Vincent Nadon
Vincent Nadon took part in the Transcontinental Race in 2023. He crossed Europe, from Belgium to Greece, by bike. PHOTO PROVIDED BY VINCENT NADON
35 years old – Montreal
Audio Research and Development Scientist
· Transcontinental race
For what ?
“After crossing Canada to discover my country in 2018, the next step was to cross Europe as part of the Transcontinental Race, which had already piqued my curiosity.”
Four thousand kilometers by bike is the distance that Vincent Nadon covered last summer from the Belgian countryside near Brussels to Thessaloniki in eastern Greece on the edge of the Aegean Sea. An adventure beyond the limits of the extraordinary that allowed him to spend two weeks discovering the hidden corners of the old continent.
While some do it with a backpack while staying in youth hostels before adulthood, the 35-year-old Quebecer chose to do it with his shiny Quebec carbon bike, made by Granby-based manufacturer Panorama Cycles. A company that makes bikes for those who prefer gravel, snow and trails to endless, perfect asphalt roads.
This is exactly the spirit of the Transcontinental Race. Every year the organizers choose a new route. In complete autonomy and without the possibility of seeking assistance from third parties, participants are free to choose their route but must pass mandatory checkpoints. Equipped with navigation devices, you can drive on gravel, field or asphalt roads.
Vincent Nadon took part in the Transcontinental Race in 2023. He crossed Europe, from Belgium to Greece, by bike. PHOTO PROVIDED BY VINCENT NADON
Despite the many crazy cycling events across Europe, the Transcontinental remains the longest independent endurance competition on the continent.
shocks
During the 2023 edition last July, Nadon crossed the hinterland of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Albania after passing through France, Switzerland and Italy. A real gift for exploring lands he didn't know.
From Belgium, the 2023 Transcontinental Race route passed through France, Switzerland and Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Albania before arriving in Greece. PHOTO SCREENSHOT LOSTDOT.CC
“I observed surprising socio-economic shocks,” he says of his journey from Western to Eastern Europe. “I experienced all the poverty. In Bosnia and Albania we see that the value of money is completely different.”
“If you've just driven through Switzerland, which stands for perfection, it's impressive,” says the man who watched them over hundreds of kilometers, punctuated by small towns. I saw the degradation of capitalism to communism.”
A workout”
At the turn of the year 2015, Nadon went into exile in Belgium to do his doctoral thesis. This is where his life changed. Crohn's disease was initially diagnosed there. This severe inflammatory bowel disease forced him to change his lifestyle.
In order to better manage his stress and regulate the symptoms of the illness, he decided to cycle. Because when he arrived in Belgium he was not used to the discipline.
“I started riding and traveling longer distances. I discovered the entire spectrum of cycling. When I left, I often drove more than 250 km on my trips,” says the man, who is now a scientist in audio research and development.
The bike touring races had really piqued his interest. Friends therefore challenged him to the Transcontinental. However, Nadon changed it.
Vincent Nadon took part in the Transcontinental Race in 2023. He crossed Europe, from Belgium to Greece, by bike. Courtesy of Paul Spethmann. Courtesy of Paul Spethmann
“Before I set out to discover the countries of Europe, I had to discover my own,” he says with a laugh. So in 2018 I decided to cross Canada. This was the first step. After that I could do the Transcontinental.”
Logical, because more than 4000 km separate Montreal from Vancouver by bike. A “training” challenge worthy of what awaited him on the other side of the Atlantic. He therefore benefited from the knowledge of a trainer, Jacob Dupont.
Change course at 180
In his quest, his illness was a real motivator, forcing him to stay in shape and complete his projects before it stopped him.
The cyclist therefore set big goals for the Transcontinental and believed he could complete the journey in 10 to 12 days. However, this competition requires precise logistical preparation.
However, navigation problems from day one slowed him down significantly, as the configuration of the state-of-the-art software he had chosen to guide him played nasty tricks on him, forcing him to drive on more difficult routes.
“I realized pretty quickly that this race was more about the nomadic journey for me, where I wanted to see beautiful landscapes in the adventure, than about fighting against a timepiece. I switched from performance mode to contemplative mode. However, I wanted to finish on time.
A moment of relaxation for Vincent Nadon, who took part in the Transcontinental Race in 2023. He therefore crossed Europe, from Belgium to Greece, by bicycle. PHOTO PROVIDED BY VINCENT NADON
“My body was not my limit,” concludes the man who covered the official distance of 3,822 km to the finish line in 13 days and 14 hours. Rather, it is the imponderables such as organization and management that we have to know how to master well.”