Jean-Louis Gauthier, the bike anchored to the body

The Tour du Périgord, the Trophée des châteaux in Les Milandes, the Cénac Grand Prix or the Monpazier Nocturne. The four men's Elite category races which take place in Dordogne (1) are organized by Jean-Louis Gauthier. “I am not alone, it is the work of all the volunteers of VC Monpazier”, he never fails to remind us.

A club that is close to his heart and that this former Crédit Agricole employee has chaired for more than four decades, 1982 to be exact. And, on Saturday November 30, he was unanimously re-elected by the clubs for a third term at the head of the Dordogne departmental committee, with 700 members. A challenge in these times when communities are tightening their belts and reducing their aid to the sporting world.

Unifying

But, at 73 years old, the passion of the little queen is intact in the Monpaziérois “Even if it’s no longer the same. » So, tirelessly, he approaches traders and town halls to obtain subsidies. With success since Périgord hosts races whose plateaus make many departments of Nouvelle-Aquitaine pale in comparison. Until having made the Tour du Périgord, every end of August in Sarlat, a round of the Coupe de France.

“Everything is more complicated, you have to find partners, volunteers, relief conventions, federal rights have increased. And then we use public roads, that doesn’t please everyone,” describes the man who is also a member of the regional committee office and deputy treasurer of the departmental Olympic and sports committee. All the more reason to focus on one-day races. For stage events, “you need a big team with people everywhere”. He himself is a volunteer and he always emphasizes the importance of those around him, supervisors, trainers, little hands, at the club and on the committee.

“Modest runner of the second category” for three years, in his own words, admirer of Robert Chapatte, Jean-Louis Gauthier hung up his bicycle at 18, when he anticipated the call to do his military service in Germany. On his return, the rural bank was waiting for him, and he found himself with a microphone in his hands to become a speaker in the races of this Périgord that he loves so much, and the surrounding area.

More than fifty years later, the pleasure has not left him. Which earned him the reward which will be presented to him during the ceremony which will take place this Monday, December 9 from 6:30 p.m. at the Cité du vin in Bordeaux.

(1) The Périgord Ladies is organized by the Tour du Limousin.