Sportive

Determination, descending and conquering cols: meeting amputee cyclist Christian Haettich

Riding the Haute Route Pyrenees with the inspiring Frenchman

One of the most beautiful elements of the Haute Route sportives are the inspiring characters you meet along the way, some of whom you know will become friends for life.

One character that fits both descriptions is Christian Haettich of Alsace, France. Involved in a life-changing collision with a car while riding his motorbike in 1976, aged just 15, Christian became a double amputee overnight. Life-saving operations meant losing first his arm and within hours his leg too.

Christian Haettich is a Haute Route regular, despite a motorbike accident leaving him with just one arm and one leg (pic: Haute Route)

This year, having already completed ten Haute Route stages in the build up to, and including, the Haute Route 2015, Christian attempted to obtain his third ‘Triple-Crown’ (the Haute Route Pyrenees, Alps and Dolomites in succession).

We had the opportunity to speak with Christian and find out what drives him to return to this challenging multi-day European race year after year and just what keeps him going, both with this event in mind and the other cycling challenges he is renowned for.

Motivation

Where in the past Christian was not one to sit atop two wheels in the absence of a motor, his infatuation with cycling was initially prompted as part of his physiotherapy 20 years ago. Now age 55, there seems to be no stopping him.

Always hungry to achieve more and push himself further, Christian has gone beyond all expectations and remains an inspiration to all cyclists, not simply those recovering from injury.

Asking Christian if he ever gets tired of hearing this, if he ever simply wants to ride his bike without the need to achieve a goal or prove anything to others, he delightfully responds that the notion of being an inspiration to others brings him pleasure.

“Whenever you are down you need to think of something that motivates you to bring you back up,” he explains. The question begged to be asked therefore; what does motivate Christian? In the depths of his pain cave what pulls Christian through and keeps him going?

Christian had completed ten Haute Route stages prior to this year’s events (pic: OC Sport/Haute Route)

“Sheer determination,” he responds. And, it soon becomes apparent, the exhilaration the descents bring with each climb.

Looking back, Christian’s determination has been evident from the start; learning how to ride a bike as an adult of 35 years would be difficult for the best of us, but learning how to ride a bike with one arm and one leg is on a different scale.

Managing the balance and movement was difficult for Christian at the start, and on numerous occasions he fell, but determined not to let it get the better of him, he persevered.

Mentally there is no stopping him and, as most Haute Route veterans will tell you, this is often more than half the battle.

The problem, Christian explains, is when the body tells him to stop – he is left with no choice but to do so, despite his motivation to continue. That was to ring true during the Haute Route Pyrenees – more on which later.

His friend Robert, also present throughout the interview, jokes that he is Christian’s motivation: “He is motivated by the fact that if he doesn’t do it, I will be upset with him,” they laugh.

Robert, who met Christian more than 20 years ago, arguably knows him better than anyone. Living next door to one another and cycling in the same club, they have completed multiple long distance rides together, including in the Alps and Pyrenees. More like brothers, their friendship and shared sense of humour is evident from the offset.

Christian is a fearless – and impressive – descender (pic: OC Sport/Haute Route)

It goes without saying Christian’s biggest accomplishment to date is recovering from his accident and maintaining the motivation to stay alive, especially given a lack of support received from his family throughout this period.

In terms of cycling however, the Haute Route ‘Triple Crown’ is – in his opinion – the hardest cycling event he has ever done. “No question,” he affirms.

With his love and appreciation for the mountains, climbing and descending, the Haute Route is a perfect fit.

“Here you can go beyond your own limits; you have to in fact”

“Here you can go beyond your own limits; you have to in fact,” he says, “otherwise you will not complete it.”

Taking in at least two of his favourite climbs, the Stelvio and Tourmalet, the Haute Route provides both a physical and psychological test as it persuades you to keep going day after day.

The logistics

Where Christian uses a prosthesis on a daily basis for walking and general movement, he explains that he is unable to take any advantage of this when cycling as his affected limb is too short to produce the push or pull motion with an extension attached.

As a result, Christian completes each and every event with the use of one limb – astonishing and hugely admirable when you consider so many cyclists struggle to complete these events having trained for months with the use of both legs.

The controls for all brakes and gears, both front and rear, are situated on the right side of his handlebars to enable full use.

In terms of bike handling and control, Christian slots his affected arm into a carbon hold, allowing him greater control of the handlebars when taking a drink or descending for example, and given the speed we witness Christian descend at, he needs all the control the bike has to offer.

When asked if he was in any way nervous with descending at such speed, especially following his accident, his response is as succinct as ever – “No,” he says simply with a smile. “No fear.”

Ventoux

Christian’s gruelling cycling exploits are not limited to just the Haute Route, either; ever fascinated with Mont Ventoux and with ultra-activities, Christian came up with an idea that would marry the two and on May 24 set out to climb Mont Ventoux as many times as possible in 24 hours.

Broadcast on French national TV following one of the stages of this year’s Tour de France, Christian was further supported, free of charge, by the medical staff and a number of the motorcyclists who also turned out in force to support the Haute Route Pyrenees. He was further encouraged by friends and family as they came to cheer him on and even ride certain sections alongside him.

Christian climbed Mont Ventoux five times in one day, marrying his interest in the climb with Ultra-Activities

Upon his arrival at Mont Ventoux the temperature wasn’t much above freezing, if at all, and there was a lot of ice still on the road.

“The problem is that Mont Ventoux is very exposed with no trees for cover,” he explained and, with the wind reaching 50mph at the top, Christian was blown from the road and slipped on the ice on a number of occasions. Determined and helped back on to his bike each time, Christian, as ever, persevered.

Folding a piece of paper, Charles Marsan, another friend of Christian also present throughout the interview, draws a diagram of Mont Ventoux and provides an explanation of the three approaches to the summit.

Not the ‘official’ route, but certainly the most challenging, the most prestigious, and therefore that which is taken by the Tour de France, Christian opted to repeat the path taken from Bedoin.

Adding to the challenging and comparatively steeper gradients you encounter through the forest, the wind typically blows from the north, thus creating a headwind for the duration.

Approximately a quarter of a mile from the summit, you are met with the ‘tompette’ (which directly translates to ‘of the storms’). “And bam! The wind is from all directions and you have a hard time to stay on your bike,” Charles explains.

A challenging but beautiful mountain to ride, “If you have not ridden Ventoux you have not been anywhere,” they add.

Aiming to ascend Mont Ventoux six times in the allocated 24-hour period, Christian was medically advised to stop at 3am and risked the need for emergency care should he have continued.

Despite his will to keep going, the decision was made and, 21.5 hours into his challenge, Christian was taken off the bike having achieved a massive five reps and more than 8000m of vertical ascending (equal to the Himalayas).

Unfortunately, a day or two following the interview the decision was made for Christian to abandon the Haute Route Pyrenees on the notion he had not sufficiently recovered from the challenge he had set himself on Ventoux.

Humble and supportive he continued to cheer every other cyclist on, myself included, despite his obvious disappointment that he himself could not continue.

Christian Haettich is on course to complete his 11th Haute Route stage, in the Dolomites (pic: OC Sport/Haute Route)

Strategically, he took the decision to use the Haute Route Alps to recuperate also, with the aim of restarting at the Haute Route Dolomites the following week. Now, a few days in, Christian is doing well and on track to complete what would be his 11^th Haute Route stage. Chapeau to him, is all we can say.

It was an honour to cycle alongside Christian during the first few days of the Haute Route Pyrenees. Completely taken aback, not only by his achievements, but more so his genuine and humble nature, I can look back and smile at the time we shared traversing the jagged outline that forms the Pyrenees.

Undoubtedly a friend for life, Christian’s excitement for the mountains is contagious and I am almost certain we will meet again on the Haute Route next year, if not before.