I took part in the Hard-Défi Tour 2022 (HDT). Have you just signed up? Here's what's in store!

The idea is very simple: enduro with maxi-trails. But that's not all... because in Hard Défi Tour, there's "Hard". As I found out, the course is Dantesque, with 600 km of well-trodden off-road to tackle. Lots of single-track, big climbs, dizzying descents, rocky terrain, mud, and even a lot of mud.

The HDT is not a race, but a real endurance test. It's a sporting challenge played out in teams of at least two bikes. The aim is to complete the course after crossing several CPs or checkpoints. Not many finishers... In fact, over the years, the big 1200-type trails have gradually given way to the lighter 700s and even 300s. This motorcycle assault course takes place in the sublime landscapes of Auvergne and Limousin.

A technical enduro raid requiring endurance

So you have to imagine that on the first day, we set off with 300 bikers, with the earliest starting at 8am. The fastest finished around 6.30pm, while the last rider arrived at midnight. Can you imagine the time spent on the bike? The endurance test involved?

On the second day, roughly half the competitors didn't start! The reasons varied: broken bike, biker exhausted or even injured... I can guarantee you that the enthusiasm wasn't really there. Officially, on the 2022 edition I took part in, there were 56 finishers out of a total of 327 registered. Only 17% of competitors finished the HDT, i.e. completed all the CPs.

This wasn't my first enduro raid. I've already taken part in many off-road outings in Italy, Spain, Portugal and, of course, France. However, the Hard-DéfiTour remains the toughest event I've undertaken so far.

I've had a few adrenalin rushes...

The first burst of pressure hit me on the first real climb. That's when I realized that it was going to be really hard and that I'd committed myself to 600 kilometers like that. The second adrenaline rush was caused by a descent from hell. Other bikers had warned us: "There's a descent of over 25% but you can skip it, there's a shortcut". Except that with my head in the handlebars, me and my two companions missed this life-saving passage... We found ourselves in this indecent overhang with no choice but to face it.

Riding at night also brings its share of stress. It's always something that worries me, because I'm not a great driver and my visual acuity leaves a lot to be desired. Riding off-road in the dark is clearly not a situation I'm comfortable with.

Dozens of spills, including two that will remain engraved in my motorcycling annals

I crashed many times during this motorized assault course. Two of them were particularly memorable. On the first one, I took off in such a way as to cost me a rib. The story? I was on my own, having just cleared a difficult passage. Boosted by this surge of confidence, I put the throttle back on, and it didn't fail... I took my second tumble after a long, hard descent. Knees on the ground, shortness of breath, sore ribs and, above all, a huge blow to my morale... I wasn't messing around... It takes a lot of nerve to get back in the saddle just after a good one.

In these complicated moments, solidarity is essential.

It's a beautiful aspect of the Hard-défiTour where solidarity between bikers is omnipresent. We were all delighted to have fellow adventurers to help us lift our bikes for the 15th time that day. It was also crucial for morale. In turn, one of us would take the lead as soon as the leader was rinsed out, to take the pressure off. We encouraged each other to keep our spirits up. In fact, all along the route, the different teams helped each other out by supporting and helping the drivers who were having a hard time. For example, on the first difficult climb, I pushed countless bikes. As a result, I was exhausted after just 5km.

Next time, I'll need better physical preparation and more technical driving.

If I had to do it again, I think I' d prepare myself better physically. Clearly, I wasn't up to it. A lot of crashes could have been avoided if I'd been in better shape and had more stamina. Technically, I also need to improve my slow-speed driving. I'm too used to rolling. So when I had to tackle rocks, monotraces and sloping trails, I found myself in difficulty. My riding needs to be sharper, more technical and more balanced.

What were your bike's strengths and weaknesses during the event?

Since I regularly ride off-road, I didn't need to prepare my Yamaha T700 for the Hard-DéfiTour. Its qualities? It's packed with them! It's a bike I really like, and I particularly appreciated its engine pick-up at low revs. It's a real advantage for this type of event. I'd also replaced the original suspensions with Ohlins, which are great. Its drawbacks? Its unladen weight of 190kg and, above all, its high center of gravity. Personally, I find a KTM 790 or 890 better balanced.

Can an off-road novice take the plunge?

Honestly, I'd say no. You have to enjoy this kind of challenge, otherwise what's the point? On this type of route, which is sometimes tough, a beginner is just going to struggle and suffer for 600 kilometers. You need to have done some off-road riding and be comfortable with your big trail. So a novice can enter, but he won't have any fun. There have been many withdrawals.

Good physical and technical preparation is crucial

The Hard Defi Tour is an endurance event. 600km in 2 days is no mean feat. You have to be able to cover the distance without losing lucidity due to fatigue. Technically, you have to work hard on your slowness and balance. You have to be able to catch up with the bike on the tricky sections, so as not to endanger yourself and stay safe.

Proper equipment for both rider and bike

• Helmet, kneepads, boots, jacket - don't set off with light equipment. Falls are common, and there's no forgiving them on stony surfaces. In my case, I managed to break a rib even though I was well armed.

---> Here are the motocross protective gear items selected by Ixtem Moto

---> Here's a boot model I really like: Alpinestars TOUCAN GORE-TEX motorcycle boots r

---> The Klim MOJAVE OTB pants are ideal for enduro riding.

• Don't skip out on additional lighting. Because while the fastest rider finished the first stage at 18:37, most competitors finished at night.

---> The DENALI brand offers a wide range of robust, quality lighting models.

• Don't forget what you need in case of a puncture

• Use enduro tires. The terrain is difficult, so you really need to ride rubber with grip.

---> Metzeler KAROO EXTREME tires are a perfect example of a durable enduro tire.

• And on a different note, you've got to go out there in high spirits, with buddies you can count on.

Will I try again? The answer is yes, but not in 2023. I want to take the time to prepare myself physically and perfect my technique. Any last words of advice? The Hard Defi Tour is like the Port Salut, it's written all over it. It's hard and it's a real endurance challenge. That's why you need to go into it properly prepared, accepting that your bike will regularly end up on the heap. But like any tough event, it leaves unforgettable memories of surpassing oneself, of solidarity and mutual aid.