Stéphane Cazottes, originally from Capdenac, set himself a challenge for his 50th birthday: to cross the United States of America by bike with a colleague and friend.
Stéphane, whose parents live in Causse-Blanc, left Capdenac after his studies for work in 1993. He will specify that he played football for 14 years at the CCAC (Compound Club Athlétic Capdenac) before being fired at Triathlon 12 in Rodez for some time. .
“I am from Aveyron from the heart and guts, even if nowadays I live in the south of Seine-et-Marne after having lived in Brive-la-Gaillarde, Paris, Laroche-Migennes, Montbard, Montchanin, Toulouse, Besançon , Johannesburg in South Africa and Perth in Australia!” said our 50-year-old who continues “This summer, from June 12 to July 25, with a colleague and friend, we are embarking, at 50 years old for me and 58 years old for him, in a small sporting challenge: to cross the USA by bike by 38 days with for all luggage, approximately 5 kg of tools and spare things”.
Accustomed to challenges
Stéphane works at SNCF Réseau in the Railway Assets and Programming Department, as head of strategy for the track domain. Married to an English-speaking South African, Stéphane speaks English and worked for 1 year in South Africa and 2 years in Australia, for the SNCF, in Las Vegas in the United States, on the projects of the Russian LGV, the Saudi LGV and the Swedish LGV.
On the sport side, Stéphane has participated in many marathons and triathlons. In September 2017, he crossed France from South to North, 1,416 km in 10 stages; in September 2018 a new crossing of France but this time from West to East, 1,316 km in 9 stages; in September 2019, south transversal, Hendaye – Menton, via Andorra, 1,286 km in 9 stages and in August 2021, destination South Europe, from Fontainebleau to Tarifa, 2,074 km in 16 stages.
His friend is Eric Delubac, 58, born September 21, 1963 in Orange and currently residing in Ollioules in the Var department. A great sportsman, he takes part in the activities of the Six-Fours Triathlon and has a great track record in several disciplines. Newly retired, this SNCF Réseau engineer says he is ready to accompany his friend on the 5100 km.
Stéphane to Tarifa, southern end of the European continent, from Fontainebleau in 16 non-stop days.
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Crossing the USA, a childhood dream
For Stéphane Cazotte, crossing the USA is a childhood dream that he will realize thanks to his taste for travel made possible because shared with his wife. It will also materialize thanks to Eric, his friend, who got involved in this project, following a cycle mechanic training because the objective of the two friends is to be as independent as possible.
The project will therefore consist of crossing the United States of America, diagonally, from the east coast (Boston) to the south coast (San Diego, on the Mexican border) crossing 15 states either by cutting as short as possible, on the paper, about 5,100 km. On the strength of his previous experiences, Stéphane has set up stages of 130 km on average, with 6 days of rest drowned in the middle of the 38 stages required.
Conscious but determined
“There will be adjustments to be made like, in Arizona where it will be very hot, we will be driving at night. On the map the road is three quarters flat but there is also Vermont and the Rockies in California… We will also have to manage the pain in our body, friction, we are not professionals”, confide the two friends.
We feel the determination of these two boys to take up this challenge which will surely not be the last.
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