CICLISMO

To speak of cycling is to speak of France—a country where the rhythm of turning pedals is woven into the fabric of its history. Since the mid-19th century, this deep-seated passion has shaped not just the sport, but the very culture of the nation. From the grandeur of Le Tour de France, a spectacle that captivates the world, to the winding roads and towering mountain passes where cyclists—commuters, enthusiasts, and competitors alike—etch their own stories in sweat and perseverance, France lives and breathes cycling.

To live here is to witness this devotion firsthand. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, it seeps into the soul, transforming admiration into obsession. The sight of professionals defying the limits of human endurance—conquering brutal ascents with an almost divine resilience—awakens something within. It compels even the most casual observer to seek out the nearest road, to embrace the burn of the climb, to experience the poetry of motion.

As Jean de Gribaldy so aptly declared: “Cycling isn’t a game, it’s a sport. Tough, hard, and unpitying, it requires great sacrifices. One plays football, or tennis, or hockey. One doesn’t play at cycling.”