Our story.

The origins of ultracycling in France

A group of smiling volunteers and organizers at one of the first editions of the Race Across France, France's long-distance ultracycling race.
FIND MY RACE

It all began with Arnaud Manzanini, a cycling enthusiast with a deep admiration forultracycling. His participation in the legendary Race Across America was a transformative experience: an inner journey as much as a sporting challenge, where every kilometer pushed his physical and mental limits.

From this adventure arose a conviction: Europe too should offer cyclists the chance to experience an ultra-distance challenge capable of transforming a life. Arnaud then imagined a unique event, combining adventure, autonomy and exploration in the heart of the French countryside.

That's how Race Across France was born in 2018, bringing together 42 pioneers ready to write the first page of this story.

A female cyclist wears a white helmet, a white jersey with neon green details, and a yellow safety vest. She appears emotional, with her hand over her face, probably after a race or sporting challenge, in front of a sign indicating that she is finishing a race.
Two men in cycling gear and a bike on a podium, one wearing a helmet and carrying a racing backpack.

Our vision hasn't changed: ultracycling for everyone

Since 2018, our vision has remained unchanged: to makeultracycling accessible to everyone. Whether it's 300 km or 2,500 km, every cyclist can find their challenge and experience a unique cycling adventure.

The Race Across Series defends a strong conviction: ultra-distance racing is not reserved for the elite, but for all those who want to push back their limits, discover their own strengths and share an unforgettable human experience.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE ACROSS SERIES BREED

A sports training room with a group of people seated, listening to a presentation or discussion, with signs and an INTERSPORT logo in the background.

The 1st Race Across France briefing in 2018 in Mandelieu, with 19 participants

A medal-winning man recovering from a race, surrounded by people, with a backdrop indicating a competition across France.
A smiling young woman holds a sign with the words 'USS34 Baillon Nathalie' while a man on the left, dressed in black, smiles and holds a white garment. A bicycle with a helmet is in front of her. A photographer, whose back we can see, photographs the scene. The background is green with a logo.

RAF 2019 winner at the finish.

The RAF sees the birth of champions: Nathalie Baillon's first participation in 2019.

A cyclist pedals along a cobbled path past a small domed brick chapel, under a clear sky, at dawn or dusk.
Cyclist passing an abandoned building on a mountain road surrounded by rocky cliffs and green hills, cloudy sky.

2021: Expansion: Race Across Paris and Race Across Belgium join the Race Across Series calendar.

2022: The Race Across Switzerland, its first edition on Swiss soil.

Rural landscape with winding road, silhouetted cyclist, rolling landscape and misty sky at sunset or sunrise.

2025: 1st edition of the Race Across Spain.

A smiling man wearing a bike helmet and holding a finisher's medal, at the finish of an outdoor bike race.

2024: Creation of the GRAAALPS: gravel across the Alps, a gravel crossing of the Alps through 3 countries.

Group of people posing in front of a sign with the text 'Race Across Québec', some wearing orange jackets and white t-shirts with the race logo.

2024: The Race Across sets sail across the Atlantic with the Race Across Québec, 1st edition.

A group of people sitting in a room, probably at a conference or event, some wearing cycling clothes.

2025: Numbers soar, with a total of 3,200 participants in the Race Across Series.

Winding mountain road with vehicle lighting, surrounded by mountains and a starry night sky.

What's next? 2026 will see the debut of the Race Across Portugal for an ever more complete calendar.

THE VALUES OF THE ACROSS SERIES RACE

Cyclist pedaling along a sunny country road, with fields and houses in the background.

  • go beyond your limits and discover your inner strength.

  • open the doors of ultra to women, to enthusiasts from all over the world, and to disabled athletes.

  • Beyond performance, ultracycling is a story of encounters, landscapes and shared emotions.

  • To guarantee each participant a supervised and responsible experience, where the demands of ultra-distance are accompanied by protective and preventive measures.

FIND MY RACE
cyclist on the across switzerland ultra-cycling race

Vibrate with the community!

Three smiling men, including a runner in sportswear, celebrate a race victory, with a finisher's badge on the race across series ultra cycling.

Connect with over 8500 past participants on our Race Across forum

Demonstration of cyclists and spectators at an event called Race Across, with several flags and a building in the background. race across france ultra cycling
To the Forum

Subscribe

Subscribe

SIGN UP - SUBSCRIBE

<br>

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date