“My body was wrecked, but in a strange way, my mind was clear.”

122 years after the first Tour de France (which ends tomorrow), in which 60 cyclists left Paris for a 2,428 kilometer race in the summer heat, @jackultracyclistofficial took on this historic feat.

Over six days, using just two bicycle gears and no support, he traversed the same route, through scorching temperatures, the diverse terrain of rural France, and the mental turmoil that comes with such an endeavor. He called it The 1903 Project.

Join him on an epic journey that honors the endurance and tenacity of this yearly competition and the legends behind it.

📸: @Inglourious_arnav

In 1903, 60 riders set off from Paris on a brutal 2,428 km race with 2 years no support. So, I thought I’d see what it felt like with the same setup 122 years later. Day one, the sun hadn’t risen when I left Paris. And by the time it had set, I’d already questioned why the hell I ever thought this was a good idea. Day two, my legs achd, my hands were raw, and yet somewhere in the silence of rural France, I started to settle into a rhythm. Day three, it hit 46° C today. And I felt like I was melting from the inside out. Big open highways and not a tree in sight. Day four, I came into this thinking that the climbs would break me, but it was the flats that did. My gear wasn’t big enough to take advantage of the tailwinds, and I couldn’t help but wonder, did they feel this same frustration back in 1903? Day five, I rolled through villages that hadn’t changed in a century, chasing shadows of riders who have long since faded into legend. Day six, the final stretch to Paris felt like riding through time. My body was wrecked, but in a strange way, my mind was clear. [Music] There was something raw and rewarding about the simplicity of it all. And I love that. [Music]