Growing up, Yannis Pelé was a hot prospect as a downhill mountain biker, until a bad fall in a Coupe de France race aged seventeen left him paraplegic. Though he was told he might never ride a bike again, through a punishing regime of mental and physical work, and a strict nutritional programme, he was back in the saddle eighteen months later. These days, he rides for the joy of it, and he took some time early this summer to head to the wild and rugged island of Corsica with friends, for an extended bikepacking exploration.

“Corsica holds a place in my heart,” he explains. “I’ve been able to go there several times since my childhood. First because my cousins lived there, and then because a friend had a second home in the south where we spent holidays riding mountain bikes and walking. It's also easily accessible from home with the ferry, and the island is particularly beautiful and diverse so it was the ideal destination for a first cycling adventure.” He went with his partner and two friends for 12 days, following their noses with no set itinerary and aiming to stop riding each day in the early afternoon, to continue their explorations on foot.

“We left from Auron, a ski resort in the Mercantour, to ride down to Nice, with a quick break at Café du Cycliste on the port before taking the ferry to Bastia on the north of the island. You could cross Corsica multiple times and still discover new things, with such a variety of scenery and so many possibilities,” he says. “As long as you stick to small roads, you’ll never be disappointed or bothered by traffic. Ideally, you should go in the off-season – either in spring or in autumn, when the temperatures are milder, the weather is generally good and there are far fewer people.”

Highlights included the village of Porto, surrounded by cliffs of orange rock on the wild west coast, and the Col de Bavella. “We climbed from Zonza and descended towards Solenzara,” he says. “The landscapes are varied and spectacular: pine forests, the beautiful Aiguilles de Bavella, orange rock formations reminiscent of Utah, a river with natural swimming holes, and finally the arrival by the sea. Simply stunning!”

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Yannis took with him two Romy jerseys – “technical, comfortable, breathable and stylish!” – and a lighter-weight Olympe, plus Eva bib shorts with their top-class chamois and useful cargo pockets. “The Ilona windbreaker was ideal for descents and even on morning climbs thanks to its breathability,” he says. “And of course, the Alizée rain jacket – pretty much essential at that time of year in case of rain and so compact it takes up almost no space.

It was Yannis’s first time bikepacking, and it was a perfect way to spend time with friends. “I absolutely loved the experience of travelling by bike. It’s such a pleasure – it lets you enjoy each place even more, take the time to stop, enjoy and feel free and self-reliant,” he says. The experience was deepened for him by his difficult path even just to riding a bike today. “After my accident, my relationship with sport changed, along with my relationship to life in general. I savour every moment, grateful just to be able to stand up, be healthy, and live all these unique adventures. Simply standing up each morning fills me with joy!” he says. “I’m also very aware that everything can change in an instant, and that it’s important to enjoy life, to do what you love, and to set everything in motion to make your projects or dreams happen.”