French cyclist and TikTok star Aurélien Fontenoy just shattered a world record that stood for 23 years by cycling up 686 steps to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower in just 12 minutes and 30 seconds. The feat required him to bunny hop his way up every single step without letting his feet touch the ground, smashing the previous record by nearly seven minutes. Using only a rigid bike with no suspension, Fontenoy had to compress his tires and jump repeatedly while braking constantly to maintain control on the narrow staircase.
The challenge took four years to organize due to COVID disruptions, the Olympic Games, and renovation work on the iconic tower, giving Fontenoy only one shot at making history. The 35-year-old retired competitive mountain biker has conquered other famous buildings around Paris and Estonia, but this Eiffel Tower attempt represented his biggest challenge yet. With over one million followers on both TikTok and YouTube, Fontenoy uses these spectacular stunts to promote bike trials and support himself financially in a niche sport. His next goal is even more audacious: cycling up the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
