The Cerro Negro, near León, is starting to gain quite a reputation. While it can be climbed and descended by slide, it’s also the place chosen by some speed freaks to break downhill cycling records. In 2002, the famous Éric Barone, a leading figure in the cycling speed record discipline, had already attempted a feat. His record speed of over 172km/h was not validated due to a fall, which could have cost him his life. Éric Barone had set the bar high, and thanks to him, the Cerro Negro began to make a name for itself. All travellers passing through León have heard about this descent and this brutal accident.
20 years later, it was with the Terra Nicaragua agency and Maëlle’s services that a new expedition and a new record attempt were being prepared. After several months of preparation, Pierre Thévenard and his team landed in Nicaragua on February 7, 2023.
The challenge is not without risk and a little crazy, but Pierre Thévenard, armed with his bike and aerodynamic equipment – helmet, wetsuit, fins – specially designed to increase speed, makes his first test runs before attempting to exceed 167km/h. This speed is held by Austrian Markus Stöckl, who has held the world record (167.6 km/h) since 2011 with a mountain bike of the same type.
Pierre Thévenard, the 32-year-old French mountain bike champion and carpenter from Haute-Savoie, a cycling enthusiast and fan of Monsieur Barone, is about to attempt to break the world mountain bike speed record on dirt.
Why hurtle down the slope of the Cerro-Negro volcano, which is still active? « Between Friday February 10 and Sunday February 12, he attempted to break the 167.5 km/h barrier, but unfortunately failed. Pierre Thévenard failed to break the speed record for cycling down the Cerro Negro volcano. After 4 days of attempts, Pierre Thévenard reached a speed of 156 km/h. According to him, strong winds and the lack of soil density on the volcano prevented him from beating the record. He plans to return next year…. Terra Nicaragua will be there to welcome him back.
