A bikepacking adventure doesn't have to be thousands of miles long. You can escape from everyday life and experience a lot in one long weekend. That's exactly what Ana and Pauline, the Velosistas, did when they completed a Tour de Jura on their gravel bikes. The most important prerequisites for any Tour are careful planning and equipment. Nonetheless, something unexpected can always happen. In this Collection, Ana tells us about the unforeseen climbs during their adventure and how you can always reach the summit with a smile:

"Pauline and I really wanted to go on a multi-day bikepacking adventure with our gravel bikes. For this, we chose the Jura Mountains and immediately started planning a route from Delémont to Nyon. I wanted to avoid asphalt roads as much as possible, so I didn't pay attention to the altitude. The first day was really exhausting because of this. It was uphill the whole way. But the feeling of having reached the top is indescribable and makes you forget your hard work. The nature in the Jura is really varied so you always enjoy unique views.

After a night in the tent on Mont Soleil mountain (despite its sunny name we really froze!), we sped down into the valley. A wonderful, flowy bike route followed, but the next crisp climb hurt even more than the one up Mont Soleil. We made it to the top, though, and it was worth it: we had a breathtaking view of the Creux du Van, a natural, gigantic rock basin. In the late afternoon, we rode to the town of Yverdon-les-Bains and spontaneously decided to stay in a hotel. It was heavenly to have a shower after the Tour and tuck into a pizza at Le Coq to end the day.

The third and final day was really cozy compared to the other two. The villages on Lake Geneva have their own unique charm. Unfortunately, we had to end the Tour early because of a crash. But, after 245 kilometres (152 miles) and 4,210 metres (13,800 feet) of altitude, we could look back proudly and think back over many experiences.”