Adventurous mountain biker, Kilian Bron is today a rider who can't be ignored when it comes to revealing videos mixing technique on the bike and discovery of spots at the end of the world. These are the most improbable places visited by the Frenchman during these last years of adventure that we reveal below.
April 2018: On the highest sand dunes in the world in Peru
Kilian Bron sets the bar very high to inaugurate his "Mission" series, which will take him around the world, solo or accompanied by other guest riders. It's in Peru that the ambassador Private Sport Shop will be setting off on his mountain bike at an altitude of over 2,000 metres. On the world's highest sand dunes, Kilian rides the immense sandy faces of the Cerro Blanco near the town of Nazca, some 40 km from the Pacific coast.
But it's only after five hours of walking in the sun that the rider can finally get on his enduro to enjoy a dizzying descent. "I found this spot thanks to an edit by skier Jesper Tjader for GoPro. It was already an original idea to ski down this huge sand face, but I had to be able to try it out on my bike," Kilian explained after unveiling the video for this episode.
October 2019 : On the Faroe Islands between lakes and fjords
Also as part of his Mission series, Kilian Bron is taking rider Jérôme Clementz with him in 2019. Suffice to say, there will be no technical limits during this shoot for this duo of experienced mountain bikers. The rider from La Clusaz knows how to adapt to any terrain, and Jérôme is the 2013 Enduro World Champion. For Kilian, the Faroe Islands "are one of the few remaining almost untouched islands, with a harsh and unpredictable climate. In fact, this was the main criterion for the selection of this sixth episode," he explains. "Trails are almost non-existent. Apart from a few sheep tracks, all the islands have kept́ their natural, unadorned charm."
The two men will travel by ferry or kayak to some of these 18 islands, adapting to the inevitably capricious weather on this archipelago located between Iceland and Norway. After a week of scouting, it's finally time to get on the bike.
January 2020: Ride on fire on the Aeolian Islands
To mark his arrival with his new bike sponsor Commencal, Kilian Bron and the Andorran brand had the idea of riding the volcanoes of the Aeolian Islands. This archipelago located north of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea has seventeen islands, seven of which are inhabited.
Kilian Bron and the film crew embark on a sailing boat for a 12-day expedition that takes them to Vulcano and Stromboli, islands where volcanoes are still active. The result is a ten-minute film, beautifully directed by Léon Perrin.
July 2018 : At 120 km/h on the 2 Alpes glacier
Unlike the spots mentioned above, this one is a classic for riders who dare to take on the challenge of the Mountain of Hell. This marathon descent is one of the emblematic events of the discipline. With a start at an altitude of 3,400 meters and 2,500 meters of negative altitude difference, this is an extreme race that welcomes some of the best riders in the discipline and hundreds of amateurs every year.
In 2018, there are 783 drivers at the start. And as expected, the snow is present on the first kilometers of the race. Kilian sets off among the contenders for the final victory. When the start is given, the most motivated let the brakes off on the hellish descent of the glacier...Here is Kilian's full run, author of a huge performance that day.
June 2018: On the vertical structures of the Namibian desert
Once they arrived in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, Kilian Bron and his cameraman Pierre Henni hit the road with the aim of "getting lost in the middle of the Savannah, riding fantastic spots in settings worthy of The Lion King", as the rider explains when describing this African adventure. "We're leaving for a week with the only means of contact being a satellite phone. Forget 4G, Instagram and all that goes with it". Among the spots Kilian wrinkles in this episode, Spitzkoppe is located 3h30 from the capital and is a little reminiscent of those that the Frenchman could find in Turkey. "On the horizon of yet another straight 4×4 track, we catch a glimpse of the spotlight silhouetted against a magnificent sunset. This imposing granite massif looks very close, but is in fact around 100 km away. All around, there's nothing but the sound of the wind, a few clouds and plains as far as the eye can see."
This is where the French mountain biker is going to ride the steepest faces of his career. "Most of the lines can't be climbed on foot... it just won't do. The rock is more abrasive than a cheese grater, there's no help nearby and I have no room for error. On the other hand, the grip is phenomenal and the riding possibilities almost infinite." Kilian is going to enjoy himself in front of Pierre's lens for another fabulous result.