Energy. It’s normally something we think about as powering us. Tirelessly, relentlessly to push ourselves further and faster . But there’s a different type of human energy .We’re all born with it. It bears no relation to physical fitness, or how fast the riders in this year’s 15th Fireflies Tour can get to the top of the next mountain. It’s the emotional energy that powers people to create something beyond the individual, something beyond the collective, something bigger than all of us.
And it’s that belief in the power of something greater that has set this group of riders in motion,on a journey to their limits and back to raise money for Leukaemia Lymphoma research that’s had some affect within the life of each rider. I’m travelling with a group of creatives from over 12 different countries who understand the power of human energy and the connections it builds between us. It’s their vocation. They’re collaborators - producers, filmmakers and directors who together create experiences, feelings and dialogues that speak to our emotions.
This week has been different. From highs and lows, fast downhills to winding ascents, the power of human energy has inspired us, taught us, pushed us and ultimately forged us together on an incredible journey for something we all believe in. This eight day, 1,055 kilometre cycle ride hasn’t been easy, tackling some of toughest and most iconic climbs of the Tour de France. But capturing that human energy of the Fireflies Tour, from the ecstasy to the emotional crashes, reflected in the awe-inspiring landscape around us and lit by clear relentless mountain light, has been its own journey for me. One that has taken me to my own highs and lows, from hanging out of car boots, to capturing the perfect shot of the eerie calm of the mountains at sunrise, waiting to capture the riders as they speed past.
But the one thing that will stay with me? Something that reminds me of the words of a quote I heard a while ago - given a new shape in my mind. Energy can drive us to travel far individually, but so much further together.
