On July 21, the two athletes will meet on an electric tandem bike. The goal? To complete the final stage of the Tour de France and cross the finish line before the first cyclist. Under the eyes of several thousand spectators and millions of TV viewers, the duo aims to deliver a universal message of resilience, inclusion, and hope.
Axel Allétru (paraplegic) and Aurélien Vauquelin (visually impaired) are the two athletes who will complete the final stage of the 2024 Tour de France. 33.7 kilometers, two ascents, 728 meters of elevation, and a finish anticipated before the first rider. That is the challenge that unites them today. An occasion for Nice Premium to interview one of the two athletes, Axel Allétru.
A Man with Multiple Lives
Axel Allétru has always been involved in numerous sports. Three-time European vice-champion and world champion in motocross. He then swapped his bike for a motorcycle and became a professional motocross racer. Unfortunately, he had an accident on June 27, 2010, which left him paraplegic.
The great strength of his story is that he managed to partially regain the use of his legs and relaunch himself in sports, particularly swimming. “In this sport, I became twelve-time champion of France, winner of the European Games, and holder of three French records,” he mentions.
He adds, “I wanted to go even further with my challenges and return to motorsports, especially by participating in the Dakar Rally with able-bodied competitors. I set up a project by forming my own team of 25 people. We completed the Dakar, which was already an extraordinary adventure. On top of that, I became the first person with a disability to win a category in the Dakar ahead of able-bodied competitors. A historic first.”
The Final Stage of the Tour de France on an Electric Tandem
Christian Prudhomme, the director of the Tour de France, had the idea to take advantage of the Paralympic Games in France, in Paris, to raise awareness about disability. But also to send a powerful and inspiring message. With hundreds of thousands of spectators coming to cheer them along the route, it was a spectacular way to convey this message.
“We were fortunate to have Moustache Bikes, a very responsive French bike manufacturer, as a partner. They quickly made a tandem adapted to our needs. Today, we have scouted the course, and tomorrow will be the big day.”
Between Solidarity and Trust in this Sporting Duo
“Aurélien, my partner, was a former professional para-cyclist. Already being in this field, he was looking for someone to team up with. With all the challenges I have taken on, he told me I couldn’t refuse. I said it would still be quite a challenge and that we needed to test it. We tried the tandem together, and it was conclusive. Immediately, we launched into the adventure,” explains Axel Allétru.
They didn’t live near each other. Their training was organized in sessions. “Each of us trains a bit on our own. Then, we had several meet-ups together, testing the tandem several times. We found a training rhythm that works well for us.”
A Strong and Inspiring Message
“Behind impossible always hides a possible,” Axel Allétru mentioned during the interview. He adds, “Whether we are students, people with disabilities, CEOs, or managers, we all have dreams, ambitions, and challenging times. But we also have within us the mental strength to overcome these obstacles and accomplish remarkable things. Tomorrow, we will prove it by achieving something remarkable.”
