The student Erwan Étienne de Conde won an internship in Bosnia more than 2000 km away. He decided to go there by bicycle, collecting donations to Emmaus.
How to aerate a bit head before attacking a university course? Capita Condé-lès-Vouziers, Erwan Étienne is not gone around the bush, but rather by the high road. This geopolitical student at the University of Reims has opted for a radical solution, which may be few followers: rally bike landed an internship in Sarajevo. On the menu, a mere 2151 miles to go to France in Bosnia from February 15 to April 1, through Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia.
More than 1000 km already engulfed
“As an avid endurance sport and a great reader of adventure stories (Sylvain Tesson, Mike Horn), I thought that it might be a good idea to go there by bike,” said the young man 24 years. “Especially the idea to fly me off a bit, especially because of its environmental costs. ‘
Side physical preparation, Vouziers area already had a solid background. Cyclist and runner, he multiplied the sporting challenges in recent years by participating in the trial of 10 km from Reims (2006 and 2007), Sedan-Charleville (2007, 2009, 2011), Marathon de Reims (2011), Triathlon Vieilles Forges (2011), and Ultra-Trail trail in the Ardennes (2010, 2011, 2012), or the turn of the Ardennes fixed gear bike (207 km in 5 days in 2012).
“Moreover, in Reims, I never go by bike. I stepped a little over a month before my workout to go, but more than that to keep forces, “he says. And as that all reservations are now mobilized. Party on February 15 in Saint-Laurent, the student must reach Austria this week, after more than 1 000 km engulfed in harsh conditions. “For the moment, it is a good initiatory journey, climatic conditions are sometimes Dante: -10 ° C overnight in a tent, snow and ice in the mountains, icy wind, says the young man. I learned to be humble before nature, which alone decides when we move. ‘
Flat tire, tendonitis, wrist bent in a fall and broken tail light, mechanical and physical seeds dot the trip. To facilitate its growth, Erwan has already offloaded 30 kg 70 kg luggage on board at the start. But its greatest asset remains optimistic irreducible.
Nature and human nature
“Physically it goes, the body is a little tired, morale is good, although for both, there were two passages sawtooth,” said the rider, which can apparently he rely on small nudges of Providence. “I had some great meetings, especially in Germany three times, in moments of discouragement about the difficulty of advancing, people came to me to help, which some coke, that a conversation comforting, which help to carry the bike, which allowed me to go ahead and smile again! I am also in contact with nature, especially birds with me and I fly regularly, many raptors, herons, swans, and of course ravens. ‘
The human adventure doubles as a humanitarian challenge. The young man wants to collect a euro per kilometer, or 2,151 euros. The proceeds will be entirely donated to the non-governmental organization that hosts International Forum of Solidarity, Emmaus Bosnia.
As to the use to which the student intends, “I do not have specific occupation in mind, I intend to work where I am most useful to others and where I épanouirai,” says simply. No wonder with such a background?
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