On 24 August 2026, Papy Robert reached Nice. He had left Belleville-en-Beaujolais on 8 August and cycled across the Alps for his grandson Gabriel: 925 kilometres, 19,420 metres of climbing, 19 mountain passes and 16 stages, at the age of 67.
A challenge to make a disease known
The goal was never about sport. It was to get people talking about bronchiolitis obliterans, a rare childhood lung disease that almost nobody has heard of. On that front, the bet paid off: television, radio and newspapers told Gabriel’s story all along the route, from France 3 and BFM to Le Progrès, Le Dauphiné Libéré and Nice-Matin, all the way to Diário do Nordeste in Brazil. All the coverage is gathered on our Press page.
What the adventure set in motion
The most important part happened off the road. Thanks to this visibility, the association is now in touch with doctors, researchers and parent associations in several countries. Isolated families found out they were not alone and joined BO Community, the support platform created by the association.
The challenge also raised funds for the association. The board will now think about the best way to use them for research, exchanges between families and anything that helps to better understand the disease.
Thank you
Papy Robert did the pedalling, but he did not do this alone. Thank you to the partner companies and shops, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, the Rhône Department, the towns along the way, Crédit Agricole and its branches, the hotels that hosted him, the tourist offices, the journalists, and everyone who cheered him on from the roadside. Thank you as well to those who stood on the platform at Belleville station on 25 August for a surprise welcome he will never forget.
The route and the day-by-day story of the challenge remain online at lescolsdusouffle.com.