BMC Agonist 01 One Bike - 2020

Agonist 01 One: THE STORY To meet Arnaud is to meet a force of nature, someone who has really tapped into the ability to stave off aging. Whatever the season, you’ll find Arnaud on his local mountain, clocking laps up and down its slopes. On snow or dirt, he’ll race up, take in the view at the summit, before racing down. Ski touring is what Arnaud knows best, with a lifetime of peaks and couloirs behind him. It’s a demanding winter sport, where thrilling descents have to be earned through lung-burning climbs – a lot like Arnaud’s approach to his mountain biking. There’s the same self-assuredness in his riding, seeing him carve the downhills with comparable confidence. “Even though I’m pushing 60 many see me as fitter and more driven than ever. I put that down to a constant routine of pushing myself.” As if to emphasize the point, he continues stacking his log pile: “Staying fit is harder, but my riding has helped that. Jumping on this bike is like clipping into my favourite skis. When I ask more of myself, I know that I’m not being held back by my equipment.”