About us
Gravel Up is the brainchild of 3 forty-somethings who, after meeting each other on the other side of the World, decided to throw themselves into a slightly crazy adventure! We’re united by our shared passions for travel and cycling, bringing our individual experiences and knowledge together as Gravel Up.
That’s us below – Aurel, JB et Oliv. Maybe, like some of you, we craved a different way of life where we were in control and not stuck in the daily grind. So Gravel Up was born - not just another holiday company but an ‘Adventure Enabler,’ helping you to explore some of the most beautiful and unspoilt mountain ranges in Europe, all on your new best friend… a gravel bike !
Read more about our history HERE in the first article of our newspaper.
Olivier
After 13 years traveling the world for a large hotel group, my vision of tourism has changed to offer more authentic and local experiences. Gravel practice and cycling adventure have allowed me to envision a new form of performance combining my two passions: travel and surpassing oneself through sport.
We only have one life so kudos Hunter S Thomson:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"
JB
Sometimes you have to go far from home to come back to it. Back from Shanghai with my family in the summer of 2021 after 10 years traveling the landscapes of China and South East Asia by bike, here I am back on this magnificent continent that is Europe with this thirst for adventure, discoveries and encounters.
Aurel
In life, there are years that mark more than others. 2021 was the year for action - the year where I left the comfort of a career in Finance to live the present moment off the beaten tracks - the year where I join 2 amazing entrepreneurs in a project full of meaning, and for which I fully shares values: freedom, exploration, truth, sharing.
We are surrounded by a team as passionate as it is competent:
Orlane | Our destination manager, who will make you happy!
Maxime Clémence et Julien | Our travel advisors who will answer any of your question
Thomas | Our Artistic Director, by our side since the very beginnings of the adventure
Angèle | In charge of communication, full of energy and passion
We are supported by 6 advisors:
Armelle Solehlalh | Entrepreneur, Business Angel, Board member, Author - Agence SWITCH
Richard Collomb-Patton | General Manager France - Scott
Romain Millet | General Manager - MMG (Millet Mountain Group)
Grégory Mollet-Viéville | Co-Founder - CYD (Conquer Your Day)
Matthieu Robert | Leader of the "Decathlon Pass - Mobile application around the ski pass" project - at Décathlon France
Boris Stephan | Digital Marketing Manager - Petzl
We are also proud member of Réseau Entreprendre Paris and we were incubated at OSV (Outdoor Sports Valley), a startup accelerator specializing in Outdoor, in Annecy, during 2 years.
OUR CONCEPT
AND WHAT ABOUT THE "UP" IN YOUR NAME ?
At some point in our lives, we have all been looking for some taste of extreme. But we have been hesitating by either lack of time, training or self confidence.
With GravelUp, it is finally possible !
Here is what is waiting for you in our expeditions :
It is all about climbing summits. And this what we will have you do during our expeditions: climb the summits from the most pristine european mountain ranges.
So yes there will be some incline, some physical challenge but mostly a total immersion in the mountain eco systems.
At GravelUp we are convinced that crossing mountains on a bike makes you Happy.
We propose you a new style of performance. This is not competition or time chrono but (really) to elevate yourself in your mind by reconnecting to yourself, to the others and to our planet earth.
Our expeditions are meant to be transformative, full of exchange and sharings between our guides, our partners and our Gravel Uppers.
Our system of levels will give you the opportunity to progress in your practice of biking adventures. Each completed expedition will make you access to the next challenge and we are here to accompany you and have you progress. Unlocking the next destination is your challenge.
THEY TALK ABOUT US
Launched in 2022 our start-up is growing, month after month, stay after stay. We built our team and our trips so that the participants take as much pleasure as possible and leave with memories full of head and some aches but not too much.
You will find below a selection of articles in the French press that illustrate our state of mind and our vision of gravel ⬇️.