It’s not every day you see a peloton launch a plane, and I even had the privilege of capturing this historic moment through my lens. Nine Red Bull–BORA-Hansgrohe riders, led by Tour de France podium finisher Florian Lipowitz, successfully towed Andy Hediger and his glider plane to flight, using only leg power. No motor. Just raw speed, precision, and trust.
When someone first explains the project you’re about to photograph, and that project involves launching an aircraft into the air using nothing but human power, the very first question that comes to mind is: Is this even real? That was exactly my reaction when I was told I would be part of this project.
As with every assignment where I’m documenting something that has never been done before, my first task is to figure out how to photograph it in a way that captures the true essence of the project and delivers the results I envision. That responsibility is significant, but it also gives me the freedom to position cameras and equipment strategically, allowing me to achieve the desired outcome.
This was, without a doubt, one of the most demanding photo shoots I’ve taken this year. Whenever airports, airplanes, and aircraft are involved, there are inevitable limitations and strict regulations that come with such environments. This project was no exception. However, thanks to excellent organization and strong teamwork, everything came together successfully. The BORA–Hansgrohe team pushed the boundaries of physics, aviation, and aerodynamics, showcasing true human strength while writing a new chapter in history. The project was executed flawlessly, and both the photographs and video footage delivered outstanding results.
Lipowitz and eight teammates from Red Bull-BORA-Hansgrohe pulled off this extraordinary feat in Son Bonet, Mallorca, following a challenging test in Austria. Using a 1500-meter runway, the nine riders had to accelerate to 54km/h whilst connected to a 150-meter cord attached to the specially engineered harness, peaking at a combined 6500 seated watts. Communication was crucial, riders couldn’t see the glider, and pilot Andy Hediger lost sight of them immediately after takeoff.
The physical effort from the riders was nothing short of astounding, some might argue it’s World Tour race-winning calibre, as they averaged 650 watts for 90 seconds.
For Hediger, however, the challenge was mentally: flying the plane at near-minimum speed while maintaining steady tension on the cord required incredibly precise, sensitive control throughout takeoff.
Cycling is often seen as an individual sport, solo victories, time trials, and a single winner, but Peloton Takeoff showcases the teamwork required to achieve such extraordinary feats.
Bringing together cycling and aviation unlocked an entirely new landscape of research, science, and challenges. For Dan Bigham, the team’s Head of Engineering, the project was transformative and “game-changing for the sport”, a chance to fully leverage his deep expertise in aerodynamics and engineering.
INSIDE THE PHOTOSHOOT WITH PREDRAG VUCKOVIC
Although Predrag Vuckovic has extensive experience in aerial photography, this project presented an entirely new set of challenges. Being familiar with aircraft and airport environments is certainly an advantage when you have to take photos of them. However, envisioning how to document something that has never happened before is a completely different task.
This is a challenge Vuckovic knows well. He has built a reputation for documenting projects in which athletes push boundaries, achieving historic firsts or breaking records through extraordinary feats and precision.
Once again, his technical expertise, combined with a distinct photographic vision, came into play. The result was a visual story that captured the true essence of a project that pushed the sport into entirely new frontiers.
Equipment used for this project
2x Nikon Z9 cameras
Lenses: 800mm f 5.6 + extender: 1.2 (all together 1200mm) + 14 – 24mm; 24 – 70mm f 2.8; 135mm f 1.8; 35mm f 1.2 3 x GoPro Cameras, 2 x Jeep Wrangler 🙂