A Swiss With A Pulse

30/07/2026

Come and discover alpine gravel in Villars

We have developed a new route for riders who want a first taste of gravel riding in the mountains, without starting the day with a long climb.

The idea is simple: take the TPC train from Villars to Bretaye, saving around 600 metres of climbing, then ride across the high ground above the valley before descending back to Villars via Taveyanne and Les Chaux.

The route combines 4x4 tracks, quiet alpine roads, open views and a few short climbs. It is not aimed at complete beginners, but you do not need to be an experienced alpine gravel rider. You should simply be comfortable riding on easy unpaved tracks, controlling your speed on descents and spending a few hours on the bike.

You can rent a carbon Scott Addict Gravel from Sport’s House in Villars, and local guiding is also available with Lillie from Cycling Heidi.

The full route is available on Switchback, including the map, description, practical tips and photos:

https://switchback.alpsinsight.com/cycling/bretaye-villars-alpine-gravel/

Come and give it a try. I'd be interested to hear your feedback after the ride, particularly about the route, the level of difficulty and the overall experience.

28/05/2026

It’s that time of the year: cyclists riding between snow walls as the big alpine passes begin opening, one after another. Is it a big year? Reports from the ground are conflicting, but the stoke is real.

A few years ago, I went chasing snow walls with my friend Adrian in his favorite hunting ground: the Petit Saint-Bernard, Bourg-Saint-Maurice side.

At the time, I wrote a story about it for Vélo Magazine. A version of it is now up on the blog, link in the first comment.

It’s about more than snow walls: the slightly ridiculous fascination cyclists have with them, the social media craze around these roads trapped between winter and spring, and the joy of behaving like a kid again in the snow.

As a photographer, I also love how snow transforms alpine roads into something almost abstract: a ribbon of asphalt, tiny cyclists, white walls and sky.

10/03/2026

So… I guess I’m back.

I realise I disappeared a bit this winter. Between skiing, office work and… life, riding and shooting somehow moved into the background.

Last Saturday, I finally grabbed my RX100 and rode back into my local mountains.

Sahara dust in the air, snow still on the peaks, watts low… but spirits high.

I took a few photos along the way. Even stumbled onto a climb I had somehow never ridden before.

Most of the winter I was behind a desk working on projects and plans. Now it’s finally time to get back on the road.

A few fun things are coming up and I’m looking forward to sharing new roads and destinations here in the coming weeks.

01/02/2026

02/01/2026

A year in the mountains: from the Swiss Alps to the Dolomites and Slovenia, here are some of my favorite shots from 2025.

They’re about peaks, roads, colors, people, seasons… and that familiar feeling of being tiny in big landscapes.

Full story with context for each photo - including where it was taken, who’s in the frame, and what really happened on the day - is in the first comment.

I’m curious which one you’d stop on longer?

10/12/2025

Autumn wrapped up with a small project close to home — and to our hearts. A handful of mini photo shoots with Cycling Heidi before winter took over the Swiss Alps. No brief, no campaign… just the two of us trying to catch the last moments of the season.

Sunrise that only shows up at 9 a.m. in October, a “secret spot” sunset ruined (in a good way) by a call from our son, a freezing ride to the Col de la Croix the day before it closed, golden vineyards, and the very glamorous reality of wearing bibs around the house.

A good reminder that you don’t need anything extraordinary to be creative.

Big thank you to Scott Sports, Velocio Apparel and Julbo Eyewear — their gear is all over this project and with me all year long.

Full story on the blog: https://switchback.alpsinsight.com/autumn-at-home/

Brands and destinations: if you’re working on 2026 cycling projects and want honest, grounded storytelling, I’m here for it.