We forgot to tell him that there were elevators.
So this Sunday at 11 am, Aurélien Fontenoy will take the stairs to climb to the top of the Trinity Tower in La Défense, in the town of Courbevoie.
A formality: the brand new skyscraper in the business district rises to 140m in height and to reach its summit, you have to climb a trifle of 768 steps.
To make matters worse, the brother of sailor Maud Fontenoy will do it… by mountain bike, climbing step by step.
A very special exercise.
Several times on the world podiums
“Trial mountain biking is my specialty,” confides the young thirty-something triple vice-world champion in the discipline.
This kind of effort does not scare me, although it is very special.
The climb will take me between 30 and 40 minutes against only a few minutes for a trial round.
So I'm going to need a lot more endurance than in a usual competition.
The cardio will also go up very strongly.
But I'm prepared for it ”
pic.twitter.com/bDesUWNtdQ
- Aurélien FONTENOY (@AurelFontenoy) May 13, 2020
Concentration is also the essential ingredient for this kind of adventure.
There is nothing more monotonous than a stair climb.
Fortunately, it is said of him that the mind is his main strength, so no worries either: "I will have several challenges to meet at the same time: to climb as quickly as possible, continues the former participant of the Ninja Warrior show. and new brand ambassador for "Abus".
I should not set foot on the ground even if it is not eliminatory but it is the challenge that I set myself.
I will also have to pay attention to each step so as not to miss one and slip.
"
Arriving at the top, Aurélien Fontenoy without a mask for the ascent will not be at the end of his troubles.
The last floors, he will mount them in the open air on the terrace of the tower.
Rain, cold and a slippery staircase are announced on Sunday morning.
Everything to please.
But then, why undertake this somewhat crazy and unnecessary challenge, therefore necessarily essential?
A little to impress the 800,000 subscribers of his YouTube channel who watch all his performances.
But not only.
"I do it for the association" Rêves "which realizes the dreams of seriously ill children," slips the mountain biker.
He will do it for one in particular, Noa 13 years old.
#NinjaWarrior
The next Hero is a Trial MTB champion, Aurélien Fontenoy!
And he demonstrates his mountain biking prowess to @Tof_Beaugrand, who looks quite reassured 😉 pic.twitter.com/rhHCF36fJV
- Ninja Warrior (@ NinjaWarriorTF1) September 7, 2018
"He does not know it yet and it is a great surprise that we have in store for him with his parents," continues Aurélien Fontenoy.
He is a fan of mountain biking, follows my networks and I want to make him happy.
He's going to take the train without being told why.
He will join me and he will be at the foot of the Tower on Sunday for the start and at the top for the finish of the challenge.
Up there, we will give him gifts.
We will try to put stars in his sick little cabbage eyes.
I don't know of a better reason for embarking on a challenge like this.
No, indeed, there isn't.