Following the tracks of Willy Koppen for the last six days has been a completely different experience than the rest of my European tour. It wasn’t just a ride; it was a history lesson written in asphalt and exhaustion.
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Just when I thought the hard work was over, the route delivered one last technical challenge. Navigating the D21 and D53 toward the finish, I faced the Col de Peille. Far from a relaxing finel stretch, this is a narrow, busy, and punishing road that often shrinks to a single lane with relentless hairpins. It’s a stressful way to end such a long journey, but it’s the reality of the terrain that stands between the mountains and the sea.
As I approached the final curve, I was looking for the moment *Willy Koppen described so vividly in her autobiography—that breathtaking first sight of Monaco in the sunnny shimmering on the Mediterranean Sea. Unfortunately, time has changed the scenery. What was once an open vista is now overgrown and heavily built up; the view she saw in 1953 is hidden behind modern development.
Reaching the harbor of Monaco is a moment I can hardly put into words. After 6 days of challenge, standing here at the finish line, I found myself trembling. The weight of the journey, the history of the FIM challenge remembering my mother, and the sheer exhaustion all hit at once.
The Legend of *Willy Koppen
Reflecting on what *Willy Koppen achieved in the 36 hours non-stop Trophée in 1953 and 1954 on these roads is staggering. Doing this on 1950s machinery, without modern tires or smooth paved highways, was a tremendous feat of endurance. Her spirit kept me moving through every tight corner and steep climb of this legendary route.
Challenge FIM Monaco 1953 – Day 6
Crossing Europe 2025 – Day 42 , 197 km
Song: Angels by my side
Artist: : Lunar Years
Music on: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License code: QYXNTWTL4WTQNFPW
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*Willy Koppen (1924 – 2002, Netherlands)
was a pioneering Dutch motorcycle racer and one of the first women to compete internationally in motorcycle racing in the 1950s. Known for racing in events such as the FIM Trophée in Madrid and the Rally de Monaco (which she won in 1953 and 1954), she also undertook long solo touring journeys across Europe and beyond. After her competitive career, she married, raised a family, and later returned to motorcycling, becoming an honorary member of several European motorcycle clubs.
Willy Koppen’s life and adventures on two wheels have been published at Am*z*n, titled:
WILLY KOPPEN: A Woman and Her Motorcycle, Motor Adventures in the 50s
also available in Dutch and Spanish. This book recounts her experiences riding and racing in the 1950s, drawing from her diaries and travel accounts.
5 Comments
Prachtig en enorm veel respect voor u en uw moeder
Enne …ik hoor liever de regelmatige ploffen vanuw één cilinder dan de muziek 😊😊
Eine schöne zeitreise die du da gemacht hast – und ein geschenk für deine Mutter. Ich habe selbst damals mit 18 jahren eine Adler
M 200 und danach eine MB 250 gehabt mit der in die ferien nach Dänemark und zurück abgeschleppt wurde mit einem seil bis fast Hamburg.Die Motorräder die man sich damals kaufte ( und keine ahnung davon hatte ) waren ja schon fast schrott beim kauf.Naja,Ich schreibe lieber auf deutsch ,das fällt mir leichter,als junger Jochen bin ich dann wegen meinem job nach Dänemark gelockt wurden und mein halbes leben hier gelebt. Deswegen können ein paar schreibfehler auftauchen.Aber zurück zu deinen Videos.Deine Videos sind ja die totale -Wellnesstolle Videos ! Musik – die Fahrt – das was man sieht ,genialt man schaltet einfach ab und lässt sich berauschen,schön. Ja das wars , gruesse jochen🚲I have just come across your channel. I wish I had found it earlier. I am a 72 year old man from the UK and I travel around Europe every year. You are brilliant, well presented and informative. You must be so proud of yourself.
I have the exact same helmet as you also. Subscribed.
Little update to Spain, I got my new book "Willy Koppen" today, exciting.🏍️
From Camping Fleury to Camping Besse sur Issòle (France)