Why did you set up this new challenge?
We didn't want to lose our momentum after the great success of organizing the French championship last year. With Grand-Champ, we were already helping each other with volunteers, and we said to ourselves that if we managed to find a common date before the French championship on January 11 and 12 in Pont-Château, we would try to launch a common challenge. This one, which we hope to continue, is called the Adris Challenge.
What does this new challenge bring?
Lots of bonuses! The Adris Challenge is 3,000 euros in prize money shared between runners in the four main adult categories (U19, U23, ladies 17 and over, and elites). In each of these categories, eight runners will be rewarded. In elites, for example, the first will receive an additional 350 euros. The counterpart, of course, is to compete in both events. The goal is also to put a little butter in the runners' spinach. For young people and cadets in particular, we bought prizes, sports bags, etc.
Did the runners take the bait?
The far west zone is quite complicated because there is a national race in Sablé-sur-Sarthe on Sunday. It will still be some great races with the presence of all the champions of Brittany. On Camors, Arnold Jeannesson and the Normandy champion Cyprien Gilles will compete with Tony Périou but the riders have their habits and, this year, they will again go to Sablé the next day. They will therefore not be part of the challenge. It's a bit of a shame.
Why is this kind of challenge, quite common in road Cycling, rare in cyclo-cross?
The season is very short. It begins at the beginning of September and ends at the end of January with the world championships. Also, it doesn't really exist. Afterwards, the clubs must also want to work together and not alone in their corner. We will go even further, no doubt, in the years to come, perhaps with several municipalities, more organizers. For now, we are already leaving with the Camors duo, on Saturday, and Grand-Champ, on Sunday. Next year, we will definitely reverse.
France
Cycling
