Cycling to advance research. At 58 years, Philippe Cattez embarked on a cycling tour of France unlike any other: a long-distance, solo cycling adventure, to transforming every kilometer traveled into concrete support for medical research. The Dunkirk to Brestand then soon all the way to Bordeaux, his sporting challenge became a message of hope for people affected by autoimmune diseases et degenerative, for the benefit of the Pasteur Institute of Lille.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us how your cycling project came about? And the desire to link your sporting challenges to a national health cause?
Hello, I'm 58 years old and I live in Bailleul in Flanders. I started cycling at the age of 12 when I occasionally cycled to school, 7 km from my family home, with my friends. Since then, I've cycled regularly, in cycling clubs, with the Boeschèpe club in Flanders and its mill, and very recently with... the Bailleul clubOn Sunday mornings, I explored the town and its belfry. I also enjoy mountain biking and participate in various brevets organized in the Hauts-de-France region. I discovered cycle touring It all started quite by chance when I decided to cycle from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela with a team of cyclists from Paris. To undertake this long-distance challenge, I bought a second-hand hybrid bike, which I equipped with two panniers and upgraded, thanks to the Bailleul Bicycle Garage…and that's how I had the opportunity to cross Northern Spain to get to the Compostella to collect my Camino de Santiago Passport in 2023… this first major cycling trip gave me a taste for adventure through cycle touring, thanks to numerous encounters, particularly with the communities Warshowers and Cyclododo which provide accommodation and meals for cyclists along the way…. In 2024, I will then connect Bailleul-Lourdes In 10 days, I succeeded with my stepfather, who was already there with his family a few months before he passed away. My successive arrivals in Lourdes and Santiago de Compostela were powerful moments. It was undoubtedly the turning point that inspired me to continue this kind of adventure in service to people who are sick or suffering physically, particularly those afflicted by the invisible diseases known as autoimmune illnesses.
You've started a cycling tour of France, what stages have you already completed? And more specifically, why is it in support of research?
Indeed, I started a tour of France by Bike On a cycle tour with the same bike and panniers, I put my little Flanders flag on the back of my bike, which invites motorists to slow down while I meet people who want to chat along my route, hence the name on my Facebook and Insta page " in the thread of the wheels "! I started the first step in 2024 by Dunkirk-Deauville, following the entire coastline to the summit of East and West Cotentin then passing through the Mont St. MichelIn 2025, I took my bicycle from the Deauville boardwalk to Brest, still following the coastline, allowing me to discover the entire northern coast of Brittany, including the magnificent Pink Granite Coast. On this occasion, I set up a jackpot per kilometer To collect red coins, I was able to gather our small red coins from the bottom of the wallet throughout the journey in the form from an online fundraising campaign, a sum that I handed over to the Pasteur Institute of Lille upon my return.
Why did you choose to direct your commitment towards the work carried out by the research teams at the Pasteur Institute of Lille?
Why Research? First and foremost, I feel a deep connection with those who cannot undertake this rather physically demanding sporting experience. I possess an energy that others lack, and I am truly fortunate; I am aware of this and thank God every day! I wish not only to share my journey with my friends and all my followers through my encounters, but above all, to channel this energy. in the service of medical research…. THE feedback, testimonials, support, messages are impressively comforting The motivation to cover all those kilometers alone, cycling several hours a day with a manageable 18 kg of luggage! ... And so, the kilometers devoured in this Tour de France by bike take on their full meaning The time spent in the saddle and the effort put into pedaling make me put all suffering into perspective when compared to those affected. of all forms of disease in one’s life. One of the main focuses is the degenerative and autoimmune.
Last year, you set up a fundraising campaign for the Institute: what is your view today on this mobilization?
We know that life sciences are at the root of major advances in human health: vaccines, antibodies and medications have allowed us to overcome serious diseases such as rabies, plague, smallpox or tetanusand to master other equally important ones, such as polio, cholera, hepatitis and even the HIVAlthough many inequalities remain, reducing these diseases has led to major economic and social advances, improving the well-being of populations in most countries and on every continent. Infectious diseases are re-emerging in new forms, by global warming, ecological disturbances et lifestyle changesThese factors promote the emergence of epidemics, antibiotic resistance, the transmission of animal diseases to humans, and chronic inflammations responsible for cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Modern biology sees life as a new frontier thanks to technological advances in research, in particular thanks to to the teams at the Pasteur Institute of Lille.
For this new stage between Brest, La Rochelle and Bordeaux, how do you wish to develop your solidarity commitment?
Donor commitment et their supporters offer our scientists in the Lille region the best conditions to make progress biomedical knowledge and allow for the development of research combining boldness, curiosity, creativity, rigor, and excellence! I would like to thank the many people who donated last year thanks to this sporting challenge and who are joining me again this year with encouragement during this upcoming journey. Brest-Bordeaux by maritime bicycle, or nearly 900 km of cycle paths May 4 to May 15 2026 stage 3, of my cycling tour of France this year.
What message would you like to send to those who might be tempted to support or promote your initiative?
When you donate €100 to the Pasteur Institute of Lille, €74 goes directly to the completion of research missions And in reality, it only costs the donor 34 euros, including the tax deduction… because The association is recognized as being of general interest. Last year, I started collecting red coins; this year, together, we can change the color of these coins to bring color to life through medical research and advance progress regarding people in situations of health fragility due to to the research for future generations conducted by the Pasteur Institute of Lille. These coins can turn yellow or silver! Support the Pasteur Institute of Lille can take many formsEveryone can get involved according to their convictions, background, and research capabilities… There is no price for supporting prevention and innovation in health Supported by the Pasteur Institute of Lille, but what a splash of color to add! Thank you for your support in this next stage of this cycling journey, which will be full of discoveries thanks to your generosity and involvement!
Thank you Philippe for your testimony to the Pasteur Institute of Lille, good luck!
