An unmissable event in June for almost thirty years, the Foulées de la Cathédrale (9.8 km), organized by L’Écho Républicain and Chartres ASPTT, should beat their attendance record this Saturday, June 29, at the occasion of the 29? editing. The bar of 2,000 participants should be crossed, for the first time, while the Foulées roses will move ahead of the event.
They know that they will suffer on the very steep sections of asphalt which lead to the cathedral, especially the least well prepared of the peloton. But they ask for more, a little more each year. This Saturday evening, for the 29th edition of the Strides of the Cathedral, an event that has become almost iconic in the Eurelian calendar, a new participation record should be established, and a symbolic threshold crossed: that of 2,000 participants. While 1,860 bibs had already been sold by the organizers last night, the figures for the 2019 edition – 1,981 competitors – should logically be deleted.
The Strides of the Cathedral, a race that gains height
Why such a success ? No doubt because the event, orchestrated for many years by Chartres ASPTT and L’Écho Républicain, gives pride of place to conviviality and pleasure, quite far from the race for bonuses which can govern other organizations. At Foulées de la Cathédrale, the challenge is above all personal and friendly, a last meeting on the holiday route, in a setting that is as pleasant as it is formidable.
Some new features and an open race
Because, if the old stones of the historic center of Chartres offer a pretty postcard for putting on sneakers, the small streets which wind towards the spiers of Notre-Dame are no favors for athletes. This year again, the connection from rue Perrault to rue Saint-Éman, with average percentages around 8%, promises to make a certain number of people struggle, even if the public, always very numerous and noisy in these portions steep sections of the route, will be there to give a little breath and energy, especially in the second round. The most feared.
Strides of the cathedral: reinforced health system for the 29th edition, in Chartres
For once, the riders will not take the small Rue des Acacias, towards the cathedral. Due to roadworks, the peloton will turn directly left towards Rue au Lait, which is perhaps a tad less steep, but a little longer. This will be the only change to the route, but not the only new feature.
The beautiful story of this edition
Because the 2023 edition, run in very hot weather, encouraged the organizers to strengthen the safety system, with two new first aid stations on the course, as well as two pairs on bikes, if necessary. Likewise, there will now be three resupply points, compared to just one previously. It must be said that a competitor’s heart attack last year was very scary, even if the latter, and this will be the great story of this edition, will be at the start on Saturday evening.
In conditions which promise to be much more breathable than in 2023, perhaps even a little humid, who will succeed Lucas Liard and Anaïs De Cock? If the latter should come to defend her title, even if she is not 100%, Liard was not engaged in the middle of the week. As for Julie Chuberre-Dodé and her husband Sylvain Dodé, the great gluttons of the last ten years on the Foulées, they, it is certain, will not be there. Which promises a fairly open race…
Romain Léger
