Razor-thin margins defined the Raid des Alpilles on Sunday 18 October 2026, as the road events brought the French Cyclo’Tour Matériel-Vélo.com season to a close in Maussane-les-Alpilles, France.
On the 130 km Cyclo Grand, which packs about 1,340 metres of climbing into Provence’s Alpilles massif, Belgium’s Maxim Pirard (John Saey CT) won the men’s race in 03:18:21. The multiple UCI Gran Fondo World Champion beat Bruno Morel (VC Mont Blanc) by 4 seconds and Alexandre De Marans (La Nuit Noire) by 7 seconds. Romain Orts (UC Montmeyran Valence) and Théo Chauviré (AC Orange) finished fourth and fifth, 14 seconds and 16 seconds behind, respectively.
The women’s race was just as close. Canada’s Geneviève Desjardins (La Roue d’Or Sanaryenne), who competes in the 50–54 age group, earned overall victory in 03:46:11. She finished 4 seconds ahead of Nellie Piat (VC La Pomme Marseille Provence), who competes in the 17–29 age group. Justine Costes (C2S) completed the podium, 7 minutes 58 seconds behind the winner.
The shorter 108 km Moyen course produced another tight finish. Martial Ricci-Poggi (NCC Team) won in 02:48:30. Titouan Julien (On Lache Rien) finished second, 9 seconds behind, and Anthony Maupetit (Nîmes Cyclisme) was third, 13 seconds back. Minitte Sébastien (CSLG Hyères) and Job Kergresse (Roue d’Or Sisteron) also finished within 35 seconds of the winner.
In the women’s Moyen, Florine Perrin (Montpellier métropole cyclisme) won in 02:58:51, after a commanding ride. Célia Lamande (Tricastin Triathlon Club) took second, 5 minutes 13 seconds behind. Anaïs Renoud Grappin completed the podium in third, 10 minutes 11 seconds off the winner’s pace. Valérie Ghibaudo (Team mcm) was fourth, 11 minutes 13 seconds back. Laura Vanderbeke (Vélo Club Islois) rounded out the top five.
The Raid des Alpilles serves as the final round of the seven-race French Cyclo’Tour amateur road series.
View Raid des Alpilles results HERE
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