The countdown has begun. On Wednesday, July 1, at 4 a.m., Nathalie and Loubna will set out from Thonon-les-Bains to attempt to set the first women’s record for a two-person team on the Route des Grandes Alpes. A joint interview in the final moments before the big leap.
How are you feeling just a few days before the start?
Nathalie: It’s the calm before the storm. Everything is ready. We’re in the starting blocks. Since Sunday, we’ve only been doing short rides, never more than two hours on the bike. And for the last three days, it’s been complete rest. The goal is to arrive as fresh as possible.
Loubna: I still have one day left to take care of the final details: chargers, French plugs—all those little things you have to think about before a project like this. After that, I’m going to really disconnect. If I feel a little stress creeping in, I meditate and do a lot of visualization. I try to imagine how I’ll feel after twelve hours of cycling…
It’s easy to picture the training. Do you think less about all the logistics?
Nathalie: On Tuesday, we’re going to pick up a Mercedes van that will serve as our support vehicle. Behind the three front seats, the back of the vehicle will be converted into a mini mobile workshop with a large toolbox and two sets of wheels for each of us…
The organization relies on two support staff members, Valérie and Constanze. They won’t be following us the whole time. We’ve created a very precise “timeline” with meeting points every two or three hours for refueling. If we encounter minor mechanical issues in the meantime, we’re able to handle them on our own.
Loubna:
There’s a wonderful human story behind this team. First, I’d like to point out that Nathalie did an incredible job preparing for this. Next, Constanze is a childhood friend I’ve known since we were eight years old. She’s already supported me through several Ironman races. Along with a group of friends, they take turns coming to support me at competitions. They know exactly what to say at just the right moment!
Valérie is a more recent friend. She and Constanze haven’t met yet, but they complement each other very well: one is more laid-back, while the other loves festivals, traveling, and enjoying life. I’m sure it’s going to work out great.
But won’t there be more than just the four of you?
Nathalie: No! My husband, Fabien, will also be part of the adventure. But he won’t be part of our support crew. He’ll also be riding from Thonon to Nice on a mountain bike, following his own route. We’ll probably run into each other from time to time, but we’ll each be living our own adventure.
How do you prepare for a multi-day cycling adventure?
Nathalie: With everything we’re bringing, we could feed a whole village... We have a whole box of sports nutrition, and each of us also has our own personal box of “comfort” foods: Haribo, madeleines, Snickers, Tuc... Anything that can boost our spirits. Our goal is to consume about 350 grams of carbohydrates between refueling stops.
Meals are also planned: a 30-minute break at noon, a proper meal before heading out again for one or two hours in the evening—pizza or a pasta dish. The nights will be very short, from 11 p.m. to 3:00 or 3:30 a.m. When we wake up, everything will be ready in a small bag: a clean jersey, the bike, and a light first breakfast of chocolate chip rolls. We’ll have a second, more substantial breakfast on the road.
Loubna: For me, there’s one small additional constraint: I eat gluten-free. So I’m bringing my own bread, crackers… It’s a bit more complicated when you have to rely on bakeries. And I already know that as the ride goes on, I’ll mostly be craving savory foods.
Is your itinerary completely set?
Nathalie: Not entirely. The first night should take us to Bourg-Saint-Maurice. After that, several scenarios are still possible depending on our pace for the second night: a hotel in Cervières or Arvieux, then the last night in Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée or Valdeblore. If everything goes as planned, we hope to reach Nice on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The weather should be fairly mild. We might just see a few drops of rain on Wednesday morning and cool temperatures at higher elevations.
What’s on your mind most today?
Loubna: A tremendous sense of excitement. I feel like this adventure is going to be amazing. I’ll be experiencing it with Nathalie and my friends. I love thrills—I can’t wait to see the sunrises and sunsets in the Alps. I’ve never ridden at night. I’ve never covered such a distance in one go. I want to discover a part of myself that I haven’t yet gotten to know…
And the closer the departure gets, the more messages of encouragement I’m receiving. A friend from Val-d’Isère is even coming to climb the Iseran with us. I feel like this adventure is already becoming more than just a sporting challenge. It’s turning into a beautiful story of women coming together.
Deep down, that’s also why I pitched this project to Nath, who said “yes” within seconds.