La Garoutade (66) – Raid VTT 70 km à Ille-Sur-Têt du 22 février 2026 [VTTAE]

🚵‍♂️70 km of pure riding The legendary Garoutade raid in the Pyrénées-Orientales is 70 km with 2,200 m of elevation gain. Uncompromising trails: technical, physical, and challenging… but incredibly exhilarating for thrill-seekers. At the helm is champion Damien Oton and his entire team, who have crafted an exceptional playground. Clearly, a labor of love. 🚗 The journey & the atmosphere A 6.5-hour drive to reach Ille-sur-Têt, a small town perched above Perpignan. Arriving via the A9 motorway, between the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees mountains, with the sun as a backdrop… the setting already promises a great weekend. I meet up with Benoît Blaff Crobar, who saves me from having forgotten my bank card… Once there, the atmosphere is very much in the enduro style: relaxed, friendly, and passionate. Number plates retrieved, batteries dropped off, a quick beer… it feels like a big day ahead. Briefing at 7:15 a.m.: “Ride cool – Ride safe.” 7:30 a.m., in the saddle. 🚀 A lightning start Objective: to quickly break away from the 550 participants. I set off with a group on Specialized Turbo Levos that climb as if we were riding on flat ground back home. They're really pushing it, muscles included. 17 km of almost continuous climbing to warm up. The tone is set. A minor stomach upset (it happens 😅), we lose the first group… but the motors keep us well ahead of the pack. 🏔️ The terrain: austere and magnificent The singletracks hug the mountain. Dusty, slippery ground, then rocks, cobblestones, and loose stones ready to destroy your gear if you're not careful. ➡️ Summary: Rear tire destroyed on this one ride. We start in observation mode. Then the rocky sections appear without warning. You have to stay clean and focused. 🔥 The “specials”: ​​pure bliss Challenging, technical, fast descents. Walls, jumps (with escape routes), rough sections… but never treacherous or insurmountable blindly. Everything is doable. Fearless, committed. Benoît is never far behind and is having a blast too. We discover trails designed by pros, for demanding riders. And it shows. ☀️ Physical test 70 km, 2,250 m elevation gain. 24°C at the finish, in winter gear because it was cold at the start + protective gear. The South is intense. I was more limited by my physical condition than by my technical skills. My arms were completely spent towards the end. The long, rough descents took a real toll on the upper body, especially with heavy e-bikes. It's difficult to train on this type of terrain where I live. 🔋Assistance Management: 2/3 in Trail mode 1/3 in Auto mode A few Turbo boosts into the walls 26% remaining on the first battery 42% on the second Battery drop-off at the aid station: essential and perfectly organized. 🎥 An anecdote that reminds us of the rules of the game: I offered to film two strong riders on regular bikes, positioning myself between them. The first one went all out. He accelerated. The terrain was very rough. He braked too late on a step. The wheel slipped. Big fall. Luckily, Sylvain landed on the only patch of grass between the rocks. Result: a few scratches, nothing broken. Enduro downhill is also about this: 👉 Commitment 👉 Quick reading 👉 Accepting risk 👉 And sometimes, a little luck 🍺 The Garoutade spirit 2 well-stocked aid stations (special mention to the Catalan sausages). No trail markings: everything is done via GPX. €50 registration fee including paella (pasta version 😄) and local beer. Higher commitment than elsewhere, but the money goes towards trail maintenance. And given the quality of the tracks, you know exactly where you're going. Authentic enduro atmosphere: Riders there to push their limits and have fun. No wimps. Chats on the climbs, sing-song accents (Séb from Béziers, the youngsters from Millau...), panoramic views of snow-capped peaks. 🏁 Verdict 69 km – 2,250 m elevation gain We finished in one piece. Exhausted. Happy. La Garoutade 2026 will remain an exceptional ride, in ideal conditions. One of those events for which you gladly travel long distances. Routes worth the trip. Memories that last. And immense respect for those who make it all possible. Looking forward to the next one. 👍 E-MTB: Specialized Turbo Levo 4 Expert 2025 Cameras: GoPro 12 & 13