At the start of confinement on March 10, the resumption of competition seemed distant, very distant. With the authorization to return from individual training on May 11, it was time for hope. Everyone will finally see the end of the tunnel in early August with the long-awaited official resumption of competitions.
The Normandy committee has just drawn up a new regional calendar which will start with the Normandy time trial championship in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte (Manche) on August 1st.
Many races, victims of too many health uncertainties and technical constraints, did not survive the pandemic and the calendar has necessarily become thinner (200 events out of the 650 planned for the full season). For the Elite, the first major meeting of a season condensed in less than three months will be the Grand Prix of Montpinchon (Manche) on August 11 where 200 runners are already entered.
On the side of VC Rouen, we remain optimistic. The Rouen N1 team will be in training from July 2 to 11 at Lake Vassivière (Creuse), ” enough to physically take stock with each runner “, According to sports director Jean-Philippe Yon. The recovery will take place on July 5 at the Grand Prix Availles-Limouzine (Vienne) before continuing the next day with the Golden Route from Poitou to Civray and the Tour du Pays du Roumois, three National Elite races in five days .
–
Few stage races
But, of course, the Montpinchon Elites Grand Prix (August 11) where no less than 200 riders are entered will be the first major event of this post-Covid-19 period. ” The Grand Prix de Nogent and the Grand Prix de Bellignies are canceled and there will not be many stage races. Then it will be complicated to make everyone run. The most important thing is to have recourse. They really all want to give a bib. »
On the side of the USSA Pavilly / Barentin, failing to be able to pedal, we did not cut ourselves off from the cycling environment. ” We did a great job on social networks. We talked about the club “Rejoices Johan Paque, new sports director of the Cauchois club. But the hardest part is yet to come and the common thread will inevitably be the Coupe de France de N2 with an appointment not to be missed for each of the three rounds in the program in August and September.
« Like six other teams, we came home empty-handed from the first round (Editor’s note: Bordeaux-Saintes) and you have to pull yourself together. We are clear on our objective : you have to finish in the top 10. This will put a little pressure and you will have to be ready. »
To achieve this, nothing has been neglected with, at the end of the three stages of preparation for time 47 (next round on August 9 in the form of a team time trial), the announcement of the six riders selected in a group of eight. The second stage, on Sunday, was a little further. ” We refined our organization for the relays and added a little speed. »
– –
