave's start. Waves are not organized by performance level.
• Course closure — Organization teams close the course 15 minutes after the start.
• The Route — Approximately 85 km with about 2,200 m of elevation gain according to the Fédération française de cyclotourisme, featuring one or two long variants. Starting from Blanzat at 400 m altitude among vineyards and orchards, the trail crosses the Chaîne des Puys, reaching 1,400 m, before arriving in Le Mont-Dore in the Sancy massif. A mix of wide paths, single-track trails, and technical sections. Reserved for experienced mountain bikers: long distance, moderate technicality.
• On the trail — Refreshment stations approximately every 20 km with sweet and savory options; water points offer sweet options only; a hot, sit-down lunch is included in the registration.
• Finish — Le Mont-Dore, near the ice rink. Showers and a bike wash area are available (the latter may be closed in case of drought restrictions).
• Saturday evening — Dinner and overnight stay at the assigned accommodation for participants who selected this option, in Le Mont-Dore or La Bourboule. The location is provided in the packet collected that morning. Participants without accommodation arrange their own evening; their luggage is transported to the Le Mont-Dore ice rink.

Sunday, September 20, 2026 · Le Mont-Dore to Blanzat

• 8:30 AM — Departure from Le Mont-Dore (near the ice rink) or La Bourboule, depending on the accommodation.
• The Route — Approximately 85 km with about 2,200 m of elevation gain according to the Fédération française de cyclotourisme.
• On the trail — Refreshment stations approximately every 20 km and hot lunch included.
• Finish — Blanzat stadium: a complimentary half-pint of beer, free prize draw, and closing reception. Showers and bike wash area available.
• From 2:00 PM — Luggage returned to Blanzat is available for pickup.

Navigation: GPS mandatory

The routes are not marked in 2026. Following several trial editions on long variants, the organization is making GPS navigation mandatory for all routes, both standard and long. Each participant must ride with a GPS device loaded with the GPX track. Files are uploaded for account leaders the week before the ride; it is their responsibility to forward them to the participants they registered. A route map is provided in the packets. No other format is provided, and the track is only valid during the event's days and hours, as several sections cross private land accessible only during the event.

Packages, pricing, and registration

• Two-day round trip — The only available package since 2022, including lunch and luggage transport. UFOLEP, FFCT, FFC, or FSGT license holders: €33 for women, €66 for men. Non-license holders: €38 and €75. The women's rate applies only to the first 100 registrants.
• Options — Half-board accommodation on Saturday night: €67; Saturday morning breakfast in Blanzat: €5; lunch for a guest: €15 (Saturday or Sunday).
• Registration — Opened May 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM, online only, limited to 1,100 participants according to the Fédération française de cyclotourisme. As of August 17, 2026, the official website indicates registration is closed for the 2026 edition.
• Conditions — Under 16s not admitted; parental consent required for 16-18 year olds. Mountain bikes, e-MTBs, and gravel bikes are accepted, keeping in mind the long distance may challenge battery range. Helmets are mandatory throughout the course; a regulatory safety vest must be carried; civil liability insurance is required. Mechanical assistance is stationed at certain points; parts are paid for on-site, in the evening at the accommodation, or at the finish. The Transvolcanique is not a race: free pace, everyone rides at their own risk on paths and road sections open to traffic.