meet the family

Meet Adrien

Adrien first popped up on a leaderboard of Ultra Bikepacking Events in 2019 with a 2nd in the Race across France but whilst he might be a recent addition to the podium steps he has been racing mountain bikes since he was 12 years old competing throughout the late 90’s and into the early 00’s. He worked as a cycle courier for several years in Geneva but in 2022 he rented his apartment out and set off to travel the world by bike.

It’s fair to say he has had his ups and downs like all ultra-distance racers, but after his airline lost his bike before the start of the Tour Divide in 2022, what was a stomach-churning disaster turned into one of the best moments of his life when a fellow competitor lent him a spare bike and he crossed the line 3rd a few hours behind the bike's owner.

Where possible he likes to ride to and from races to try to prove that you can travel without flying by taking boats and trains, although sometimes it is unavoidable. Normally after the racing is all done and dusted, he moves into ‘recovery mode’, loads the bike up with his touring setup and heads off for new adventures. After finishing first in the Rhino Run pairs category with his partner, Sophie, they decided to ride all the way home from Windhoek to Geneva.

So far 2023 has been a momentous year for Adrien with 1st place in the first ever Hellenic Mountain Race. The initial thinking was that the best riders would finish in under 3 days, but the weather had other ideas and heavy rain and snow turned the route into a mud fest. In the end, he would cross the line in 4 days 12 hours plus small change.  Next up was the inaugural Ascend Armenia event where the weather and the wildness of the route played its part yet again with late snow melt, ungrazed meadows, and yet more mud. Adrien obviously has an affinity for the stuff, pushing through it all for another 1st place.

Where are you from, where did you grew up and when were you born?   

I am from Switzerland. I was born in 1985 and grew up in Meyrin, near Geneva.

When did you start cycling, and how did it lead to racing?

I started cycling at about 8 years old and immediately I cycled more than other children of my age. Initially, I rode many kilometres close to my home, and then later, I ventured further away into nature. Between the age of 12 and 22, I competed on a mountain bike, it was a great time for MTB!

What do you think is so fascinating in terms of endurance / bikepacking races?

I enjoy bikepacking, and bike travel in general, because anything is possible by cycling. There is no limit. You really feel free.

Which race did you enjoy the most and why (what’s your favourite race)?

Two bikepacking races are important to me. The first one is the Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan.  It compiles all the difficulties that you can have in bikepacking; difficult weather, extreme temperature variation, difficulty finding water and food, poor telephone connection and remoteness, and it takes place in one beautiful country! The second race is the Tour Divide because it is mythical and especially very long.

What result are you most proud of and why?

My win at the Hellenic Mountain Race this year. I led the whole race. On day 3, my right knee swelled and I was in extreme pain. I decided to slow down to at least finish the race. Miraculously, after a few hours in Touring mode, the pain completely disappeared and I started to have fun again. I accelerated and finally crossed the finish line as a winner.

What is your usual routine in the periods before and after a race, is there a process you use to help you ‘warm up’ and ‘cool off’?

I arrive about ten days before the races. I travel to the start to soak up things like the culture and language, and I also stay after the races to travel again. I have a lighter, race-ready setup and a touring setup which includes a tent and stove, for after the race.

As you are travelling most of the year, do you have a basis to stay at in times you’re not racing / travelling – do you have an appartment somewhere?

I don't have an apartment since 2022, I live on the road since then. When I come back to Geneva, I usually go to sleep at friends/family. I am very lucky and thankful.