Tour des Trois Lacs: the big loop of Jean-Baptiste Bazzarini and Benjamin Azarioz
On May 27, Jean-Baptiste Bazzarini and Benjamin Azarioz, two members of The Brigade, set off from Annecy with a simple aim: join the three major lakes of Savoie Mont-Blanc in a single outing. A 390-kilometer breakaway, with almost no downtime, which pays homage to the micro-adventure.
How are ideas born? It is a few minutes past 4:00 on Saturday, May 27, when Jean-Baptiste Bazzarini and Benjamin Azarioz come together between the deserted streets from Annecy. In the darkness of a fresh spring morning, while the night, still damp, fills the valleys and covers the shores of the lake, it is too early to philosophize. Still, the duo is determined to make it happen one of them.
“I don’t really know how this idea came about”, confesses Jean-Baptiste when he retraces the behind the scenes of this day like no other. In fact, joining the three major lakes of Savoie Mont-Blanc - Annecy, Bourget, Léman - and carrying out for each of them the complete tour, in a single day, it was necessary to think about it. Even if the Brigadier was not not at its first feat: Everesting Challenge on the slopes of Semnoz in 2021, the crossing the Spanish deserts on 750km of gravel during the Badlands in 2022... To endure shocks, He knows how to persevere in effort and push his limits. But what waiting for him there is no walk in the park.
Double entendre
Jean-Baptiste naturally turned to Benjamin to accompany him and undertake this tandem escape. Four eyes see better than two. Two pairs of legs roll better than one. Both had met accidentally on a ride Matchy, a few years ago. Since then, Benjamin, sports coach, guide John the Baptist and assures THE followed by his training. The Tour of the Three Lakes thus takes on the appearance of a dress rehearsal, yet another step to take before the summer deadlines, in particular theUltra Race of Giants by Matchy in August, where the two friends will attempt to complete the 1000 kilometers and 26,000 meters of positive elevation gain in the heart of the French Alps.
"It was interesting to be two, both to take turns but also to motivate each other, especially in difficult times." Out of nearly 15 hours of effort, there will inevitably be some. After having accomplished Around Lake Annecy in the solitude of the night, the pair ventures north of the Bauges massif before reaching Le Bourget. "We watched the sunrise from the heights of the lake, going down the Col de la Chambotte, then on the other bank from the Ontex lookout, it was truly special.", remembers Jean-Baptiste.
The great mop
But the sequel their seems endless. The beginning of a long crossing of the desert between Aix and Geneva where the succession of valleys wears out the body and the mind. "Once we arrived on the shores of Lake Geneva, we met people on the road. People to whom we explained the project and who helped us by taking turns." Jean-Baptiste smiled.
In Évian-les-Bains, after more than 300 kilometers of wandering, he suffered a serious breakdown, the result of experiments. in his nutritional strategy on an ultra. “Luckily, there was a bakery nearby." The benefits from the bakery, this is what will also save Benjamin from hunger a few kilometers later, shortly before reaching the commune of Cruseilles. A final caloric intake which will allow the two adventurers to complete the loop, shortly before 7 p.m. How do you finish a night out? 390 kilometers, 4000m of climbing and almost 15 hours of saddle? "With a big pizza", concludes Jean-Baptiste.
Equipment used by Jean-Baptiste:
Unisex Vest - Black | Origins 2.0 Jersey - Dawn | Cargo shorts - Black | Hanger Bag - Black
Photos: ©Jean-Baptiste Bazzarini (@la_baze)
