Why is it vital for you that, as of May 11, all practitioners of cycling can resume individually?
It seems to us, beyond vital, extremely logical. In the same way that the FFC entered with determination in the logic of confinement and supported, by very strong steps vis-à-vis its licensees, but vis-à-vis the whole cycling community, the expectations of our government in containment. It seemed extremely logical to us. The priority is towards sanitation, towards carers, towards all these major issues.
If we did it that way, it was because we were convinced that the practice of individual sports, whatever it was, would have led many people to go out, and not just to cycle. From the moment we enter into a logic of deconfinement, even progressive and very supervised, this means that we will revive transport. We can hardly hear that in Paris we are thinking of reserving arteries for bicycles to unclutter public transport, and at the same time not being able to use it for sports. Knowing that sport is part of the balance of life and keeps some people healthy.
It will not be too risky, or too early, to resume an individual cycling activity?
The activity will not present more risks than before, it may even present a little less because the traffic flows on the roads will not be the same as before the crisis. As soon as we train alone, that we respect barrier gestures, that we have no contact with other cyclists, that we do not form a group and that is very important, it seems to me that this activity is no more dangerous than two months ago.
How to keep practitioners safe in clubs?
This work is done like all federations concerned with summer sports. It is done between our technicians and our doctors. The two reflect together on how best to go about setting up hospitality in our clubs. This means that certain exercises can no longer be done. For example, go riding in a group on the road, at least at the start. Certainly, exercises in cycling schools where we exchanged equipment, where we touched. You have to write it down, document it.
We will respect what we are told by the Ministry of Sports, that is to say that we will submit our welcome plan in clubs to the service of the Ministry. I believe that associative life must be reborn in our country, with all the precautions, but as we are going to revive, from May 11, corporate life. There must be a parallelism between the two.
How to enforce barrier gestures in clubs? Are masks a possible solution?
I hardly see a sport with a mask. We will see what exactly the measures that will accompany the deconfinement plan contain. But it seems to me that the mask is announced as compulsory in certain circumstances, I am thinking in particular of transport. This is not the case in a cycling school, we work outside, in the open air, with space to distance ourselves from each other.
However, we have other very specific precautions to take. For example, we will have to clean the tools that we can use during training, but also supply our clubs with gel. All of this must be validated by our doctor and the ministry.
Have you discussed all of these measures with the Department of Sports?
The ministry is working hard to produce its conclusions in relation to the specific field of sport in all the deconfinement plans. But it’s difficult, for summer sports I think, to make our particularity heard. We had a lot of approaches around the great collective sports, I understand, with their particularities, but also with championships, especially in the amateur universe, which will resume quite naturally, rather in a perspective of back to school.
It’s very different for summer sports. We were starting our season when a sudden interruption was announced. Now we have to work to be able to resume a sports season, even if it is different. It is this message that we must send to our partners, including the ministry.
When establishing reception conditions, did you have contact with other federations? Do you lead a movement with them?
Yes. I have the opportunity to chat with other presidents of federations, in particular individual and summer sports. We try to approximate our conclusions, to approximate our plans. We have a lot to learn. We feel the birth of real solidarity. This week we had a strong action with the automobile and motorcycle federation on an administrative concern which, today, poses a problem for us to organize demonstrations.
You talk about the idea of setting up new forms of tests. What does it consist of?
We tell ourselves that we can have formats that are better suited to restart cycling. Let me give you an example: the time trial. In addition, this is good because it is part of our federal plan to relaunch the time trial in France. There is an opportunity there. When we do a time trial, we don’t have this bunch effect which can be annoying, at least at first.
Could we have a limitation on the number of runners or shorter events?
The time trial was one example, but there are others. Among young people, we have had periods in the history of our federation, for cadets in particular, where we did sprint series to make detection for the track. And this is done with small groups. We can also imagine circuit racing formats, especially on small circuits, where we could reproduce patterns that look a little more like the track. On a velodrome or a BMX track, you can easily quantify the number of people you put in at the same time. This would allow us to respond to the gauges set by government measures.
Are you worried about the rest of the cycling season? Are you afraid of seeing races disappear?
Yes, this is a major concern. On our calendar, the FFC gathers a little over 10,000 events each year. We already expect to lose more than half of these events. It’s huge! For the second part of the season, it is clear that a certain number of organizers are in danger, in relation to the difficulty of financing their events.
Imagine, in associations, you have to work remotely. It’s still very very complicated. And it’s not at all related to the associative dynamic. So I am indeed very worried. Today’s press release is also a cry of alarm. If we do not move strongly, French cycling is in very great danger.
What could be put in place to limit this carnage?
We need to give activity to our cyclists. Because you have to re-train before you can compete again. That’s why it’s important that our cyclists get back to training quickly. Then, this dynamic of club activity must be able to re-engage, even if it is very specific. You have to restart the competition very quickly. I really hope we can do it before June so that we can revive this dynamic and find ourselves on a more normal competition circuit.
The Tour de France must necessarily be preceded by events on the French calendar for our professionals to be able to race. And in fact, if we can do professional races, which are nevertheless sporting shows, we must be able to organize for our amateurs.
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