Bornes to Fly 2026: Lucas Bonin Wins by Two Seconds After 11 Hours of Racing

# Bornes to Fly 2026: Lucas Bonin Wins by Two Seconds After 11 Hours

*Eleven hours of racing. 205 kilometres. Ten turnpoints. Two seconds between first and second. Bornes to Fly 2026 delivered one of the closest finishes in the event’s 13-year history — and an 80% goal rate that defied the day’s tricky conditions.*

Bornes to Fly has a special place in the hike-and-fly calendar. Located in the Chaîne des Aravis in the French Alps, it’s a race that tests everything: mountain fitness, route planning, thermal reading, and the ability to keep making good decisions when you’re tired, hungry and the sky keeps throwing curveballs.

This year’s edition — the 13th — might have been the best yet.

## The Race: 103 Pilots, One Brutal Course

The 205km course with ten turnpoints started at 9:15am on Friday 8 May from the Col de la Croix Fry. First launches around 9:45am — in conditions that were already testing. The forecast had promised good weather. What arrived was something more honest: strong, broken thermals, building cumulus, and afternoon showers.

The kind of day that separates the pilots who’ve done their homework from those who haven’t.

## Eleven Hours, Two Seconds

By Saturday morning, Lucas Bonin and François Montuori had both made goal. Separated by just two seconds after 11 hours of racing.

Two seconds. Think about that. After 205 kilometres and ten turnpoints, the margin was barely perceptible. Montuori had also stopped during the race to help an injured Tanguy Renaud-Goud — which makes the result even more remarkable.

Daniel Rosinsky completed the podium a few minutes later, having flown a consistent and solid race throughout.

## Women’s Race: Silvia Galli to Goal

In the women’s field, Italian pilot Silvia Galli was first to goal, crossing the line in flight at 11:20am — an impressive performance in challenging conditions. Stéphanie Westerhuis followed around 90 minutes later, with Estelle Ferry at 3pm.

In total, 80% of the 103 starters — pilots aged 19 to 71 — made goal. A remarkable success rate for a course of this length in conditions that were less than straightforward.

## The Spirit of Hike-and-Fly

What makes Bornes to Fly special isn’t just the competition — it’s the format. Pilots hike up the mountain under their own steam, launch, fly, and land somewhere they then have to hike from again. It’s demanding, occasionally brutal, and completely addictive.

The combination of physical challenge and flying skill is unlike any other discipline in paragliding. You’re not just navigating the sky — you’re managing your body, your kit, and your energy across an entire day in the mountains.

And that’s before you factor in the weather doing its own thing.

## Why the Conditions Matter

Bornes to Fly’s organising team deserves credit for reading the day well. The course was set to take advantage of the conditions as they developed — not to fight them. That’s the mark of experienced race directors.

For pilots, the lesson is familiar but important: in the mountains, flexibility is survival. The athletes who did best this year weren’t necessarily the strongest flyers — they were the ones who made the best decisions about when to push and when to wait.

*Bornes to Fly 2026: 103 pilots, 80% to goal, and a two-second margin at the top. That’s hike-and-fly at its finest.*

*If you’re planning a mountain adventure this season — whether it’s a technical hike-and-fly or a straightforward cross-country day — the right [pilot equipment](https://www.yowfly.com/product/paragliding-harness-simulator/) and [gear storage](https://www.yowfly.com/product/fast-packing-bag/) can make all the difference. Train hard. Fly smart.*