After a short exile at the Alençon racecourse, giving it a rural air, the city of Alençon criterium returns to its usual setting this Wednesday, June 26, 2024: the city center. A municipal decision, ” normal ” (dixit Daniel Colombu, one of the two, with Benoît Le Royer, co-presidents of the Alençon-Damigny Cycling Union) which will (re)inflate the interest in an event which has become “monotonous with its pursuit type because of the long straight lines”taking a new route and “selective. »
A unique route which owes, again, to another municipal decision, taken a few years ago, and which led the organizing team to review its copy: “The road development, with the kidney-shaped path at the crossroads between Cours Clémenceau and Rue Saint-Blaise, forced us to modify the circuit for the safety of the runners, agrees the septuagenarian. From now on, it will cut through Place Poulet-Malassis and take Rue des Marcheries. »
No need for a big platoon
A short circuit, far from being trivial, which will make the race tougher and also spice it up, with the direct shift into the rising false level of the Prefecture. “This is a section that will be more difficult because the runners will not have the momentum to tackle this portion. » A relaunch, among those that dot the circuit, which could be the justice of the peace to determine the winner of the event. Who must also, in addition to having large calves, have chest because the buckle, “reduced in distance and laps”, promises to be tiring through repetition. Overall mileage remaining “ideal for a criterium. »
If the possibility “to register on race day” is current and “some will decide at the last moment and depending on the weather”, a platoon of around sixty units, from local and regional clubs, is expected to do battle. A figure that suits one of the kingpins of the Signal d’Écouves organization: “That’s a sufficient number for a criterium. It’s not necessary to have more because we mustn’t forget that some passages are in alleys. It also allows for an open race, more contested, because the chances of winning are greater.”
As for the winner, he should have a profile ” strong enough “ without this being, however, a certainty. Despite his decades of cycling experience, the one who is a member of the Orne committee admits that this subject is the only one « point d’interrogation » of the test. In any case, no (questions) to come and attend alone, with families, or with friends at this traditional event which is a real popular success.
Wednesday June 26, 2024
Departure: 8 p.m.
Departure and arrival: rue Saint-Blaise
Distance: 70 kilometers (1.4 km circuit to be covered 50 times)
Categories: Open 2-3 and Access.
