Giovanni Mattiello’s Andes Expedition
The Mission: Beyond 6,000 Meters
There are challenges that go beyond traditional cycling, where the road ends and the silence and vastness of the mountains begin. Giovanni Mattiello, professional MTB rider, content creator, and mountaineer, is ready for a one-of-a-kind expedition in the Andes.
Together with his adventure partner Andreas, Giovanni will take on some of the highest peaks in South America, climbing and descending summits that exceed 6,000 meters. The goal is both simple and ambitious: to take a bike where it has never gone before, across unexplored terrains and beyond the limits of high altitude.
Everything is ready for their departure, and you can follow their adventures on LeeCougan’s Instagram channel (@leecouganbicycles) and their official profiles (@wild_mattiello and @andreas_tonelli). From January to March!
The Athlete:
Giovanni Mattiello
An experienced mountaineer and one of the most skilled cycle mountaineers in the world, he has already explored ridges, via ferratas, and technical descents in the Dolomites, continuously pushing the boundaries between cycling and mountaineering.
Giovanni is no stranger to extraordinary feats.
Together with his expedition partner, Andreas Tonelli, he has crafted a new way of experiencing cycling: combining technique, extreme preparation, and an insatiable thirst for adventure.
Now, this philosophy will take them to the highest peaks in the world, in a unique combination of physical strength and mental resilience.
The Equipment:
The Crossfire Trail
Tackling a challenge of this magnitude requires a bike built for the task. For this mission, Giovanni relies on the Crossfire Trail, a mountain bike designed to conquer any terrain.
The bike is equipped with:
• Titan handlebar stem and Manual Carbon handlebar
• SWR150 dropper seatpost
• Fulcrum Metal Carbon wheels
• San Marco Ground Carbon FX saddle
The white colorway of the Crossfire Trail is more than just an aesthetic choice—it’s a symbol of this mission. Like a blank canvas, the bike is ready to collect the traces of a unique journey: dust, rocks, and challenges that will leave their mark, transforming it into a living testament to the expedition. But it won’t just be the road leaving its mark. During the expedition, the bike will also become a space to gather writings, thoughts, and messages. One such contribution is from a close friend of Giovanni, a tattoo artist and fellow adventurer, who inscribed a Venetian dialect expression.
