A true sporting institution created in 1974, the VC La Pomme-Marseille will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary this Saturday, November 30. The opportunity to pay tribute to the creators, to Jean-Pierre Carminati, to the volunteers, in the presence of some of the 60 professional runners who have passed through its ranks. But also to prepare for the future.
We don't turn fifty every day. So, the Vélo Club La Pomme-Marseille will take out its gala clothes on Saturday November 30 to celebrate its half-century of existence in a solemn setting, the Palais du Pharo.
“We would like to pay tribute to those who created the club and those who made it prosper, but also to thank the local authorities who have supported it since the beginning”explains Patrick Sorin, the current one (for three years) and 14e president of an institution with 270 graduates.
Nearly 250 people will attend this evening dedicated to “communion”including many former runners who passed through its ranks before entering the professional world: Evaldas Siskevicius, Mathieu Delarozière, Rémi Pauriol, Nicolas Roche, Julien El Fares, Maxime Bouet and Julien Antomarchi.
On June 17, 1974, the VC Pomme… à la Grognarde was born
It all started… on the Grognarde side, where the VC Pomme, its initial appellation, was born on June 17, 1974, by the will of “guys from the neighborhood wanting to ride together”. First president, Serge Bolley (absent this Saturday for health reasons) dresses all his friends in orange outfits, to recall the colors of his former pro team, Bic.
This jersey will also be exhibited at the Pharo, a major piece of a temporary museum retracing the rich history of the eastern Marseille club. “It’s an extremely interesting club, with a very rich history. We identify and become attached very quickly”remarks Patrick Sorin, with his new eyes, since he has only been a member since 2019.
It took a lot of research in recent months to find vintage photos, jerseys, cups and even a steel Reynolds 753 bike. To show technological developments, measure the passing of time, inexorable, unstoppable, a state-of-the-art time trial bike purchased last year for juniors will also be on display.
Jean-Pierre Carminati “at the heart of everything”
Before turning to white and Marseille blue, the orange color was worn for several years. Those where the club grows, unites, attracts, already. Jo Roche, present at the launch, never left La Grognarde, nor did he miss a single contribution to what would very quickly become the Vélo Club La Pomme-Marseille. Jo is today the only survivor of the beginnings to still be fired.
And Jean-Pierre Carminati, then? If he only arrived in 76, history will remember that he is the living memory, the liege man, a former full president (96-2004) and honorary president since. “It’s an important part of my life”he confides in a euphemism that is so similar to him.
He could talk about it for hours. And even then, that would not be enough to recount, with delight and mischief, the thousands of anecdotes that jostle in his memory.
“The Apple is not only about fighter planes, it is also about people who ride bikes at the age of 80”
It was he who created the “Bosses” in 1994, first “Marseilles”, then “du 13” and now “de Provence”. A cyclosportive which could not have seen a second edition after a failed trial (200 participants). “Financial fiasco, success of esteem”will sum up Jean-Pierre Carminati nicely. Today, the event attracts 2,500 cyclists to the hinterland every end of summer.
“Make no mistake, the club’s 50th anniversary is an evening dedicated to Jean-Pierre. He is at the heart of everything”insists Patrick Sorin, full of emotion at the mention of his illustrious predecessors. The latter gives it back: “Patrick took matters into his own hands, his arrival (elected in November 2021) was a blessing. Let’s ensure that the La Pomme-Marseille Vélo Club survives! »
From Cycling school in 1985 to the professional world in 2011
The club has long taken up residence in a basement in Valentine, at Carminati. It was only in 1999 that the VCPM moved to its current premises along the A50, adjacent to the La Pomme stadium. These offices, which have become dilapidated, are currently benefiting from expansion work, in order to improve the conditions of employees and the reception of the public. “This is a new stage for the club”announces the president.
There were many stages
. Among the main ones, the creation of the cycling school in 85 clearly demonstrates the importance given to training over the decades. The training center was created in 1994, with an illustrious sponsor, the newly minted world champion Luc Leblanc.Sportingly, the club reaps the fruits of the Apple at the start of the 21st e century. He went from DN3 (2002) to the professional world (2011) via victory in the French Look Cup (2007) and access to elite amateurs (DN1) in 2009.“These years have allowed the club to become a national and even international reference in terms of training and detection”
Created in 1994, the Bosses de Provence attract nearly 2,500 participants each year.
Local stars and international glories
Among the most illustrious runners of this period, no one has forgotten the pure Marseille riders Rémy Di Grégorio, Thomas Rostollan, Benjamin Giraud or the youngest, the Ciotaden Maxime Decomble.
Everyone also remembers those who became stars of the professional peloton: the Irish Dan Martin and Sam Bennett, the Latvian Toms Skujins, the South African Daryl Impey, the Japanese Fumy Beppu and many others… Of all ages, friendship and trust have been a cement strong enough to build foundations and successes, and to also help weather the rare storms.“In an Olympic year, it is good to promote community life in Marseille and the work done by our admirable volunteers. And by extension, it is the promotion of sport because we are activists of the values of sport”
Within the Marseille club, the cyclosportive section is very dynamic.
From seniors to kids, a tradition in motion The current president, a retired principal and experienced cyclist, wets his jersey with three weekly outings. Every Saturday, a group of fifty cyclists come together to cycle.“The Apple is not only about fighter planes, it is also about people who ride bikes at the age of 80”
he notes.
The VC La Pomme-Marseille has been taking its social action head on for more than twenty years, with a steady increase in the implementation of the “Know how to ride a bike” system, with strong educational implications, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods .
Saturday, November 30, the photos will have yellowed, the praise will rain down on the dedicated volunteers who allowed La Pomme to reach the respectable age of 50 years without fading. But all eyes will be on the future. Towards this youth who will be responsible for perpetuating the tradition. With the last photo of a vibrant slideshow featuring the kids from the cycling school, topped with these words:“See you for the centenary”
.
Long live the dashing fifty-year-old.
Benoît GILLES *
KEY DATES OF THE VC LA POMME-MARSEILLE June 17, 1974
: Birth. 1985
: Creation of the cycling school. 1994
: Creation of the training center, sponsored by world champion Luc Leblanc. 1994
: Creation of the Bosses Marseilles. 1995
: Become the Bosses of 13. 1998
: Creation of the MTB team. 2000
: First national title: Alexis Mingot champion of France Hopes of continuation. 2003
: Resumes the organization of the Paca Junior Tour (until 2007). 2005
: Rémi Pauriol champion de France Elite. 2008
: Two world titles, Arnaud Jouffroy among juniors in cyclo-cross, Fabio Duarte (Colombia) in Espoirs on the road. 2011
: Creation of the pro road team (until 2014), which then became Delko (until its disappearance in 2021). 2013
: Creation of the Six Saintes. 2016
: The Bosses become “of Provence”. 2015-2019
: Numerous titles won, with Sofiane Mérignat best French junior, Jean-Marc Maurin world Masters champion, Marc Brustenga winner of the French DN3 cup. 2022-2023
: The juniors win the national team ranking, Hugo Tapiz and Maéva Plagniol climb onto the podium of the France de l'Avenir championships. 2024
Freshly crowned world champion, Luc Leblanc (center) sponsored the VC La Pomme-Marseille training center when it was launched in 1994.
France
Cycling
