The record-breaking freediver heads to the highest paved road in the French Alps…

Guillaume Néry is an icon of the extreme, far more than a world record holder, he is a pioneer in pushing physical, physiological and mental limits. The generation captivated by the freediving film The Big Blue was still very much alive in the early 2000s when Guillaume broke the constant-weight freediving world record on four occasions. Watching these athletes descend to depths of 106 metres, pulled into the abyss by the weight of a sled, was endlessly fascinating. Guillaume would eventually reach 126 metres under the power of his monofin alone, pushing the boundaries of both the human body and scientific understanding.

Guillaume is someone who is constantly evolving, constantly discovering new passions. The sea remains an obvious part of his life, but living in Nice also means living with the mountains on your doorstep. Guillaume counts himself among those who cannot resist their pull… and then there is cycling, a sport he fell in love after his parents introduced him to it at an early age. Cycling as travel and exploration, crossing mountain passes and pushing yourself – hard rides with friends full of laughter, and family adventures too. A keen bikepacker, he has crossed numerous European countries with his partner. Slow living, minimalism, meeting people, letting time set the pace. In recent years, he has also dedicated himself to trail running. After countless training miles, hard strength work and carefully planned nutrition, he now lines up regularly at mountain trail races.

From the summits...

When he was invited to ride the Col de la Bonette – the highest paved road in France – for its spring reopening, there was never any hesitation, only excitement. A few days later he was climbing its slopes: 26 kilometres of ascent and 1,700 metres of elevation gain to reach its summit at 2,802 metres. In itself, nothing especially extraordinary for a cyclist. Yet locals know the Bonette well. Conditions there are often brutal, the weather capable of turning in an instant and leaving anyone relying solely on the strength of their legs in a difficult situation, above all because of the cold. That day, in fact, the road was not yet fully open; only bicycles were allowed to reach the top. Above 2,000 metres, marmots whistled and darted about, barely awake from their long winter hibernation and seemingly delighted by the rare cyclists passing through. They would not see many that day: few had ventured up the road. But it is precisely that lingering springtime cold that gives rides like this their character, the feeling of living through an epic in a single day, one that leaves a lasting impression every time. As always, the climb tested both body and mind. Once at the col, there was little reason to linger unless you fancied turning into an icicle. Wrapped in every extra layer we had, the descent began, made hazardous by powerful gusts of wind. By the time we reached the village of Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, the contrast in temperature between summit and valley was striking – a journey from winter to spring in the space of a few dozen minutes. Frozen hands and feet were grateful.

… into the abyss

A few weeks later, the scene could not be more different. Guillaume speed down from the hills above Nice towards Plage de la Réserve. It is a ritual he has maintained, summer and winter. It was from this very shoreline that he had once set off on an underwater journey around the world. A memory... He swims on the surface, heading out beyond the crowds, where the water is clearer and deeper. Rocky seabeds gradually give way to stretches of white sand. The pull of the depths is still there – not for records or achievements, simply for the pleasure of returning, rediscovering familiar sensations, feeling the city fall silent and time stand still. The past few weeks have been busy, filled with conferences and film shoots. Time has moved on, but the feats he accomplished, the enduring fascination with the deep, and Guillaume's gift for bringing that world to life through storytelling, ensure that he remains much in demand. To tell stories, to bear witness, to raise awareness of the fragility of the natural world: it is a mission he embraced several years ago, and one he intends to continue for many years to come. Reinventing yourself is an art in itself.

The Café du Cycliste Caravan brings together six athletes competing at the very highest level of their respective disciplines, all of whom consider cycling an essential part of their physical preparation. Find out more about them here.