Éric Aussant - From Thonon to Nice

Eric, can you introduce yourself?

I'm Eric, a 58-year-old cyclist with a disability: having had my right foot amputated at the age of 15 following an accident, I pedal with my prosthesis every day and it's going pretty well as it is!

I started cycling quite late at 47, with weekly cyclosportive outings. Then I took up running without giving up cycling: I use it every day to go to work, to run errands, for weekend rides and on vacations...

I'm not a cyclist, I'm a runner!

Why an itinerant crossing of the Alps?

I've been touring by bike for 8 years, all over France and Europe. A mountain lover, in 2020 I cycled through Savoie and Haute Savoie in 12 days, and really enjoyed it.

So I tried the GTA in the summer of 2021, with my muscle bike (Kona Sutra) and 17 kg of luggage. I did the route in 17 days, at a really leisurely pace alternating rest and sightseeing.

For this year, I wanted to outdo myself, to take up the challenge of climbing and linking all these passes with a fully loaded bike, and I wasn't disappointed! I was also motivated by the diversity of the route, the wide open spaces, the magnificent landscapes and the mountain atmosphere.

What is your trifecta of passes? Why?

The complicated Col du Pré, with its magnificent view of the Roselend dam. The difficult Galibier, a small feat for me, and the very beautiful Col de la Cayolle.

Ane anecdote to share?

Not really an anecdote, mostly great and numerous encounters.

Slow cycling! No record speeds on the climbs with my loaded bike, often at 5 km h when the slopes are at 10% it allows you to really enjoy the scenery, cross marmots or ibex.

I also rode with a jogger for 1 hour while chatting, you certainly don't move fast but it doesn't matter, it allows you to discover!