The Pilgrimage, by Simon Rosmolen

Today, let's meet Simon Rosmolen, creator of the Pilgrimage, a sporty and friendly event.

Can you introduce yourself & tell us about your background?

My name is Simon Rosmolen, originally from the Netherlands but now living in the French Alps, in the village of Puy-Saint-Vincent, together with my wife Anne Pekelharing. We moved to the Southern Alps to combine our love for the outdoors and food. Anne is the head chef at Hotel Saint Roch, and I organize outdoor activities and itineraries of all kinds. Before settling here, I worked as a tour guide around the world—always bringing my bike to explore a few extra miles wherever I went.

How did you come up with the idea for the Pilgrimage event?

Le Pilgrimage was born from a desire to blend physical challenge with nature, community, and the simple moments we share—like meals and stories around the dinner table. I’ve participated in various cycling events and ultra-distance rides, and I realized that the true magic often happened after the finish—when people gathered, shared stories, and formed real connections. I wanted to create an event where that connection is central—not just a finish line, but a physical basecamp where people come together. I reached out to Cyril Chermin, a fellow rider and long-time friend who’s cycled across continents and knows what it means to travel as a pilgrim. He understood and felt the same and joined me in building what would become Le Pilgrimage.

In many ways, the event mirrors the spirit of a pilgrimage. A pilgrim wanders through wild terrain, faces unexpected challenges, meets fellow travelers, and eventually finds refuge—a safe haven where stories are shared, meals are enjoyed, and bodies and minds are restored before setting out again. That’s exactly what we aim to offer: a modern-day mountain pilgrimage.

A pilgrim searches for meaningful landscapes—places that offer both beauty and depth. Living in Puy-Saint-Vincent, I discovered an incredible network of alpine trails, gravel roads, and old military routes stretching across the French-Italian border. The Parc National des Écrins and its surroundings offer some of the most breathtaking terrain in Europe, yet much of it remains quiet and untamed.

Dozens of abandoned military fortresses are still connected by gravel roads and hidden trails, with old alpine villages tucked into remote valleys. It felt like the perfect setting for an event that values exploration, solitude, story's, and connection—everything a true pilgrimage should offer.

Tell us about the event

Le Pilgrimage is not a race—it’s a self-supported journey. We organize two editions: a gravel cycling edition and a trail-running edition. Participants navigate multi-day routes through rugged alpine terrain, collecting stamps at remote checkpoints as they go. Each day ends back at our basecamp—Hotel Saint Roch—where we eat together, rest, and swap stories from the trail. It’s an event where endurance meets simplicity, and where camaraderie grows naturally around the table. Whether you're on two wheels or two feet, the goal is the same: to move through the mountains with purpose, humility, and openness.

How and why did you come up with the idea of partnering with Opinel?

Opinel felt like a natural match. It’s a brand with roots in the French Alps and a strong connection to the outdoors. Our events are about self-reliance, simplicity, and small rituals—like slicing cheese or sausage at a checkpoint. The Opinel knife isn’t just a tool; it’s a companion on the journey. It fits perfectly into the spirit of Le Pilgrimage.

How is Opinel involved in the Pilgrimage event?

Opinel supports both our Trail and Gravel editions. Each pilgrim receives a knife to carry during their journey—something practical for use along the route and meaningful as a keepsake. And we try to make sure there’s at least one BBQ along the way, where the Opinel BBQ set gets put to good use. It’s not unusual to see a pilgrim with a knife in one hand and a sausage or Tomme cheese in the other.

Your favorite Opinel?

The classic No. 8. It’s light & sharp.

Opinel in 3 words?

Le Pilgrimage-proof.

Le Pilgrimage is a multi-day, self-supported adventure through the French Alps—offering both a gravel cycling and a trail running edition. It’s not a race, but a physical and personal journey, where participants navigate remote alpine terrain, collect stamps at mountain checkpoints, and return each night to a welcoming basecamp.

At Hotel Saint Roch in Puy-Saint-Vincent, stories are shared over hearty meals, friendships are formed, and tired legs find rest. Whether on two wheels or two feet, Le Pilgrimage blends challenge, camaraderie, and raw mountain beauty into one journey.