he made a tour of France by bike to raise awareness of childhood and cardiovascular diseases
Clément Grienenberger has launched a bet: to travel France and 6,000 kilometers by bike for the benefit of two associations France AVC and Baskets aux pieds. One helps stroke victims and the other helps children with cancer.
He left at 7:30 am this Thursday, September 23 from Schiltigheim, near Strasbourg. Six hours later, when he picks up his phone for our interview, Clément Grienenberger is at his 140e kilometer. “I find it hard to tell you where I am exactly, let go the young man out of breath, but it is in Moselle at the German border. I’ve been pedaling for six hours, I started in the mist and now I have good weather so everything is fine.“Final stage of the day: 200 kilometers and the town of Morsbach.
His goal: to cycle around France, or 6,000 kilometers in a month and a half. “I don’t really have a dead line, but I told my girlfriend a month and a half so I’ll try not to exceed», The young cyclist quipped.
The adventure started a few months ago for this Strasbourg resident, a graphic designer for almost 10 years.
“I quit my job to become a mid-mountain guide, but before starting my training, I wanted to embark on this Tour de France by bike project. I chose the bike because it is the tool par excellence to move at a certain speed while enjoying the landscape, I love running, but going around France on foot is a too illusory project. ” It is therefore decided, he will do the 6000 kilometers by bike.
Solidarity adventure
This adventure, Clément wants it united. This is why he chose two associations to support him: France AVC and Baskets at the feet. The first, for his mother, victim of a stroke more than twenty years ago. The second because it concerns children and it is close to his heart. “In fact, if I do this, it’s for all these people who happen to have things that you can’t control and that turn their lives upside down. I am lucky to be in good shape, and to be able to complete this course with both my legs, I want to take advantage of it.“The idea for him is to deliver”a mobility message“.
So to advance in his adventure, Clément asks for one euro for one kilometer. The goal is to collect 6,000 for the two associations. For him, getting involved will also help him carry out this adventure. “During the difficult times, I thought about associations and I know that this will boost me to move forward and not to give up. “
Difficult times, this thirty-something, who describes himself as a great sportsman, risks going through them despite training for several months. “Every day, I cycled 30 kilometers to work. I also did a lot of running, the last one was 160 kilometers with 10,000 vertical meters. So it was really good for training, then we’ll see, eh.“
Mythical stages
During his journey, the cyclist also foresees the French borders, “a beautiful ride of 6,000 kilometers “, he tells us. But he still has stages in mind with precision. “There are places that I am delighted to see such as Brittany, the cliffs of Etretat. There are also mythical passes that I can not wait to do in the Pyrenees and in the Alps too. “
If his mother only half supports him in this adventure, “too dangerous“In his eyes, his father decided to accompany him in order to relieve him of certain logistical constraints.”I told him so much about this project that he decided to be part of it too, he will rent a motorhome and meet me on certain stages, the idea is that I sleep with him in his campsite- auto.“
The rest of the time, Clément plans to sleep in the tent. To eat, he relies on grocery stores and bakeries that he will meet on the way. “To eat, it will be complicated because by following the border, I will really go through very pretty but very lost places too.“
The athlete is not his first challenge, during confinement, he had already completed 1,297 cycling loops in his yard, a total of 42,195 km, to raise funds for hospitalized children.