Race Across France: Destination Mandelieu—The Cheers That Accompanied the Participants

Behind every kilometer are the women and men living this adventure. This year, every evening, a voice took a few minutes to simply ask them, “How are you?” It was a quiet gesture that serves as a reminder that, beyond the performance, people remain at the heart of the Race Across France.

The 2,500 km challenge is an extraordinary adventure. For several days, participants navigate the course with limited support. They manage their own nutrition, sleep, breaks, and pace, often facing the physical demands on their own.

From the Operations Control Center (OCC), the organization constantly monitors each participant to ensure their safety and support them throughout the event.

This year, special attention was given to the fifteen women competing in the 2,500-kilometer race.

Participant in the 2,500-kilometer Race Across France to Mandelieu in 2026. © Robin Issartel

More Than Just a Phone Call

Every evening, Anaëlle, a member of the PGO, took the time to call them.

A few minutes of conversation to check in on them, find out how they were feeling, and help them get ready for the night ahead.

Those calls had nothing to do with performance or standings.

Their goal was simple: to find out how they were doing.

How had their day gone? Had they eaten well? Were they feeling well? Did they plan to stop for the night? Where did they plan to spend the night?

Very quickly, those few minutes became much more than just tracking a race.

Valuable Feedback

Isabelle, a participant in the 2,500-km Race Across France to Mandelieu. © Robin Issartel

Anaëlle remembers Isabelle in particular.

During the pre-departure briefing, Arnaud Manzanini announced that each participant would receive a daily phone call.

From the very first evening, Isabelle had been eagerly awaiting that moment.

When she answered the phone, her reaction immediately struck Anaëlle: she had been eagerly awaiting this call, and her joy was palpable.

As the days went by, Anaëlle realized that these exchanges were much more than just a status update.

After spending several days alone on their bikes, the participants needed to talk. To talk about their day. To share their emotions, their successes, but also their moments of doubt.

Some of them were laughing.

Others talked about a rough patch, a slump, or a brief breakdown.

They all walked away with a smile.

And many of them said that hearing a woman's voice on the other end of the line made them feel much better.

A collective force

When some participants were considering continuing to ride all night but felt apprehensive about being alone, the group took stock of where the other participants were.

If someone was a few kilometers ahead or behind, that information might, in exceptional cases, be shared with them so that they could close the gap on other competitors.

The goal was simply to help them feel safer.

The rules, however, remained unchanged. It was, of course, forbidden to take advantage of another competitor's slipstream, and the organizers were extremely vigilant in ensuring compliance with this rule.

As the days went by, new habits also took root.

Some of the participants began meeting up in the evenings to stay at the same hotel. The next morning, each went her own way at her own pace, but those few hours spent together were sometimes enough to restore their energy and lift their spirits.

Allowing themselves a few hours of sleep each night also proved to be beneficial. Feeling more rested, they set off again with greater clarity, more energy, and the desire to continue their adventure.

There was another phrase that came up almost every night:

"So far, no woman has dropped out."

As the kilometers went by, this simple piece of information became a real source of motivation.

Each of them knew she was part of a group of women who kept moving forward despite the difficulties.

Even though they were separated by several hundred kilometers, a true collective strength had emerged.

Attention to even the smallest details

JHO menstrual hygiene products made available to participants at the support stations for the 2026 Race Across France. © Robin Issartel

This attention to the participants went beyond just the daily calls.

For this edition, Race Across Series has partnered with JHO, a French brand of organic cotton menstrual products, to provide free menstrual hygiene products in the women’s restrooms at the support camps.

Because an ultra-distance race doesn't put daily life on hold, it was essential that every participant be able to find feminine hygiene products on site if she needed them, without having to plan ahead or carry extra gear.

This gesture may seem trivial, but it meets a very real need. In an adventure where every gram counts and the days stretch on for several days, being able to count on this kind of service provides real comfort and allows the participants to focus fully on their race.

A simple gesture that illustrates the commitment of Race Across Series and JHO to making ultra-distance racing more accessible, more relaxed, and more attentive to the needs of all female participants.

People at the Heart of the Adventure

Throughout this whole adventure, it wasn't just about participating in a race.

It was all about being there.

To listen.

To reassure.

To encourage.

To be that little voice that restores confidence when fatigue gets the better of your spirits.

That, too, is the spirit of the Race Across Series.

Create extraordinary challenges while ensuring that every participant knows she can count on the organization when things get tough.

Because even though they were alone on their bikes, they were never really alone.

After traveling hundreds of kilometers, it's not just the distance covered that we remember.

We also remember the people who were there at just the right moment—sometimes just through a phone call that lasted a few minutes.

A participant in the 2,500-km Race Across France smiles as she crosses the finish line in Mandelieu. © Robin Issartel