the crazy journey of two Brest ultras to attend Shakhtar-Brest

Two Stade Brestois supporters traveled by bike from France to Gelsenkirchen in Germany to attend the Champions League matchday seven between the Breton club and Shakhtar Donetsk. All to raise money for an association.

Guaranteed to compete at least in the Champions League play-offs, Stade Brestois can still hope to finish in the top 8 with a direct ticket to the round of 16. But to get there, Eric Roy's protégés will still have to come out with two big matches against Real Madrid, in a week, and this Wednesday against Shakhtar Donetsk on the seventh day. Ambitious, the Bretons will be able to count on the support of more than 1,000 supporters expected at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen.

Relocated to Germany, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, this European shock also allowed two Brest fans to make a fantastic journey from Finistère. Jean Simon and Huan Cupillard traveled to Gelsenkirchen by bike from Paris. They left on Friday for a journey of around 600 kilometers in freezing cold.

>> Follow the Shakhtar Donetsk-Brest match live

A (not so) crazy bet that came true despite the cold

At the origin of this great adventure, a bet launched between the two friends during the 2023-2024 season. Totally excited, and a bit surprised, by Brest's heroic campaign in Ligue 1, Jean Simon and Huan Cupillard had promised to travel to C1 by bike if Brendan Chardonnet's partners kept up the pace and qualified in Europe . Arriving this Wednesday morning in Germany, cycling outfits in Pirates colors on their backs, the two friends enjoyed the microphone of RMC Sport.

“It all started with a bet. If Brest qualified for the Champions League, we had to play a match on bike,” said Jean Simon a few hours before the continental meeting. “And so we came by bike from Paris. We left Friday and we arrived this Wednesday morning.”

“It was very difficult,” said Huan Cupillard. “It's true that we knew it was going to be cold but knowing it and doing it is different. We were really quite cold. But otherwise, we arrived and we are happy.”

Before seeing this Parisian, adopted Brest supporter, clarify: “Now it's just a joy. We're going to play the match, it's great.”

“A little bit to mark the occasion” and for a good cause

Originally from Brest, regular at the stadium since 2004 and even a member of Ultras Brestois since 2010, Jean Simon also recalled the symbolic side of this cycling challenge. If the two friends took up their crazy bet, it was also to raise money for a good cause. Throughout their adventure relayed by several media in recent days, the two Brest supporters have never stopped referring to an online prize pool whose funds will be donated to the association A dream a smile. Many Brest supporters participated to help make the dreams of sick or disabled children come true.

“It was a little bit to mark the occasion after the big season at Stade Brestois with the first in the Champions League. We really wanted to do something,” Jean Simon further detailed with RMC Sport. “Afterwards we are used to doing sporting challenges together and we had already done a Paris-Brest by bike for a start of the Tour de France (in 2021). We wanted to add something and what's more, as there was a associative cause We do it for the association which is called. A dream a smile and where people could make donations.”

And one of these two big-hearted supporters concluded: “It was a whole thing and it will make memories. There will be a before and an after, that's for sure.”