Lars, how long have you been riding a gravel bike and what fascinates you about gravel biking?
I’ve only been biking since 2024 – before that, I mainly walked, mostly hiking and trail running. With a gravel bike, I can cover much greater distances, which was one of the main reasons I bought one. Unlike road biking, it gives me the opportunity to explore off-road trails and get closer to nature.
How did you prepare for the Gravel Trans Jura?
I would say that I already had a good level of basic fitness from hiking and running, but I was a complete novice when it came to cycling. And I was particularly daunted by the many meters of elevation gain on the Gravel Trans Jura. So I prepared myself for that and incorporated a few tours with certain climbs.
But I also tried to get a feel for the route. I read the articles on the Gravel Trans Jura website and in the newsletter, looked at social media posts on Instagram, and familiarized myself with the GPX track for the route. This gave me a good feel for my bike setup, bags, and general equipment, which I had also tested beforehand.
If you had to choose one moment/place from your Gravel Trans Jura, which one…
…moved you the most emotionally?
It’s hard for me to name just one moment. The whole Gravel Trans Jura was very emotional for me. But the most emotional moment was definitely at the last checkpoint (La Barillette), which was after the last climb. I knew that after that it was only a few kilometers and all downhill to Nyon. So many thoughts were going through my head, so many moments from the last few days, but also the pride that I had managed to do all this, even though I had only just started biking. It all felt very intense at that moment. There is a photo of me from that exact moment, which means a lot to me.
… pushed you to your physical limits?
Definitely the heavy rain over several hours. Physically, I was surprised that I coped quite well despite my lack of experience with multi-day tours. Sure, it was exhausting, but it was doable for me. However, it rained relatively heavily for several hours on two days. That was a challenge for me, both physically and mentally.
… makes you laugh, even when you think about it today?
I think it was day three or four. It had rained a lot that day. As a result, there was a lot of mud and slush. I had some technical problems that day and was on the road for a very long time—much longer than planned. I was just completely exhausted. I looked like a “pig” when I arrived at my accommodation in the evening. I felt really uncomfortable walking through the hotel lobby like that and apologized for getting everything dirty. But the lady at the reception just smiled kindly and told me not to worry about it and that it was no problem. That day and the end of it were really something special….
… impressed you the most in terms of scenery?
The weather wasn’t very good in the first few days, so visibility was somewhat limited. Of course, Creux du Van is an absolute scenic highlight, but it’s also a bit touristy. Personally, I particularly liked the section after Lac de Joux near Mont Tendre. Here, you’re simply walking on really beautiful paths in the middle of nature.
… affected you most on an interpersonal level?
On Saturday afternoon, I had a technical problem with the SPD cleat on one of my shoes. I actually lost a fastening screw and couldn’t clip into the MTB pedal with one shoe. All the bike shops in the area were already closed at that time. So I tried to keep going—I rode for about two hours, but with the wet conditions and the climbs in the terrain, it was almost impossible for me.
I got the number of a local rider from the organizer and contacted him. He was just about to go on a tour with his road bike. I explained my problem to him and we exchanged our locations. What can I say, he packed a suitable screw and set off on his road bike to meet me – after all, there was a 700-meter climb between us. What a grand gesture, what helpfulness. He saved my GTJ.
What advice would you give to someone participating in the GTJ for the first time in 2026?
Check the tightness of the mounting screws on the cleats every evening 😉 Seriously, though, I would advise not to overdo it each day. It is preferable to spend an extra day on the road and then have a more relaxed pace or some extra time. The entire route covers around 12,000 meters of elevation gain, most of it on gravel or off-road.
Will you be back again?
I can definitely see myself doing it again. It was an unforgettable experience for me, which has further strengthened my desire to do gravel riding and bike packing.