Shock in the gravel community after the death of Stéphane Goyard during an event in France

The international gravel community is in mourning following the death of Stéphane Goyard, one of the most recognized YouTube promoters of this discipline in France. The creator of the Gravel & Bike channel died last Saturday while participating in one of the routes of the Nature is Bike festival, held in the French town of Angers.

Shock in the gravel cycling community after the death of Stéphane Goyard in France

Goyard, 54 years old and originally from Dijon, was a well-known figure in the gravel world thanks to his videos, equipment tests, and adventure reports. His YouTube channel had over 65,000 subscribers, and his Instagram profile had more than 22,000 followers, making him one of the most influential voices in French gravel in recent years.

The accident occurred last Saturday while he was participating in the Nature is Bike event, one of the most important in France. He was taking part in THE DÉFI200 by Origine, the original and most demanding distance of the festival, a route of 208 kilometers. According to information released by French authorities, the collision took place around 10:30 AM at the intersection of the departmental road RD60 and the Marigné path, in the town of Bois-d’Anjou, about 30 kilometers from Angers.

Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene but were unable to revive the cyclist. The driver involved, a 46-year-old woman, was taken to the hospital in a state of shock. The Saumur Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation to clarify the exact circumstances of the incident.

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Initial reports suggest that Goyard arrived at the intersection without reducing speed in a downhill area. The deputy prosecutor of the Republic of Saumur, Marine Labarthe, told French media that “the motorist could not have done anything to avoid the cyclist,” describing the incident as a “tragic accident.”

As is the case in many of the most important events in this discipline, THE DÉFI200 was not a competitive race. The organization defined it as a non-competitive gravel event, with no marked route and open to traffic. Each participant had to follow the course using a GPX file and was responsible for adhering to traffic rules throughout the 208 kilometers of the route.

Goyard's death has sparked a huge wave of reactions in the cycling world. On Sunday, a minute of silence was observed at the Nature is Bike festival, and social media was filled with farewell messages.

One of the most emotional tributes came from his brother Hervé, who wrote: “I was the one who passed on the passion for cycling to him, and today it is cycling that has taken his life. I think of his three children, his wife, and our parents. Life will never be the same again.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Prominent figures in gravel and French cycling also dedicated words to him. Adventurer Steven Le Hyaric recalled that “there are people you cross paths with only a few times but who leave an indelible mark.” For his part, Maxime Prieur, host of GCN France, summed up the general sentiment of the community by stating that “the gravel world has lost a friend.”

Beyond the numbers of his social media, many fans agree that Goyard was one of the people who contributed the most to popularizing gravel in France. His approachable way of explaining equipment, routes, and experiences helped thousands of cyclists discover a discipline that has experienced spectacular growth across Europe in recent years.