leaving Saint-Nazaire, Antonin traveled 9,000 km by bike

See my news
Follow L’Écho de la Presqu’île

He's still a bit stuck in his head. But his smile says it all. Antonin Crusson will never forget the eighteen months he has just experienced. After a romantic breakup, without a fixed job and without ties, this Nazaire 28-year-old decided, somewhat on a whim, to leave everything behind to go on an adventure. A cycling road trip. Having left the port city in June 2023, Antonin completed his journey on Tuesday November 12. After 9 000 km with pedal strokes. “I ended my trip accompanied by my friends and relatives in the streets of Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique). We took a little detour to do exactly 9,000 km! »

“I had never taken a cycling vacation”

However, Antonin was never a adventurer. “I had barely traveled before leaving,” he smiles. The bike? “I found it a convenient way to get around the city, but I had never taken a two-wheeled vacation. »

It was actually a travel project imagined with his ex-girlfriend that motivated him to hit the road. “I was in Rennes. We broke up and I had no prospects. I decided to do it alone, it was a good time to travel. »

The young man buys a bike, a tent and everything necessary for bivouac.

It took me almost a year to prepare, I had to put money aside. I was originally going to sail to Morocco, but that year there were a lot of fires, so I changed my plans.

On June 15, 2023, he set sail for the Côte d'Azur with the Türkiye in line of sight.

Meetings

Having left for six months, he will have finally cycled for eighteen months, crossed eight countries and climbed several passes. An almost glitch-free journey.

I had a puncture once and had a knee injury which forced me to take a break. I thought I was going to suffer even more physically, but I knew how to be reasonable and listen to my body. I won't hide the fact that the first pass was tough, but it's also these moments that are the most beautiful.

Beyond the breathtaking landscapes, it is the encounters that marked Antonin. Skater, he left with his board. “I knew it would make it easier for me to meet people. » In Greece, Antonin had the chance to meet his childhood idols, including Thanos, a former pro skater who served as his tourist guide. There were also some adventures like the day he found himself in a cell in Greece. “I never knew why I was arrested! »

Traveling by bike “is a authentic experience. We pass through remote, less touristy places and meet people who are not used to seeing tourists. In Türkiye, the locals kept inviting me to drink tea,” says the traveler.

And there was also the meeting. Anastasia's. The Nazairian found love to Athens, where he decided to spend the winter. “She doesn't particularly like cycling, but she followed me to Marseille on the way back. She went back to Greece, she must come here in a few weeks. »

Expositions et fanzine

Back home, Antonin has several projects. He would like to display photos of his adventure to share with the people of Nazaire. “I also want to make a fanzine. During my trip, I took a lot of portraits that I would like to showcase. »

The young man, who has acquired a taste for adventure, has not ruled out leaving again one day. Always on a bike. “But not right away, my body needs to recover. Why not go further afield, or take a world tour? That's what's great about cycling. We have no limits. Traveling by bike is freedom! »

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.