Almost a year ago to the day, Jacques de Maistre and Joseph Serdet, two French students, left the Cergy campus for an extraordinary journey. Their destination? ESSEC’s Asia-Pacific campus in Singapore. Their mode of transport? Their bicycles. After traveling 14,800 km through 21 countries in 178 days, they arrived in Singapore on January 28, 2024.
From Cergy to Singapore in 178 days by bike: the incredible challenge of two of our students
18.7.2024
Jacques and Joseph met at ESSEC Business School in Cergy, where the autonomy to shape their academic paths inspired them to undertake this expedition. "I wanted to do something that would challenge me and stay with me for life," Jacques remarked.
For their bicycles, they consulted a seasoned world tour cyclist to choose the wheel size, tire brand, and number of gears. They traveled with only four bags each, containing essentials: two sets of clothing (one for cycling and one for casual wear), a sleeping bag, a portable charger, a diary, and a book.
The journey was not without its challenges. In Greece, they had to navigate a lake after their route was cut off. In Uzbekistan, a 200 km detour was necessary due to border restrictions. The closed border with Azerbaijan forced them to cross the Caspian Sea, leading to an unplanned detour through Russia.
Despite the difficulties, they embraced additional adventures. Joseph climbed the Kirghiz mountains to 3,200 meters on a snowy road. Jacques, while traveling with two young Kirghiz, helped extinguish a fire in an old truck using water from a nearby river.
They arrived just in time to start their term at ESSEC Asia-Pacific Singapore, continuing their Master in Management program. Their resilience and openness to cultures and new ideas will undoubtedly make their academic journey more enriching.
On March 6, 2024, at a major event dedicated to sports in Singapore, Jacques and Joseph were presented with a medal marking the end of their 14,800 km cycling journey from France to Singapore. The ceremony took place during a conference organized by the French Embassy in Singapore in partnership with Sport Singapore and the Alliance Française de Singapour, focusing on sport and leadership in the run-up to the Paris Olympic Games.
Co-hosted by Karoline Strauss, Head of the Sports Chair, the event enabled Jacques de Maistre and Joseph Serdet, accompanied by Eliza Tan from Sport Singapore, to share their perspectives on how the practice of sport enriches personal development and leadership skills.
It also provided a unique opportunity for the two cyclists to share their experiences, highlighting the unifying power of sport to transcend borders and inspire people to excel, from Paris to Singapore and beyond.
