Axel Zinglé, racing cyclist and cycling enthusiast

The bike may be his work tool, but there's no question of putting it away when he goes on vacation. Quite the contrary, in fact! At each new destination, Axel Zinglé gets out his two-wheeler to take the pulse of the city. The young professional cyclist tells us about his passion for two-wheeled travel.

Hello Axel! Can you tell us a bit about yourself to get the interview started?I'm 24 years old, from Mulhouse and have been a professional cyclist with the Cofidis team since the end of 2022. I was French U23 champion in 2020, and last year I won three races in my first year as a professional rider: the Artic Race of Norway, the Route Adélie de Vitré and the Famenne Arsène Classic in Belgium. Before 2020, I was a mountain biker, for which I won a medal at the European Championships in 2016, and I did a lot of skiing, as my father is a ski instructor. Finally, in parallel with my sports career, I'm a management student at EM in Grenoble.

How did you get into cycling as a child?

It's true that my father is a racer and runs the SSOL Habsheim club! What's certain is that the family legend surrounding my first contact with cycling helps me to believe that I fell into the pot, even if I don't remember it. My parents always told me that I first rode a bike in a store, where I fell in love with a little red bike. I was only 3 years old, but I assumed I knew how to ride one. So I got on it and off I went! (laughs). On a more serious note, the first memory that comes to mind when people talk to me about cycling is my first competition. I was 5 years old, and it was a race against the clock, a little tour of the neighborhood... I loved it.

"At first, I didn't have the mindset of a sportsman. But then my pride got the better of me!"

When did you know you could become a cycling athlete?

I've always competed. I used to ride with my dad on Saturdays and compete on Sundays, not only in cycling, but also in running and downhill skiing. I was a bit lazy, I didn't like training, I never thought I'd become a professional one day... I didn't have the mindset of a guy who wanted to tear it up. And then, in high school, I had the choice between the classical European route and joining the pôle cycliste espoir in Besançon. It was a boarding school with a faster pace, I didn't have any references, but they trusted me all the same. I suddenly went from training once a week to once a day! I was always last at training, I was going to be crushed, I was ultra-stressed and then... My pride got the better of me. I was proud to see my first progress, and now, even when I'm tired, I go to training. Obviously there are ups and downs, but it's a process you have to believe in to stay at the top. I'm proud to have made this choice, I've found my path. I only started in 2020, and from the very first year I had excellent results, whereas I'd never succeeded in mountain biking. It just clicked!

Aside from your job, what role does cycling play in your life?

I live in a small town and I don't like cars. It's always a lot of stress and I'm not a very good driver, I'm always afraid of scratching my car or spending ages parking. So I get around by bike all the time!

"The first time you try it, you think it sucks. But if you try it again, you fall in love with it.

And on vacation?

It's better to go without a bike, otherwise my girlfriend complains! No, I'm joking, but in the end, I realize that I never really give up my job... Because cycling is the best way to travel. It's really different from travelling on foot or by car. You don't go to the same places, you go faster, you go further, you take the little winding passes. Wherever I go in the world, thanks to this object, I'm a real landscape radar. One day, I was on vacation in Singapore and I made friends with some guys who I joined in the evening for a bike tour of the city. We rode at night, while people were sleeping, in a totally unusual setting for this huge business center always packed with cars and passers-by! We chatted and stopped for breakfast in a café. They showed me the cool spots. It was incredible and beautiful: Singapore is a very green city, criss-crossed by wide avenues. It felt like the city was ours, almost abandoned, as if we were the last humans on Earth. It reminded me of the film I Am Legend. It was a suspended moment.

Why do you think cycling is becoming more and more popular, and not just with athletes?

I think people are like me: in the city, they're fed up with traffic jams, the car stresses them out! Cycling is cheap, it's fast, it's exhilarating and it gives you exercise. You're free to go where you want, when you want. There's an exhilarating, euphoric side to it, when you ride your bike past queues of cars stuck in traffic jams... You feel a bit invincible.

As for bicycle tourism, we can see that slow travel is starting to catch on, with people understanding the benefits of going slower and really experiencing nature. I could never see myself going on a road trip in a car... You lose all the sensations! On a bike, you feel the bumps, smell the smells, hear the gravel under your tires. The experience is complete. Then, of course, the VAE has changed the game, even if you're not in the best physical shape. The first time, you think it sucks, you're sore all over. But if you try again, you fall in love. And then, little by little, you get the hang of it, start doing your first 100 km and really enjoy yourself!

What values has cycling taught you?Cycling teaches you to stay humble. There are days when you feel super strong, when your legs don't even hurt, it's almost too easy. You say to yourself: "Don't the others train? And then there are other days when you feel like you'll never make it. You feel light years away from the level you need to be at. I think it teaches you to stay in your place, not to get too carried away, and to enjoy yourself, because the next day may not be so great. You can feel it in the atmosphere of the competitions. Cyclists don't talk down to each other too much, there's no trash-talking culture like you see in other sports. They all know that they have days off, and prefer not to show off too much.

"Cycling teaches you to stay humble"

**What skills have you acquired through cycling? **

I'd say self-sacrifice. Never give up. A cyclist invests time and money in himself every day. You won't get a return the next day, or the day after that, and you're never sure of getting a return, but you never give up. In the end, I think it's this work on oneself, this asceticism, that teaches you so much.

The velotaf is almost an established part of our mentality. And where do you think cycling stands in terms of travel and vacations?

The infrastructure has developed a lot, but there are still conflicts with motorists. The more we can separate them, the better it will be for everyone. Dedicated lanes for cyclists need to be safe or wide enough to make travelling by bike a stress-free experience. As soon as they're not well thought-out, there's friction. We need to continue developing these dedicated bike routes, but also for cyclists to be more attentive and respectful.

"I'm not the most instagrammer of cyclists, but I try to share my passion

as much as possible ".

What's your favorite cycling trip?Brittany, absolutely! I raced there when I was an intern. As usual, we arrived the day before and went out to relax. At times like that, I'm always on the lookout for nice places to ride. I saw that we weren't far from Quiberon and took a friend, who's been racing for 15 years, for a ride. My friend loved it, telling me it was the most beautiful ride he'd ever done on the eve of a race!

Do you play an ambassadorial role for cycling?

Yes, for sure. I'm not the most instagrammer of all my colleagues, but I do try to capture a few landscapes, because I'm lucky enough to travel to sublime places with my job. It always looks worse in photos than in real life, but I try to share my passion as much as possible.

And as soon as I have guests at home, I take them for a drive along the prettiest roads in the area. I bought an apartment in Nice, where I go in winter to soak up the sun. It's a real source of pride for me to show them the pretty castles, vineyards and viewpoints in the hinterland. When the weather's good, and you're not only enjoying the view, but also lulled by the sound of cicadas and intoxicated by the scent of lavender and pine trees... I think it's an experience you should have once in your life!

What's your dream cycling trip?

I'd like to cycle across Africa. I think it might be the best way to go on safari. I'd like to visit the country of a racing friend, who is Ethiopian. But unfortunately conditions are very complicated politically. I'm keeping this dream in mind. I'm sure I'll get there one day.

Axel Zinglé, professional cyclist - On a bike, invincible

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