Placed on the calendar for the first time in 2023, this Eclaron prize resurrects the tradition of a cycling race long organized in the village for July 14. The late VCOB also offered a seniors race in the mid-1980s, but it did not continue.
The new version imagined last year by Etienne Langard, and put under the aegis of the FSGT, is taking a gamble: that of offering part of the 4.5 km circuit on the famous “white paths” (which give its name at the Italian classic “Stade Bianche”), popular in professional races like Le Tro Bro Leon in Brittany, or recently Paris-Tours.
If the contribution of this race to the calendar is unanimous among partners, in particular on the part of the municipality of Eclaron, which unfailingly supports this return of the pelotons to the streets of the village, the approach does not seem the same from side of the runners, who are not rushing in this month of June, and there were, a few days before the start, no more than twenty having committed, a figure equivalent to 2023.
For the President of CB 52, this is explained either by the hazard dimension of a partly stony course which may give rise to fears of punctures or equipment breakage, or by a somewhat busy competition schedule, on the eve of the summer vacation break. This is how the regional UFOLEP, organized the same day in Aube, probably deprives a contribution of couriers from this federation.
A single peloton will start at 3 p.m. Sunday, with two classifications: one for the 2e and 3e category, the other for the 4e and 5e. In the first, the Bragards Aymric Multier and Christophe Hubert will have a hard time facing a strong Vitryat collective, and within which we will find Pierre Maupois, winner of the Villers-en-Lieu prize a few weeks ago. In the second group, the four Bragards will have to come together to face a great team of five Mourmelon licensees. In all cases, tactical placement and sense should be paramount.
From our correspondent
Gilles Richalet
Those involved
2nd and 3rd categories FSGT
Bragard Cycling 52:1. C Hubert, 2. A. Multeir, 3. E. Paloschi.
UC Vitry Frignicourt: 4. P. Maupoix, 5. C. Hottiaux, 6. R. Talvert, 7. R. Equi.
UC Joinville-Vallage: 8. K. Boxolé.
UVCA Troyes: 9. P. Leonard.
4th and 5th categories FSGT
Bragard Cycling 52:1. J. Meknaci, 2. C. Drabiec, 3. D. Richaer, 4. G. Richalet.
Sermaizian pedal: 5. G. Droolans.
UC Joinvile-Vallage: 6. J. Leblanc.
UC Mourmelon: 7. C. Godot, 8. B. Godot, 9. Mr. Faivre-Renaul, 10. C.Cartier, 11. Mr. Antoine.
Technical details
FSGT race 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th category, open FFC (Access 3 and 4) and Ufolep (3 and 4). Departure : at 3 p.m., Place Pelletier. Arrival : 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. At 1:15 p.m.: supervised outing for children from the cycling school.
