Chasing 4554
Category:
HUMBLHIVE
Chasing 4554 — One Line, Two Worlds
From sea level to 4’554 meters.
By bike. By skis. In one continuous push.
Chasing 4554 is more than a record attempt. It’s a project built around passion, precision, and the pursuit of a line that connects two worlds — the Ligurian coast and the highest hut in Europe, the Capanna Margherita.
The Athlete
At the center of it is Jocelyn Verdenal, 34, originally from Alsace (France), now based in Zermatt.
He works in a local sports rental shop — but his real identity lives outside: on the bike and in the mountains.
Cycling and ski mountaineering aren’t just sports for him. They’re a daily practice, a mindset, and over the years, a natural combination of endurance, efficiency, and technical skill.
The Challenge
The goal: beat the current Fastest Known Time of 11h52 from Genoa to Capanna Margherita (4’554 m).
The route is as simple as it is brutal:
Start in Genoa (sea level)
~234 km by road bike to Tschaval (Gressoney)
Transition — fast, efficient
~2’600 vertical meters on skimo skis
Finish at the highest hut in Europe
All in one go. No breaks. No second chances.
Two Passions, One Project
What makes Chasing 4554 unique is its purity.
It combines Jocelyn’s two strongest disciplines — road cycling and skimo — into one continuous effort.
No compromise. Just movement, flow, and adaptation.
The Team Behind
The project is supported by partners who share the same mindset:
Humbl — providing the bike and supporting the project from the cycling side
Dynafit — equipping the skimo part with performance-driven gear
Together, they enable a setup built for speed, efficiency, and reliability in extreme conditions.
Captured, Not Staged
A dedicated media team will follow the entire attempt, led by videographer Nico Renggli.
The result will be a short documentary, alongside a series of visual content — from raw behind-the-scenes moments to high-end imagery of the effort, the landscape, and the transitions in between.
Nothing staged. Just real movement through changing terrain.
Waiting for the Window
The attempt is planned for early April 2026, but like any alpine project, timing is everything.
Conditions will decide.
As Jocelyn puts it:
“Better to have okay legs for the day but great conditions, than amazing legs and not ideal conditions.”
Follow the Line
The project will unfold in real time — with live updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and the final documentary.
Chasing 4554 is not just about the time.
It’s about the line.
Stay tuned.
