Hello Corentin, could you please introduce yourself?
Corentin Richard: Yes, my name is Corentin, I'm 31. My mom is from Brittany, my dad from Auvergne and my grandparents, uncles and aunts all live in the provinces. We're the first Parisians in the family! I studied engineering but decided to change my life. I wanted to contribute to the transformation of travel and tourism. It was in this context that I launched La Trace a year ago, to try and change the way people imagine and travel.
"I want to make my contribution to the transformation of travel and tourism"
Can you tell me a little about La Trace, please?
Corentin: La Trace is a travel agency committed to. Our goal is to transform medium and long-distance travel, where people often take planes or cars, into shorter-distance travel. We want to send people closer to home and accompany them so that they can go on vacation in the most decarbonated way possible.
How did you come up with the idea of creating La Trace?
Corentin: I spent my entire career in the application development field, working with clients such as multinationals, banks, insurance companies, etc. I really enjoyed my work, and I'm very proud of it. I really enjoyed my job, but I didn't feel I was making a real impact on society. So I wanted to start something new. Cycling came naturally because I've been cycling for a long time. In 2017, I took part in the Tour de France des fermes d'avenir by bike. I really got a taste for traveling by bike from there.
"We observe an ecological motivation among our customers, who are looking to change their lifestyle and consumption to be more environmentally friendly"
What are the different options you offer?
Corentin: La Trace has several offers. We have a classic travel agency offer where we take care of all the organization for our customers: hotel reservations, train tickets, and bike rentals.
We also have an offer called "La Trace Libre", at 5 euros for a weekend, 10 euros for a week, where we provide all the necessary information for customers to organize their trip in autonomy. Finally, we have a free offer where anyone can access the GPX files of our routes.
Who is your main target group?
Corentin: Our main target group is made up of people who have little or no experience of bicycle travel, often everyday cyclists who want to try the adventure for the first time. These people are looking for advice and reassurance to take the plunge. There's also an ecological motivation among our customers, who are looking to change their lifestyle and consumption habits to be more respectful of the environment.
"We test all our itineraries, to guarantee that they are safe and practical for cycling"
How do you support them in terms of safety and itineraries?
Corentin: We support them in several ways. Firstly, by providing them with advice based on our experience. Secondly, by collaborating with experts on specific topics, such as family cycling . Finally, we recognize all our routes, which means we test them ourselves to guarantee their safety and practicality, especially for families.
Why did you start out in Brittany?
Corentin: Brittany is my mom's region, a region that I love deeply. Cycling facilities there are very advantageous and diversified.
And then, when organizing trips for beginners and families, it's crucial to have accommodation options nearby, and Brittany lends itself perfectly to this.
Today, we have 200 hotel partners in Brittany, which enables us to meet the needs of our customers.
"France has everything it takes to become the world's leading destination for cycle tourism"
Why do you think cycling is a good way to travel?
Corentin: Cycling enables active meditation , a very pleasant state of flow. You can see the landscape change and make faster progress than on foot, while remaining close to the environment. And let's not deny it, cycling also allows you to burn calories, which is a nice bonus, especially when you feel like eating well!
How do you see bike tourism developing in the years to come?
Corentin: I'm convinced that bike tourism will continue to grow. The figures show growth of over 20% per year. France has everything it takes to become the world's leading destination for cycle tourism. We need to make cycling sexy and desirable, and I'm certain that this trend will accelerate in the years to come.
And if you had to describe bicycle travel in three words?
Corentin: Meditation, letting go, maieutics.
