Maats Travels 2027 - Alps Gravel
Alps
Gravel
In 2027 Maats turns 10, and we're celebrating the only way we know: on the bike. Throughout the year we're putting together a series of special events and trips, and this is one of the highlights. For years we've been coming to the French Alps to ride the legendary roads. This time, by popular demand, we're leaving the tarmac behind. Leading the way: Simon 'Rossi' Rosmolen, the mastermind behind Le Pilgrimage, the multi-day gravel event in these very mountains.
Especially for Maats, Simon put together a tailor-made programme with a focus on adventure and discovery, but just as much on fun and comfort. Five days of riding narrow, unpaved mountain trails with breathtaking views, followed by the comfort of a lovely hotel and seriously good food. The perfect mix of effort and downtime, and a perfect fit for the Maats community.
Our Stay
Basecamp is Hotel Saint Roch in Puy-Saint-Vincent, a rider-run hotel near Briançon on the edge of the Parc National des Écrins. Simon and his crew know these mountains inside out and built the routes with us. We've stayed here several times over the past years for our road trips, but after a lot of persuasion from Simon, this time we're going off road.
Breakfast buffet every morning and a three-course dinner every night, cooked by chef Anne, the hotel's chef de cuisine and a longtime friend of Maats. Plus pasta after the rides, a bike wash, workshop and secure storage. Rooms are shared (2–3 persons), with a limited number of single rooms available for a surcharge.
The Rides
Sat 12 June · Arrival & shake-out ride. Check in, build up your bike and roll out for an easy shake-out ride in the afternoon to loosen the legs. Welcome dinner in the evening. Every night before a stage, Simon briefs the group on the route of the next day.
Narreyroux, Col d'Anon & Col de la Pousterle
A first taste of the Écrins, straight from the basecamp door. We climb up the quiet Narreyroux valley and continue on forest tracks through the larch woods towards Col d'Anon and Col de la Pousterle.
Plenty of climbing, but on mostly rideable gravel: the perfect day to find your legs and get used to the altitude. We finish with a picnic or apéro at the Refuge de la Pousterle before rolling back down to basecamp.
View route on Komoot →Bouchier & Montbrison
Day two takes us into the high ground around the Montbrison massif. Forest and farm tracks lead past Bouchier up to the high pastures, with wide views over the valley and the peaks of the Écrins.
Similar in length and climbing to stage 1, with a picnic lunch along the route. A solid day in the mountains, and a good warm-up for what's coming next.
View route on Komoot →Strada dell'Assietta & Colle delle Finestre
The queen stage. We drive across the border to Oulx and ride straight into gravel history. The Strada dell'Assietta is an old military road along the ridge, mostly above 2,000 metres, with nothing but mountains on every side.
From the ridge we cross the Colle delle Finestre, the Giro d'Italia legend, and descend its gravel and endless hairpins all the way down to Susa, before working our way back up the valley to Oulx. 3,000 metres of climbing in 81 km: the hardest and most beautiful day of the trip. Back to basecamp by car.
View route on Komoot →Colle Gondrand, Claviere & Briançon
The longest day. We ride towards the Italian border and climb to Colle Gondrand at almost 2,400 metres, high above the border village of Claviere.
On the way back we roll through Briançon, where the old town and its fortifications make the perfect coffee stop, and cross the Pont d'Asfeld before the final stretch home. Apéro at the finish to celebrate four big days.
View route on Komoot →Thu 17 June · Departure. Breakfast, pack up, home.
Level
Gravel riding in the Alps is breathtaking, but it can also be challenging. Don't be fooled by the relatively short distances: the many metres of climbing and the rough terrain make these demanding stages. Expect long days, loose surfaces and altitudes above 2,000 metres. You don't need to be fast, but you do need to be fit. Some gravel experience is a plus, especially on the descents.
The rides are not guided. Everyone rides at their own pace in small groups, and we wait for each other at the top of every climb. A gravel bike with tyres of at least 40 mm and a low gear is highly recommended.
Not sure if this trip is for you? Get in touch at hello@maats.cc or drop by one of our stores. We're happy to help.
Details
Pre-registration
Pre-registration is open until 1 January 2027. If there's enough interest (at least 20 riders), the trip goes on sale and you'll be the first to hear when tickets become available. There's room for 50 riders at most.
Pre-registering doesn't commit you to anything yet. Pre-register below →
Members first entry
The trip is bookable for Maats Members first. Any spots left after that go to riders from our ride communities in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam.
The Deal
€1,250per person, shared roomLimited single rooms available for a surcharge
Pre-registration open until 1 Jan 2027
Pre-register
Included
- 5 nights at basecamp
- Daily breakfast buffet
- Three-course dinner every night
- Post-ride pasta after the rides
- Picnics and apéros on route
- GPX routes for every stage
Excluded
- Travel to and from the Alps
- Drinks and meals outside the hotel
- Travel & health insurance
Pre-register
Interested? Leave your details. If there's enough interest, Maats Alps Gravel goes on sale and you'll be the first to know when tickets become available.
No commitment, no payment. Pre-registration is open until 1 January 2027.
You're on the list.
Thanks for pre-registering. We'll let you know as soon as tickets for Maats Alps Gravel become available.
Photos: Yorit Kluitman (@yorit_kluitman), Rik de Voogd and Maats