Nearly 60 runners from across the department took part in the Mont Saint-Clair time trial in Sète, returning after 24 years of absence. Back in pictures.
The weather cleared at the last second on Mont Saint-Clair. A chance for the return, this Sunday, October 27, of the time trial of Guidon Sportif Sétois, one of the oldest clubs in Sète. The trace of this ordeal dates back to the 1930s. “At the club, we have photos hanging on the walls of the first time trial, it was in 1936, the year the club was created”recalls Nicolas Grosso, elected president a few weeks ago. The event was for a long time combined with a “tournament” of Sète (a loop) which started from Avenue Victor-Hugo. Everything stopped in the 2000s.
“There is a vintage side”
“Pascal Ferraro, the former president, spoke to me about it a year ago, and we said to ourselves that we really had to redo it. There is a vintage and very unique side which corresponds well to the state of 'spirit of the city'notes Nicolas Grosso. But be careful: amateurs refrain. The event is open to everyone but the 2 km climb with passages at 20% gradient (Sémaphore and Citadelle) is almost a myth. “It’s the strong people who like this kind of effort. The veterans are very happy that we’re organizing it again. It’s a climb that is associated with the Tour de France!” recalls Nicolas Grosso, stationed at the start at the bottom of the Rampe des Arabes. The best time ever measured on these very special 2 km was recorded at 6'30.
Lucas Congras, on the roof of Saint-Clair
The Guidon Sportif Sétois was obviously well represented but also members of the Sète Thau Triathlon who came as Cycling partners. Among the 56 registered, clubs from the department with a very represented veterans category (17 runners). For Frontignan resident Patrick Cornier (Bédarieux club, veterans category) it was a first. “It's really a challenge for me, I've already done all the local time trials, but there are crazy percentages there. We're going to climb as best we can. That's why we discuss with others to choose the best gear”, explains the one who trains at least three times a week. “It depends on each person’s legs!“, says Dominique Antunes, the dean of this competition affiliated with the Challenge des monteres de l'Hérault FSGT. The morning ended with a final challenge: the winners of each category competed against each other on the climb. And the champion of the champions is Lucas Congras, hopeful category.
France
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