Nineteen-year-old Belgian cyclist Adan Finet has completed a 1,000-kilometre handbike journey from Bastogne to Monaco, arriving at Port Hercule on Sunday evening.
Paralysed since a stroke at 14, Finet set off on Friday, August 8 with his friend Pascal Liégeois for the 10-day trek. The route included six Alpine passes such as the Galibier and Télégraphe, with daily distances reaching up to 175 kilometres. Scorching heat, navigation errors and accommodation setbacks added to the challenge, with one night spent in emergency shelter at a parish house in Briançon.
Finet was welcomed at the finish by Monaco’s Mayor Georges Marsan and Sports Deputy Jacques Pastor, who awarded him the Monaco Sports Gold Medal, an honour rarely given to non-residents, last presented to Charles Leclerc after his 2024 Grand Prix victory. The Automobile Club of Monaco also invited Finet to a future Grand Prix.
The ride was made possible thanks to Liégeois, who raised over €12,000 to fund the specialised handbike. Finet chose Monaco as his destination in tribute to his passion for motorsport.
