French Athlete Aurelien Fontenoy Breaks World Record by Cycling Up Eiffel Tower in 12 Minutes

"This challenge was something I planned several years ago," he explained.

French mountain biker and social media personality Aurelien Fontenoy has established a new world record by cycling up the Eiffel Tower's 686 steps in just 12 minutes and 30 seconds. This remarkable achievement makes him the fastest person ever to ascend to the iconic structure's second floor on an all-terrain bicycle. Fontenoy broke the previous record set by Hugues Richard in 2002 by an impressive margin of nearly seven minutes.

Speaking to CNN Sports, Fontenoy described the extreme difficulty of the attempt. "For this challenge, I disabled my brake, and I needed to compress my tire because I don't have suspension or any additional features—it's simply a rigid bike. The technique involves pumping with the brake and continuously jumping up the steps!"

Fontenoy detailed his extensive preparation process, which involved months of dedicated training. His regimen included rigorous gym workouts and jump rope exercises specifically designed to enhance his strength and stamina for the vertical climb.

This record attempt represented a long-term ambition that required years of planning and preparation. Prior to tackling the Eiffel Tower, Fontenoy had successfully conquered other buildings throughout Paris and the TV Tower in Tallinn, Estonia.

"This challenge was conceived approximately three or four years ago. I started at the Tour Trinity four years ago and was originally planning to attempt the Eiffel Tower afterward. However, various obstacles including Covid-19, the Olympic Games, and maintenance work including repainting of the tower delayed the attempt. Organizing this event required tremendous effort," Fontenoy explained.

"We had just one opportunity. The previous record was established in 2002, and it took two decades to arrange another challenge here because of the extensive organizational requirements. I was determined not to miss this chance. There was certainly some pressure, especially after telling friends and sponsors about my record attempt—everyone had expectations," he added.

Upon reaching the second-floor platform, Fontenoy admitted feeling completely exhausted and "destroyed" after the intense 12-minute climb. "I was incredibly happy because I maintained a composed appearance, but breaking this record definitely caused me some anxiety," Fontenoy concluded.