You may have come across this cyclist, dressed in yellow and green, a teddy bear on the luggage rack, climbing the Hautes-Pyrénées passes on his refurbished road bike? If so, it was probably Kévin Le Menaheze in full training. A great sports fan and supporter of FC Nantes expatriated in the Lourdes region, he has set himself a new challenge: go support your favorite team by bike for the final of the Coupe de France.
“We want the players to wet the jersey, so we will do it too”
After more than 20 years without a title, Kévin and his friend Joris, who stayed in the Pays de la Loire, decide that if their heart club reaches the final stage of the competition, it will be necessary to mark the occasion: “if they go to the final this year, we go there by bike“. When the Canaries emerge victorious from the semi-final against AS Monaco (4-2), and the fans invade the stadium, we have to face the facts: we will have to keep our promises.
Training then begins, to prepare for the 400km that separate the Breton capital from the capital of France. Several stages are planned in the cities of Angers, Le Mans, and Chartres, where they will be staying with friends. While Joris drives on the flatter roads of the Vendée country, Kévin climbs the Cols de la Bigorre and discovers new sporting sensations. In love with the Pyrenees where he came to bivouac during his young years, he decided to take the plunge and settle in the vicinity of Lourdes 7 years ago, to see if “live in the mountains, [c’est] so nice all year round“.
However, the Lourdes is not afraid of this new adventure, which he will experience with his lifelong friend and former canoeing partner. Through their twitter and facebook pages called the “Nantaise joke” (for Joris and Kevin) the two friends invest themselves thoroughly: they share their meetings, sometimes surprising, and the main stages of their preparation, to motivate fans of the Yellow and Green. An event is also organized on May 3, for their big departure from the Beaujoire stadium: come many!
“Two of us are much stronger than alone”
And after the victory, how will the return be made? Kévin would have liked to go back down the Loire to Nantes with the cup, but the logistical complications were too great. The cyclists have therefore chosen the train: with 400km in the legs, they deserve a little rest.