The roads of Creuse are getting dressed a week before the Tour de France passes by

You see them every year on your television: the roads crossed by the Tour de France cycling race. And each time, there are many inscriptions on the ground, messages of support tagged by the riders’ supporters, but also large flockings made by the municipalities and departments. The big loop is one of the most watched sporting events in the worldhence the challenge of visibility for the territories crossed. Monday July 1st, ten days before the start of the 11th stage in Evaux-les-Bains, Creuse County Council agents painted the road at the entrance and exit of each of the Creuse municipalities which will be used by the runners in our department, namely Evaux, Saint-Julien-la-Genête, Fontanières, Rougnat, Auzances and Dontreix.

The operation only cost a hundred euros, for the painting.”We have Swiss Army knives on the team, so we made the two stencils ourselves.” explains Mélanie Heurteau, from the communications department of the Departmental Council. On the first, we can read “La Creuse, notre département” decorated with a heart, and on the second is the territorial brand “Esprit Creuse”. Spray paint in hand, Hervé Raffinat gets busy. This communications department agent is a fan of the Tour, he had already prepared the last stage in Creuse 20 years ago.

The aim is to make these inscriptions visible from the sky : “The helicopter footage is beautiful. There are only 23 kilometers to our place on this stage, so we have to remember that.” explains Hervé Raffinat. Making the department visible is essential, he assures: “The Tour de France is not just for people who love cycling, it is truly a huge spectacle, it is the third most watched in the world and it comes to us.” A big smile shared by Hassan, technical agent in charge of roads: “Of course, always proud when we do something for Creuse.”

The department will also install a giant marker in Dontreix to mark the 23rd kilometer of this stage which will therefore start from Evaux-les-Bains, Wednesday July 10 to reach Le Lioran in Cantal. The caravan will leave at 9:20 a.m. from Evaux, the fictitious start will be given at 11:20 a.m. and the real start at 11:30 a.m.