Paraplegic, he traveled more than 1,000 km to reach Monaco from Bastogne by handibike

He did it! Or rather, they did it! And with style. This Sunday, late afternoon on Port Hercule, a rather unusual cyclist crossed the usual finish line of the Monaco Grand Prix – to the applause of his family, friends, and local figures – along with his friend who had followed him on this crazy adventure.

Adan Finet, just turned 18, has been paraplegic since he was 14 following a stroke. With his traveling companion Pascal Liégois, they completed a journey of more than 1,000 kilometers yesterday, one by bicycle and the other by wheelchair, from Bastogne in Belgium to Monaco.

All in ten stages, for ten days, from 70 to 175 kilometers daily.

And while the two athletes crossed the finish line as if nothing had happened, they experienced many adventures during these ten days, during which Adan Finet advanced thanks to the strength of his arms and a battery system.

"In Briançon, we were helped by God"

"The main difficulty was the heat, the six passes and the late arrivals. We arrived two or three times after midnight, which was a bit complicated. But apart from that, it was incredible, and I loved sharing it with Pascal," says the young man.

Alongside him, Pascal Liégois, who met Adan Finet while raising more than 12,000 euros to finance his handibike, shares the same impressions.

"From Besançon to Bourg-en-Bresse, we were supposed to do 150km... in the end we messed up a bit and did 175. Which meant we got back to our accommodation at 2 o'clock," he confides, mentioning another hiccup.

"In Briançon, we had a little problem with the hotel reservation... we found ourselves at 10 p.m. on the street without a place to stay. But God helped us. We stayed at the parish house," he recounts with amusement. After brilliantly tackling the Galibier, Télégraphe and Valberg passes, the duo arrived in the Principality.

A choice at the end of the journey that owes nothing to chance... "Monaco because I love motorsport, and I love the city, which I find magnificent" , declares the young man quite naturally, who has grown from this experience.

A strong message of resilience

"I wanted to prove to myself that I could do something so big and so hard, and I'm proud because I succeeded. Even if without Pascal, I wouldn't have been able to do it. The message is that if you want to do something, do it, don't set any limits for yourself," he said, before receiving the Monaco sports gold medal from the hands of Mayor Georges Marsan and his deputy for Sports Jacques Pastor. Thus succeeding one of his idols.

"Normally, it is awarded to the most deserving athletes from Monegasque sports associations. The last non-member of an association to receive it was Charles Leclerc, after his victory in the Grand Prix in 2024," says Jacques Pastor.

To top it all off, the Automobile Club of Monaco, represented by Guy de Alexandris, a member of the governing body, came bearing its share of gifts. With a promise made: to invite Adan Finet to a Grand Prix in the Principality.