Bytager the publication "Steve Chainel: a battered, sunny and unfiltered champion"
He welcomed us as he speaks: straightforwardly, with a genuine smile and raw energy. Thanks to Anthony Colas, we entered the world of Steve Chainel. That day, it was no longer just about juicy anecdotes or delicious comments. He unfolded a whole life for us: his modest childhood, his struggles, his victories, his intimate wounds, his unwavering friendships, his humor as a shield, and the freedom he proudly proclaims. This portrait is that of an atypical champion, battered and sunny, who never cheated, either on the bike or in life.
By Jeff Tatard – Photos: DR
We knew his cheeky Eurosport consultant voice, his irresistible duet with Jacky Durand, his punchlines that make purists laugh as much as those who have never cycled for more than ten minutes. We discovered his naturalness in the series Netflix Tour de France: UnchainedBut what he delivered to us that day is much more than a sporting testimony: it is an entire life, full of scars and laughter, told without filter. Through his words, sometimes tender, sometimes harsh, we find the portrait of an atypical runner, of a man who never pretended. A raw, intelligent and moving story that feels like Steve.
Humble roots
« I came to cycling by pure chance ", Steve attacks with his usual frankness. No embellished narrative, no fabricated storytelling: simply a seven-year-old kid bursting with energy being taken to a cycling school in Saint-Etienne-les-Remiremont. " My dad told me to try. I finished third in my first race. And I caught the bug right away. »
The family scene is set: painter father, wet nurse mother, not a penny saved. « We weren't rolling in money. At home, it was more of a given that I played soccer. No one in my family rode a bike. "But the child is hooked, and the passion becomes obvious.
He quickly learned to tinker with nothing. I was the only one with a bike without gears, a single-speed that the club had lent me. The other kids already had toe clips, I was on flat pedals. But that didn't stop me from having a blast. » His father repairs tires for cyclo-cross races. With his two sisters and his brother, he grew up in a family where the values are simple: bytagand fair, solidarity. If we give you 1000, we give 1000 to your brother, 1000 to your sister. So we had to learn to manage. » This modest childhood forged an indelible trait: resourcefulness as a driving force, and the desire to prove that with little, you can do a lot..
The revelation of cyclo-cross
The love for cyclo-cross does not come from a calculated choice but from an encounterIn 1993, Steve was ten years old. A few kilometers from his home, a party was organized to celebrate the world title of Dominique Arnould, the new world champion. I asked him for his autograph. For me, he was a star, my role model. And then I said to myself: this is what I want to do. »
From that day on, the bike takes on a particular color. Not the route, too sanitized, too cold. But cross-country: a visceral, intense discipline, where the effort knows no respite. « It was full throttle from start to finish. There was technique, running, and piloting.tage. Everything I loved. "And there was the atmosphere." Cross country is a French, down-to-earth affair. You meet everyone, you warm up on the sidelines. It has nothing to do with route where everything is framed, locked. »
The years of hardship and pressure
Talented but fragile, Steve quickly learns that cycling is a sport of patience and pain.In 2006, he came out of the junior ranks and finished 4th in the elite world championship, behind Erwin Vervecken, Bart Wellens and Francis Mourey. A huge performance, but one that became a burden. Everyone was waiting for me to confirm. For me to become French champion to validate this place. "But he can't handle the pressure." I was afraid of what other people would think, afraid of doing wrong. I shat myself in all the French championships. »
The years pass, opportunities slip away. Steve wins races, sometimes shines on the route — Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders, Milan-San Remo — but the national cyclo-cross title eludes him again and again.
2018: Sacred in the midst of chaos
It will take twelve years for the curse to fall.On January 14, 2018, in Quelneuc, Steve finally won the title of French elite champion. But the context was terrible. I was in the middle of a divorce. I saw my children every other week. I was at rock bottom. "This pain paradoxically becomes his liberation." I didn't give a damn about what other people thought. I was relaxed. And that's how I won. »
No relentless training, no obsession. Just a drained, yet liberated man. It was a mixture of relief and sadness. I wish I could have experienced that moment under different circumstances. But my parents were there, and so were my children. It was worth everything. »
Friendships, loves, children
His career is also a story of encounters. Julien Belgy, Francis Mourey, John Gadret… “ They are true friends. Guys with whom I have built indelible memories. » And then there was Lucie, also a great champion. Steve met her at 17. Together, theytagtheir youth, their podiums, their struggles, and family life. It was incredible to experience this as a duo. We lifted each other up. "Their story ended in 2017, but their children are already taking over." My son is doing well in cyclo-cross. I'm proud, but most of all, I want him to have fun. Genetics are good, but they're not enough.. » His daughter, she shines in athletics. I would give my life for them. Their happiness comes first. »
Humor as armor
The public knows Steve for his humorA witty remark, a well-timed joke. But behind the clowning lies a survival mechanism. It's my way of relieving pressure. I've alwaystestand the conflicts. »
He recounts the struggles that became funny. Like this Milan-San Remo 2013, neutralized by the snow: " I wanted to play the union man. Looking back, I was just a real little jerk. » Or the cult passage by Moncuq, live on Eurosport: “ I had all my jokes ready. We had a huge laugh. "He gets this humor from his family." My dad was always telling jokes. And my grandfather, who was disabled, would tell me, 'Steve, you're lucky you can walk.' When you grow up with that, you put everything into perspective. »
La reconTV version and the duet with Jacky
When his career ended, Steve didn't plan to become a consultant. But Patrick Chassé offered him a testThen Eurosport calls him. The duo with Jacky Durand was born almost by accident. " I've been a fan of Jacky's forever. And from the first race together, it was as if we'd known each other for twenty years. "Their complicity works because it is natural." Jacky brings experience, I bring freshness. And we never pretend to agree. "The public loves it, the networks are going wild. The consultant is born.
The Netflix Effect
In 2023, the series Tour de France : Unchained propels Steve into another dimension. " I'm better known as a TV consultant and "the Netflix guy" than as a former champion. "He is discovering a new audience: younger, wider, sometimes completely unfamiliar with cycling." Some people come to me and say, "You were so good on Netflix. Even though I only appear for 20 seconds per episode!" "He welcomes fame with detachment." In sports, an athlete is forgotten three months after retirement. Thanks to TV and Netflix, I remain visible. »
Epilogue: Pride and Scars
Today, Steve looks back on his career with clarity. Sometimes I did the bare minimum. I could have worked harder, gone further. But I have no regrets. » He also talks about the team he created, with passion but without protection.. " I lost feathers, money, and spirit. I gave freely, sometimes only to be disappointed. "But he concludes with serenity. I'm proud of my children, proud of my partner, proud of who I've become. I know where I come from. And I've learned to be in tune with that. »
Then he drops a sentence that sums it all up: “ I dietestand pretension. But it must be said: I'm not just anyone. I have a journey, scars, successes. And above all, I'm extremely lucky: to get up every morning, see my children, laugh, and tell myself that the rest is secondary. »
Steve Chainel's path has been bumpy: tinkering, doubts, immense joys and memorable bursts of laughter. A runner who never wanted to take himself too seriously. And who, through this unique blend of sincerity and humor, has reached a much wider audience than just enthusiasts. This story is that of an atypical champion, who has become a familiar voice, a beloved face. And if his style had to be summed up in three words, he has already done it himself: relevant, funny, and a touch naive. Quite simply, Steve.
