It’s hard to believe that the athletic guy who just put his bike down on the Place du Huit-Septembre in Besançon was obese just a few years ago. “Yes, I went up to 160 kg. I was always strong, but I was commercial and good-natured, I went to restaurants with clients, had a sedentary lifestyle… And then it clicked. An operation (a sleeve), a change of life. I didn’t do things by halves. »
Thomas has become a “supporter” – he hates English terms and is reluctant to say “coach”. “I set up my business where I support people aged 50 who want to take up sport, high-level athletes, businesses, associations. Recently, I was in a nursing home near Montbéliard. A 92-year-old gentleman told me that I was a vector of movement. He summed up my entire philosophy in one formula. I made it my motto. »
Single speed? “Yes, that also corresponds to my project. I wanted to reduce technology as much as possible, keep it simple, be minimalist. But I worked on the bike a lot with a specialist, everything is thought of. Including this idea of also simplifying the bike. »
Passing by 1400 fast food restaurants
Thomas Billot’s Tour de France has a strange appearance with its 25,000 km. He says he had the idea of asking the AI to suggest a route based on the philosophy of the project across all the departments of France. A challenge to show that we can surpass ourselves and fight against a sedentary lifestyle. “And the AI immediately took me to junk food and offered a tour of 1,400 fast food restaurants of a well-known brand. I thought it was a good idea, even if I’m not involved in any activism and I’m not fighting against this brand. For me, it is consistent with my approach, but everyone will get the message they want from it. I just know that when you’re a salesperson, you can easily go to the drive-thru between two customers and you can find yourself like I was. It’s my way of transforming my past into an engine. »
“To see how far we can go when we decide to change”
There is a whole team behind the young Comtois. A doctor who will follow him remotely, a communications team who will relay a newsletter – a digital bulletin – every Monday. Thomas will also provide progress updates on the networks.
” Mad ? No, Project M is to see and also show how far we can go when we decide to change. We set the limits. My motto is the word impossible with the first two letters crossed out. I don’t fear the hassles, the rainy days, the technical problems, the difficult times. We’ll see. Upon arrival, I will have filled out this book that was given to me one day. The pages are blank, it is to be written. And then the idea is also to make a film from the immersive images that I take. In any case, I’m ready to go. On the move, always. »
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