The 2026 edition of Bornes to Fly was a high-octane adventure through the French Alps, featuring a challenging 202km task that zig-zagged across the stunning Bornes, Aravis, and Beaufortain massifs. With a world-class field representing 13 countries, the race began in fantastic conditions, with thermals firing early and pilots taking to the skies by 09:30. While many hoped for a record-breaking one-day finish, the Alpine weather had other plans; towering clouds and heavy rain curtains forced organisers to implement a flight ban late on the first day, turning the event into a gritty test of leg power before a final morning glide into Perroix.

Ozone R&D pilot, Lucas Bonin, claimed the overall victory after a masterclass in consistency and pace. Flying the Zeolite 2 and Sublite, Lucas stayed at the front of a pack dense with X-Alps veterans, navigating through the changing conditions and maintaining his lead even when the rain forced everyone onto the ground. Reflecting on the final glide to the goal, he said: "It was a real pleasure to arrive in flight at Perroix and manage to finish this beautiful race in first place."

Joining him on the podium in second place was François Montuori, also flying the Zeolite 2 and Sublite. François showed incredible sportsmanship and composure, pausing his race to assist a fellow pilot during an incident before being reinstated at the front by the race committee. He and Lucas then pushed a blistering pace on foot through the valley to secure their advantage for the following morning. Regarding his steady rise in the sport, he mentioned that: "This result confirms steady progress since my hike and fly debut at Bornes to Fly in 2022." The pair celebrated their success with a synchronised 360 over the landing field, finishing just 30 minutes ahead of Daniel Rosinsky in third.

In the women’s class, Silvia Galli took a brilliant victory on her Zeolite 2 and Sublite setup. Despite only having a few months on her new kit, she looked at home in the punchy, unstable air, carving through the task much faster than she had originally anticipated. Reflecting on the feeling in the air, she said: "I felt fast and comfortable even in the ripping thermals."

Stephanie Westerhuis secured second place in the women's category, flying her Zeolite 2 and F*Race 2. She used a clever strategy, hiking to three key take-off points to fly as much of the task as possible and credited her success to the atmosphere created by her support team. She mentioned that: "I find the whole race experience very fulfilling when competing in a team." Estelle Ferry rounded out the podium with an impressive third-place finish.

For full results, visit: https://www.bornestofly.fr/

Congrats to all the pilots and cheers from all the Ozone team!

Photos courtesy of Gerard Ganglion, Timothé Malderez, François Montuori and Stephanie Westerhuis