Toulouse: two students will travel from Toulouse to Paris by VélÔToulouse
From February 17 to 27, Alban Lion and Grégoire Prost, two childhood friends, will cycle more than 800 kilometers on Toulouse self-service bicycles with one goal in mind: to raise awareness of ecology.
From the Capitol to the capital! Two Toulouse students, Alban Lion and Grégoire Prost, 21 and 22, will link Toulouse to Paris by bike. Not with anyone, VéloToulouse.
The two childhood friends use self-service bicycles on a daily basis for their journeys. It was when they saw the SNCF advertising displayed on the bikes that the idea for their project germinated. “Paris by bike is a long way, go there by TGV instead”, is written on the rear wheel of the VélôToulouse. During a walk, Alban Lion is struck by this sentence. The Toulousain takes her at her word. He calls his lifelong friend, Grégoire Prost, and asks him to take up the challenge.
“For four years now, we have been documenting all our adventures and travels on our social networks. Not only does it give us extraordinary memories, but we also try to motivate people. We think this project is the perfect example, it really symbolizes the message we want to convey”, smiles Alban Lion.
For the two athletes, the challenge is daunting. They contact the manager of the VélôToulouse fleet, JCDecaux, to explain the project to him and release two bikes. “YouTubers have already tried to connect London from Paris with self-service bicycles but their handlebars got stuck after 24 hours. We didn’t want that to happen to us, ”says Grégoire Prost.
JCDecaux agreed to help and become a partner. Patrick Tregou, the regional director, finds the idea “amusing”. “It’s a sporting journey led by two brilliant students. We decided to provide them with two bicycles and we will also find solutions to assist them throughout their adventure. It’s our way of saluting their creativity,” he rejoices.
“On an ecological message to convey”
Their journey will last 10 days, from February 17 to 27, 2023. Before embarking on this journey of more than 800 kilometers (they will follow the central massif, editor’s note), the students will train. “We will continue to pedal daily with the VélôToulouse and at the weekend we will do longer mountain bike rides”, detail the two friends.
Beyond the sporting aspect, they want to convey an ecological message. “We want to tell people who will follow our adventure that if we can connect Toulouse to Paris by bike, they can use it in their daily trips instead of taking the car”. A crusade-like journey for soft mobility.
Alban and Grégoire also want to launch a kitty that will sponsor one or more kilometers of their journey. The money will be donated to an environmental protection association.
The two Toulousains will start from the Place du Capitole and will finish their challenge on the avenue des Champs Elysées, at the stage of the Tour de France.