In Lausanne, we are a close-knit team of mechanics who are very focused on heavy goods transport and travel. When we heard about Svajerlob, we thought it would be fun to meet up there after our respective trips around Europe. It was a great time with colleagues and friends, and an opportunity to meet the Bullitt team and community. That was pretty much all we knew about the trip: we were going to meet nice people and ride cargo bikes!
Our first steps in the city were a little unsettling, as we're not used to seeing so many people on two wheels around us, but once we arrived at the shop, we were able to relax and watch everyone assemble their cargo bikes. It almost made us regret having a more functional than tuned-up bike at home, but it gave us some great ideas for future upgrades!
We invaded Vincent's flat with our bikes and sleeping bags for the night, and on Saturday we discovered the Svajerlob playground. As an over-prepared team, we really didn't know what to expect. We didn't have to wait long, between chatting with the other cyclists, refilling our water bottles and running errands. The circuit wasn't big, so we were able to watch all the action live: the scraping in the corners, the slightly risky overtaking, the bike-to-bike battles, and we found ourselves becoming enthusiastic supporters, cheering on our friends.
As the heats progressed, we got caught up in the game, but we couldn't help smiling and laughing. All this led up to the final, which we watched from cloud nine, where the atmosphere was even crazier: collisions, tight corners and the crowd's cheers made the spectacle as beautiful from the outside as it was from the inside.
The team relay was just as fun and surprising. The cohesion between the members of the different squads was heart-warming, and the relay moments were both chaotic and skillful. It was like being in a Formula 1 pit where all the rules had been ignored; everyone had their own strategy, as long as the cargo left loaded and fast.
After the race, we celebrated with all the other participants by the water in a very warm atmosphere. We even got to go on a boat trip in a small group, the icing on the cake of what was an amazing weekend for us.
Despite a traumatic train journey back to Switzerland, we are obviously very keen to come back next year.
And so here we are, 2026. Unfortunately they couldn't make it back this time. But we might crown again an International Champion on Danish soil? Who knows.
