Paul Rouget, Media365: published on Thursday September 26, 2024 at 12:56 p.m.
The legendary Bordeaux-Paris race, created in 1891 and which disappeared in 1988, will not be reborn this year due to a lack of runners. Much to the organizer’s regret.
It saw the triumph of Louison Bobet (photo), Jacques Anquetil and Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle. But the legendary Bordeaux-Paris race will not take place this year. Created in 1891 and disappeared in 1988, this night race, and nearly 600 kilometers, which had attempted a comeback in 2014 and 2022, was canceled due to a lack of participants. It was to be held on October 20, under the name Bergerac-Châtellerault-Rungis, but only 14 riders were registered, including only one Frenchman, Alexis Guérin, from the Belgian team of the third echelon Philippe Wagner-Bazin. And no French team was entered in this UCI test event, which would therefore not have delivered any points. It was Éric Ramos, the organizer of the race, who confirmed the sad news on Wednesday.
“No French team wanted to hire professional riders”
“We had set the date of September 25, 2024 to make the decision whether or not to continue organizing the Bergerac-Châtellerault-Rungis. Unfortunately, to date, no French team has wanted to engage professional riders…, he laments on Facebook. The specifications of the cities and partners required the participation of professional riders… We have therefore decided to cancel this legendary event which clearly no longer has a place in the international cycling calendar. I thank the foreign riders who had expressed their desire to take part in our race and especially the many friends, club volunteers and organizers who immediately reached out to us to secure our passage… This organization will have allowed me to meet extraordinary people during two years of preparation work.” Guérin, who had the show during the last Tour de Bretagne, and the 13 riders initially engaged will therefore not end their season with this legendary night race, which we may not see again soon…
