VIDÉO : "WORLD TOUR" by Yannis Pelé - Traces of a Dream

A World Tour...
A distant dream that we all have buried somewhere within us, yet it seems unattainable, and yet...
Why not chase our dreams, try the impossible, and embark on an adventure ? We'll see where it takes us in the end! Life deserves to be lived fully, every moment is so important.

Discovering what lies on the horizon, stepping on unknown lands, meeting and learning about other traditions, admiring new breathtaking landscapes, pushing our limits, exploring new playgrounds, and riding trails that are just as wild as the next. These are the aspects of adventure that fuel me every day. And the bike makes it easier, it’s a way to travel and express oneself. The bike allows us to reach places we probably would never have set foot in otherwise. It’s a tribute to travel.

"Adventure is what makes us come alive, what drives us to explore the world, to set our wheels down and embark on new paths, to discover distant horizons. Like Phileas Fogg, Yannis Pelé set off on a journey to discover the wonders of our planet, in nearly eighty days. And what if, we too, dared to embark on a quest for these mysterious places, where might this boldness take us ? Don’t be fooled by appearances, and open your eyes wide."

Hi ! My name is Yannis Pelé, and being on my bike is part of my everyday life. It’s what has made me happy since I was a child. It’s also what has saved me at different challenging moments in my life. In short, I don’t want to wait for tomorrow, I want to make my dreams come true. Live and enjoy every moment fully by doing what I love above all else.

I invite you to learn more about my life story right here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2hV11V9S6k&t=3s

And the full film "Beyond Prognosis" is available here : linktr.ee/BeyondPrognosis

Dive into this extraordinary journey through this digital photo exhibition captured by @visualp.art :

Day 7 - The Kingdom of Ice

These first days of adventure set the tone for what’s to come. The wind here is freezing, it feels as if the mountain is challenging me. I love the feeling of testing myself against such a harsh environment. This glacier is grand, majestic, truly awe, inspiring ! You can hear it rumble, as if it’s speaking to us. Facing this vastness, one feels so small.

Day 9 - At the Foot of Giants

Balancing on a sharp ridge where mistakes are not an option. In this timeless environment, I enter a bubble of intense focus, almost a trance, like state. The moraines, remnants of the glacial era that has spanned ages. Here, these prestigious mountains are in constant motion, as if the world is still being shaped.

Day 15 - The Song of the Bamboo Forest

Sunlight filters through the bamboo, making it feel like riding in another world. The wind rushes through, echoing like a soft melody, while the swaying stalks move in perfect rhythm. It’s relaxing, almost hypnotic.

Day 20 - The Red Bridge

The bridge, the cherry blossoms, the enchanting little paths, everything is so peaceful in this perfectly crafted scenery. I can feel the fatigue from the last climbs in my legs, and it feels good to pause for a moment. I take in this place where time seems to slow down.

Day 25 - On the Edge of the Void

Under the rising sun, the wind seems to have awakened in full force as well. Standing at the edge of the precipice, on a razor, thin boundary, I must embrace my surroundings and become one with them. With a tight throat and peak concentration, I hold my ground.

Day 26 - A Poker Game

In the heart of the desert, I stumble upon an old saloon. It makes me smile.

Like in a movie, I imagine a western, horses tied out front, dust swirling, and old cowboys exchanging glances over a poker game.

Day 31 - The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is magnificent; I’m surrounded by these massive rock walls shaped by the wind and the elements. Yellow, red, orange… It’s a unique landscape.

Day 36 - The Tightrope Walker’s Red Line

A well-deserved landscape, worthy of the most unexpected dreams. Like a tightrope walker on his line, all my senses are wide open. The void is everywhere, and I’m putting my mind to the test. It’s an indescribable feeling...

Day 41 - The Yellow Tunnel

In the heart of a blooming Mimosa forest, it feels so good here. The warmth is gentle, and the air carries an enchanting fragrance that I won’t forget.

Day 44 - A Red Desert

It’s a suspended moment where I play with the laws of gravity. A vast area painted in bright red under its crushing heat. Every jump makes me feel like I’m in a world of my own. It’s everything I’m searching for: a change of scenery.

Day 48 - The Freshness of the Eucalyptus

A fresh, spicy scent rises from the Eucalyptus trees, giving me energy in my ride. A forest where it seems like man has never set foot.

Day 55 - All About Glide

A long, steep scree slope that grabbed me, and I left my mark on it. In a landscape so overwhelming I don’t know where to look, the sensation of gliding reminds me of my winter powder days on skis.

Day 62 - The Slash of the Dune

In absolute silence, where only the grains of sand prick your face, playing between the sand dunes brings a deep sense of freedom, as if you're in a parallel world.

Day 65 - Through the Bush

I manage to carve a path through the sun-bleached grasses and this arid landscape where everything seems scorched by the oppressive heat. Only a few species, seeking coolness underground, manage to survive.

Day 66 - The Cradle of Light

A small opening leading to a vast underground cavern, the piercing light through the gap creates a truly magical scene. It’s calm, almost enchanting. A hidden place that reminds me that there are always beautiful discoveries to be made, sometimes just beneath our feet.

Day 69 - Lost in the Dunes

The desert stretching as far as the eye can see around me is almost hypnotic. Everything is calm, as if the dunes have swallowed me up and soothed me. The feeling of being alone in the midst of this emptiness is indescribable.

Day 75 - Bavarian Street

Under a spring breeze, I leisurely stroll through the cobbled streets, surrounded by old houses and charming cafés. The return home is beginning to be felt, and the frantic pace of the past few weeks is finally slowing down.

Day 77 - The Impenetrable Fortress

Under the Norman gray skies, the famous Mont Saint-Michel appears on the horizon. The high tide makes it impenetrable. A well-deserved salty shower after these long months of travel.

Day 78 - The Eiffel Tower

In the Parisian hustle and bustle, under the reflection of France, this wonderful adventure comes to a close.

 Day 80 - The Wonders Here Are Enough for an Endless Journey...

(Special thanks to Black Sheep Van for lending us this adventure companion).

This great life adventure ended where it had begun… Without ever truly straying too far from the starting point in the end.
Have you found the story yet ?

A journey right outside the doorstep. It sounds crazy, yet it’s entirely possible. Without ever leaving France and aboard a Black Sheep camper van, we traveled through landscapes that were just as wild and immersive as those found across the globe. At times, we even fooled ourselves, as the scenery made us feel like we were somewhere far away.

Beyond the filming, we experienced unique moments that will be shared in three behind-the-scenes video episodes called L’Inside, airing on YouTube throughout April.

The idea for this new project, World Tour, emerged during the lockdown caused by COVID when we were more or less confined indoors. Not knowing what lay ahead, this persistent desire for discovery pushed us to imagine what was still possible despite the circumstances. So, why not explore the hidden corners of France, but with a twist ?

With that childhood dream of discovering the wonders of our planet and the drive to explore incredible new spaces, why not create the illusion of a true world tour, all while staying close to home and traveling by van ? France is known for its uniquely diverse landscapes, but could it truly be enough to make us believe we were elsewhere ?

This project is both a relevant topic and a tribute to local travel, sparking deeper reflection on the way we explore the world.

I hope you’ve traveled just as much as we have through this story and that you enjoyed the film!

A huge thank you to everyone and every partner who contributed to making this project a reality.

Yannis