Park your bike, detach your bags and put your tent, feet in the water. This is Pedaleo’s proposal, the first European festival dedicated to bicycle trip, which moved to the Nid-du Crô this Friday and until Sunday.
The organizers wish to offer a meeting place to regulars, and motivate novices. An unprecedented event that was missing so far, according to the organizers: “Bikepacking is really popular now. There were races, but not really a European festival to give everyone the opportunity to learn, be inspired for future trips and expand the bikepacking community, “explains Janosch Wintermantel, the president of the Pedaleo organizing committee.
The shores of the lake will thus host the experienced cyclo-traveler lectures, a cinema fueled by the energy of ten bicycles, food-trucks and concerts a few steps from water. Entrance is free during the day.
350 cyclists arrive in Neuchâtel
To correspond to the European spirit of the festival, the organizers proposed to the most motivated to join the bicycle event on four routes from Paris, Friborg-en-Brisgau, Côme or St-Gall. Nearly 350 people have announced themselves, who promise a brewing of nationalities: “There are people from Hawaii, Greece, Hungary, others who left Spain a month ago”, lists Janosch Wintermantel. “We even know that a girl who moves to Zürich bike in Turin will come to pedal here with her trailer and all her things! »»
Bicycle at the heart of the tourism strategy
Supported by the canton, the city of Neuchâtel and the tourist promotion bodies, Pedaleo takes its marks while cycle tourism develops strongly in the region, in particular from COVVID. Several importers of importance from the Swiss Mobile Network (the Jura route and the Mtelland route) attract visitors by bicycle in the region, according to Neuchâtel Tourism.
“The canton of Neuchâtel is associated with the image of an intact nature, between lake and Jura, far from mass tourism. Bicycle is the best way to make this philosophy of a milder and lasting tourism concretize, according to Yann Engel, director of the promotion body.
If the Neuchâtel routes are today especially frequented by Swiss cyclists, Yann Engel hopes that Pedaleo will offer European visibility to the region, in order to widen its visitors’ base. With the organizers, they already imagine to perpetuate the festival. /jti
