ACP Distance Awards
The ACP (Audax Club Parisien) distance awards are the most prestigious long-term achievements in randonneuring. Unlike season-based awards that reset each year, the ACP awards use rolling multi-year windows, allowing you to accumulate qualifying rides across several seasons. They reward sustained commitment to long-distance cycling over years, not just a single season.
There are two ACP distance awards: Randonneur 5000 and Randonneur 10000. Both require a combination of total distance, a complete series of BRM distances, and specific special events. This page explains each award in detail, how the rolling windows work, and how the tracker calculates your progress.
How Rolling Windows Work
Both ACP awards use rolling windows rather than fixed seasons. A rolling window looks backward from the current date over a set number of years. Any qualifying ride within that window counts toward the award.
The key difference from season-based awards is that your progress does not reset. Instead, as time moves forward, older rides gradually fall outside the window and stop counting. This means your progress can decrease if you stop riding. A ride from five years ago that currently counts toward ACP 5000 will drop out of the 4-year window next year.
The tracker recalculates your rolling window automatically every time you view the Progress page. It finds the optimal window position that maximises your progress, so you always see the best possible picture of where you stand.
From the road: Use the projection toggle on the Progress page to see how planned rides would affect your ACP award progress. The projected view extends the rolling window forward to include future rides, showing you whether your planned season will get you there.
ACP Randonneur 5000
The Randonneur 5000 recognises riders who accumulate 5,000 km of ACP-homologated events and complete a full distance series within a 4-year rolling window. It is a significant milestone that typically takes two to three active seasons to achieve.
Requirements
All of the following must be achieved within the same 4-year window:
- 5,000 km total distance from qualifying ACP-homologated events
- Complete distance series: At least one BRM at each of 200, 300, 400, 600, and 1,000 km
- Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP): One completed PBP (1,200 km)
- Flèche: One completed Flèche event (≥360 km team 24-hour ride)
Eligible Ride Types
Practical Considerations
The 1,000 km BRM requirement is often the hardest to fulfil. These events are rare: only a handful are organised worldwide each year, and they require multi-day riding with minimal sleep. Plan well in advance and register early, as places are limited.
PBP runs every four years, so the 4-year rolling window is designed to align with the PBP cycle. A common strategy is to build your distance series and total kilometres in the seasons around PBP, using PBP itself to satisfy both the PBP requirement and a large chunk of the distance total.
The distance series can span multiple years within the window. You do not need to complete all five distances in the same season. A 200 km BRM in year one and a 1,000 km BRM in year three both count, as long as they fall within the same 4-year window.
From the road: The tracker shows your current rolling window dates on the award card. Click the card to see which requirements you have fulfilled and which are still outstanding. The date range updates automatically as the window moves forward.
ACP Randonneur 10000
The Randonneur 10000 is the highest distance recognition in ACP randonneuring. It requires 10,000 km of qualifying events, two complete distance series, and several special event requirements within a 6-year rolling window. This is a multi-year project that demands consistent, high-volume riding across many seasons.
Requirements
All of the following must be achieved within the same 6-year window:
- 10,000 km total distance from qualifying ACP-homologated events
- Two complete distance series: Two sets of BRMs at 200, 300, 400, 600, and 1,000 km (10 BRMs total across the five distances, with at least two at each distance)
- Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP): One completed PBP (1,200 km)
- Additional LRM: One LRM of at least 1,200 km, distinct from PBP
- Flèche: One completed Flèche event (≥360 km)
- Climbing requirement: Either an SR600 Original (≥10,000 m elevation) or a BRM 600 km with ≥8,000 m elevation
Eligible Ride Types
The Climbing Requirement
The climbing requirement is unique to the ACP 10000. You must complete either an SR600 Original route (600 km with ≥10,000 m of elevation gain) or a BRM 600 km event with ≥8,000 m of elevation gain. This ensures the award recognises not just distance but also the ability to handle serious mountain terrain.
Well-known routes that satisfy this requirement include the SR600 Vosges, Dolomites, and Pyrénées. If you are planning for ACP 10000, research which SR600 routes are available and factor one into your multi-year plan.
The LRM Requirement
Beyond PBP, you need one additional LRM of at least 1,200 km. This must be a distinct event from PBP. Well-known LRMs include London-Edinburgh-London (LEL, 1,440 km), the 1001 Miglia (1,600 km), and Brasil 1300. Like 1,000 km BRMs, these events are rare and require significant planning and preparation.
SR600 and Distance Counting
There is an important rule change to be aware of: SR600 Original rides completed after 31 October 2022 do not count toward ACP distance calculations. If you completed an SR600 Original before that date, its distance still counts within your rolling window. Modern SR600s (organised as BRM events) count normally because they are BRM-homologated.
Tracker vs Official ACP Rules
The tracker uses a rolling 6-year window that moves forward with the current date. The official ACP rules use a fixed 6-year period starting from your first qualifying event, which allows multiple overlapping award periods with different sets of rides. The tracker approach is a practical simplification that gives you a clear, always-current view of your progress. If you are close to completing the award, consult the official ACP regulations to confirm your eligibility.
Building Toward an ACP Award
Both ACP awards are multi-year projects. Here is a practical approach to planning:
- Start with the rare events. PBP, 1,000 km BRMs, LRMs, and Flèches are infrequent. Identify when and where they are available and build your plan around them.
- Use PBP as an anchor. PBP runs every four years and satisfies both the PBP requirement and 1,200 km of distance. Plan your 4-year (or 6-year) window around the PBP cycle.
- Fill the distance series early. Complete your 200, 300, 400, 600, and 1,000 km BRMs as early in the window as possible. This gives you a buffer if an event is cancelled or you DNF.
- Accumulate distance steadily. Do not leave the bulk of your distance to the final year. Aim for roughly even accumulation across the window.
- Watch the window. The tracker shows your current window dates. Keep an eye on which rides are about to fall outside the window and plan accordingly.
From the road: The ACP 10000 requires two complete distance series (two of each: 200, 300, 400, 600, and 1,000 km). That means two separate 1,000 km BRMs within six years. Since these events are rare, this is often the bottleneck. Start looking for 1,000 km events early.