WORLD TOUR

“Adventure is what makes us thrive, what drives us to explore the world, to set our wheels in motion and embark on new paths, to discover distant horizons.

Like Phileas Fogg, Yannis Pelé set off on a journey to explore the wonders of our planet—almost around the world in eighty days.

And what if we, too, dared to seek out these mysterious places? Where could such boldness take us? Don’t be fooled by appearances—keep your eyes wide open.”

A TOPICAL SUBJECT

A current, adventurous, and artistic project with a strong ecological message.

In recent years, COVID, our life circumstances, and the rise in global ecological awareness have opened our eyes, encouraging us to change and improve our habits—consuming more locally while reducing long-distance travel.

This idea emerged at the end of the second lockdown, at a time when traveling was becoming increasingly difficult and our conscience was urging us to adopt a more local approach.

A TRIBUTE TO LOCAL TRAVEL.

France is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, filled with hidden paradises that strikingly resemble places from around the world.

What if we set out to discover these breathtaking locations ? Everything gives the illusion of a true world tour, and yet…

There will be a real surprise effect when the audience realizes—only at the very end—that we actually stayed here, in France.

Music and visuals depicting customs specific to each country or continent will help recognize them and follow our journey.

A quick rewind of our adventure, along with a short behind-the-scenes sequence, will bring the film to a close. The entire journey was carried out in a converted van, providing true freedom and adding meaning to the project.

“L’INSIDE”

A Behind-the-scenes video concept filmed during the shoot.

The final result of a project is only the tip of the iceberg.

What we experience before, during, and after filming are unique and extraordinary moments, filled with unexpected twists and turns.

We wanted to bring the audience along with us throughout the entire adventure, so they could live it as if they were right there with us.

An initial series of short episodes for social media was created and released during filming. This will be followed by three more episodes, each around twenty minutes long, which will be available on YouTube throughout April.

BROADCAST

Before its official online release, World Tour was screened at numerous festivals, with over forty dates across France (Tous en Selle, High Five Festival, Xplore Alpes Festival, Outdoor Film Festival, Festival de l’Aventure à La Réunion,…). It was also shown in schools and exclusively on the online platform Uptrack.

INTERVIEW

We caught up with Yannis to ask a few questions on the World Tour project, what went into, the challenges faced and so forth.

LW: What are the biggest challenges in putting A feature like this together? How long did it take to complete the feature?

YP: This project was born during the lockdown when we were deprived of going out. We didn’t really know what the future held for us.
We all have that childhood dream of traveling around the world one day, so why not try to make it happen in our own way… while staying at home!

We really wanted to create the illusion that we had actually traveled around the world. And it’s only at the end of the film that the audience would discover that we actually stayed in France. A bold gamble, but we liked it. And the message conveyed through the film is something very dear to us.

Many months of preparation behind the computer were necessary to first write a script. In particular, figuring out how to transition between each continent in an unconventional way by moving the bike in unexpected directions. But also, how to make everything seem like a real world tour (which was the most challenging part): by playing with music, using landscapes that resemble key locations, and incorporating images of customs or places unique to each country.

At the same time, we made a (very long) list of spots that we refined little by little to keep only the best ones. And that wasn’t easy given the incredible diversity of landscapes we have here!

Then came the validation of the project with partners and the organization of the filming.

Then, the big day! Both excited about the incredible adventure we were about to embark on and stressed about the project. Hoping that the planned spots would work out, that we could film as we had envisioned, that the weather would cooperate, and that we would arrive on time to capture certain traditional events…

Black Sheep Van lent us a camper van for the entire trip, which lasted three months.

The trip went very well. Of course, we had a few unexpected events, like on every shoot. But these surprises add so much charm to this kind of journey. We also made some great discoveries that weren’t planned, especially for the Africa sequence in the savannah. We were in the southwest of France with challenging weather and couldn’t film. So we explored the surroundings and stumbled upon a canyon that really looked like the savannah. We shaped a little line, and there you have it!

It was a magnificent adventure that will stay with us forever. We were truly transported and didn’t expect to discover so many beautiful places. And experiencing it alongside two close friends was just incredible! We lived some amazing moments together!

Three BTS episodes called “L’Inside” will be released throughout April on my YouTube channel, retracing everything we lived through.

LW: What do you hope to achieve or inspire with this project?

YP: First, to inspire viewers to go on adventures by bike, on foot, on skis, whatever! To spend time outside, explore, and discover what’s near them. Sometimes, the places closest to home are the ones we know the least and hide the most incredible surprises. We also wanted to highlight this new way of traveling in a van, which provides a true sense of freedom. It’s such a pleasure to feel free, waking up in a new place every day. I’ve fallen in love with this way of traveling.

This project is timely and serves as an ode to local travel.

LW: What was your favorite location and why?

YP: That’s a tough question considering the number of incredible places we had the chance to discover. But I think the location that struck me the most was the glacier.

We arrived at the foot of the glacier in the early morning, before the first light of day, after two days of walking. Welcomed by a herd of ibex, we were alone in the middle of these giant white peaks. Everything was calm and filled with an incredible sense of peace. It was an absolute privilege and joy to be there. A magnificent emerald blue lake lay at the base, with the glacier extending above as far as the eye could see.

We had never set foot on a glacier before. It’s quite a unique sensation, almost a bit frightening when you think about the meters of ice beneath you, the crevasses… You have to be cautious.

We started exploring the area, hoping the sun would warm the ice a bit because, at that moment, it was too slippery to ride on. We mapped out a precise line that avoided the crevasses, which I memorized completely. The sun came out, and we began filming.

After about an hour, the glacier started to rumble, as if it were speaking to us. We could feel it moving. We also saw how fast it was melting, which was heartbreaking. You really sense the power of nature, and you feel so small in comparison.

We managed to capture all the shots we had planned in a short time.

So happy and relieved to have filmed there. It was a dream come true.

LW: There was some crazy terrain that you rode in this future. What was the scariest and why?

YP: It’s true that I got to ride on a wide variety of extreme terrains, each crazier than the last. I think my years of high-level competition taught me to adapt quickly. During shoots, I scout the line in advance and know exactly how I’m going to ride it, except for some very sketchy lines that are one-shot attempts.

I’d say the scariest was the moraine. It’s an extremely narrow ridge, with a slippery surface and a steep slope where there’s no room for error. I put myself in a mental bubble, almost a trance-like state, where my concentration is at its peak. I also have to ride with a bit of speed, style, and rhythm so that it looks good on camera. But I know my limits and always stay just below them to avoid any mistakes that could be catastrophic in places like this.

LW: Do you foresee doing another project like this focused around any other countries?

YP: It’s not planned, no. But that’s a great idea! I’ll keep it in mind  ;)

Other projects are in the works, including an artistic fiction film for the fall.

The making of my last film, “Beyond Prognosis”, which tells my story and the power of the mind, made me want to produce my own long-format projects that convey messages in a different way, share even deeper human experiences, and live unique moments while learning a new way of working.

I love new challenges, and this is a direction that really excites me. I already have a few ideas, now it’s just about bringing them to life and capturing them on film!

LW: Is there anyone you would like to thank for helping make this short film possible?

YP: Of course! So many people work behind the scenes on projects like this, without whom none of it would be possible.

First, Pierre (@visualp.art), a videographer and photographer with whom I’ve worked on the majority of my projects for many years—he does an incredible job!

Léo Soggin, our talented drone pilot, who loves to fly as close as possible to me to capture original and highly immersive shots.

Then, all the people who contributed to making this film possible, as well as the partners who allow me to live my dream.

And finally, you, along with the various media outlets that help us share our message as widely as possible.

Thanks to the readers and those who have watched the film. I hope you enjoyed it and that it made you travel!

ABOUT YANNIS PELÉ

Born in 1998 and originally from Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, a small village in the south of France at the heart of the Mercantour, Yannis Pelé was considered a rising star in downhill mountain biking, destined for a global career.

In 2016, a devastating crash left him without the use of his legs, altering his path. After a long recovery, he got back on his bike. A few years later, Yannis founded Stand Up Enduro VTT, a charity race aimed at raising funds for spinal cord research.

Today, he is living his dream by making a career out of his passion. Constantly seeking new adventures, his love for sports, the mountains, storytelling, and visual creation has led him to collaborate with filmmakers and brands on multiple audiovisual projects.

@yannis_pele

ABOUT Pierre Cloquemin

Pierre Cloquemin, originally from northern France but having grown up in Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, is passionate about images and outdoor sports. He started his career as a professional videographer in 2017. Although the outdoor industry is his main area of production, he enjoys exploring other fields that allow him to refine his working style and artistic vision. Childhood friends with Yannis, they have already produced many projects together.

@visualp.art

ABOUT Léo Soggin

Léo Soggin, on the other hand, grew up in the southwest of France. Creative and passionate about extreme sports, building devices, and adventure from a young age, he began his career as a professional drone pilot in 2023. Driven by his passion and motivation, he quickly progressed and joined Pierre and Yannis’ team at the beginning of the year for the World Tour project shoot.

@leosoggin