Earlier this month, Café du Cycliste athlete Adrien Liechti became the first person ever to cycle unsupported from the northernmost to the southernmost point of Africa, in a time of 96 days and 16 hours exactly – all in Café du Cycliste kit and shoes – creating a new reference in ultradistance adventure.

What were the nicest surprises?

There were countless positive surprises. The Republic Guinea, for example, was a huge highlight: incredible landscapes, magnificent jungle, extremely welcoming people and excellent food. Nigeria also left a strong impression on me, with very funny encounters and an incredible energy. It’s an intense country, but a fascinating one. I also rediscovered Namibia, which I had already crossed in 2022; this time I spent a rest day there with some amazing people. And then there was the jungle crossing in the Congo, which was a real surprise. I was even lucky enough to see gorillas, a truly unique moment.

What were the biggest difficulties you experienced?

The most difficult moments were mainly linked to certain key crossings. In Algeria, I was followed by the police for much of the time, and I had to insist on being allowed to ride alone. In Nigeria, there was the crossing of the Niger River, in an area known for a high risk of kidnapping, which made things quite tense.There was also the Banyo border between Nigeria and Cameroon, officially closed but still an essential crossing point heading south, with very remote and challenging off-road tracks. More generally, obtaining visas was a real challenge: apart from Algeria, which I’d obtained with difficulty in advance, everything was arranged on the road, with a lot of uncertainty and constant adaptation. I would also add the crossing of the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly at the point where you cross the Congo River towards Matadi. It’s a strategic and unavoidable crossing, the only bridge over the Congo River. Contrary to what you might think, solitude was not a problem. I’m used to travelling alone. I met people every day, I was always surrounded, and above all focused on my mission.The real challenge at the beginning was finding the right rhythm. I eventually settled into riding between 11 and 13 hours a day, which allowed me to sustain the effort over three months. As for equipment, everything was well planned. I didn’t have a single issue from start to finish, whether with clothing, mechanics or electronics.

How did you feel the day before the finish, when you realised you were going to complete the journey and set a world record?

On the final day, honestly, I didn’t feel much. Two days earlier I had already realised I was going to make it to the end. At that level of fatigue, emotions are somewhat muted. More than anything, it was a sense of accomplishment, of pride in having completed this project I had put together, but also a slight apprehension about ‘afterwards’.

What are you going to do now?

Right now, I’m still on my way back to Europe. I need to finalise the documentation to have the record officially validated, then take time to debrief and really process what I’ve experienced, because it still hasn’t yet fully sunk in. After that, there will be new projects – bikepacking competitions, crossing the Sahara, but off-road – and I also want to share this experience through talks.

What was the most important thing you’ve learned from this incredible experience?

The biggest lesson I take from it all is patience. Especially during the two weeks I was held up in Cameroon: I knew the situation would resolve itself, but without knowing when.