About the race
Paris-Brest-Paris, usually shortened to PBP, is a long-distance cycling event that takes riders from the Paris region to Brest, on the tip of Brittany, and back. The organiser, the Audax Club Parisien, calls it the world's oldest and most popular event of its kind. It takes place every four years.
History
The first edition was in 1891 as a professional race, with Charles Terront the winner. It was last run as a race in 1951. Since 1931 amateurs have had their own non-competitive version, and today it is a randonnee, not a race: riders set their own pace and aim to finish inside the time limit. The most recent edition was held in August 2023.
The 2027 edition
The 21st edition is scheduled for 22 to 26 August 2027. The organiser says the route still runs from Paris to Brest but will include new features, and that scouts from the Audax Club Parisien rode the proposed route from Rambouillet a year in advance. The organiser's headline figures are roughly 1,200 km (stated as 1,220 km on its English page), about 11,000 m of climbing, around 8,000 participants and riders from 70 countries.
The course
Past editions pass through controls in towns including Dreux, Mortagne-au-Perche, Villaines-la-Juhel, Fougeres, Tinteniac, Loudeac and Brest. Every control except the start and Brest is visited in both directions. Support by motor vehicle is banned except at checkpoints, so riders buy food and supplies along the way.
Distances and time limit
The event is a single 1,200 km loop completed within 90 hours, with the clock running continuously, and many riders sleep very little.
Qualifying and entry
Wikipedia says riders must first complete a series of brevets in the same 12-month period: 200, 300, 400 and 600 km, each of which can be replaced by a longer ride. The organiser's site has dedicated pages on qualifications and how to register for 2027.
Where to watch
The organiser notes that the public who line the route, day and night, have made the event famous. Start and finish are at the host location in the Paris region.
Weather
Late August is usually summer in northern France. A ride of several days and nights can, however, bring rain and chilly nights in Brittany, so riders should be ready for changing conditions. This is general background, not a forecast.
SourcesParis-Brest-Paris home · Paris-Brest-Paris site (French) · Wikipedia: Paris-Brest-Paris