Vive la France – but unfortunately not cyclosportives this year.
French cyclosportive races have fallen eerily quiet once gain as new government restrictions try to stop a third pandemic wave threatening to wash over the country.
Following on the heels of earlier cancellations, two more popular cyclosportive events are calling it quits for a second year in a row, but all hope is not lost as one new event has been added to buck the trend.
La Volcane is canceled due to the health crisis. Faced with the uncertainty as to a possible improvement in the health situation, the cyclo club of Cournon has decided to not risk incurring costs and then have to cancel its 154km cyclosportive which was to take place around Volvic (Puy-de-Dôme), Sunday 13 June. “To maintain our race, that would have been to work in vain,” said Sébastien Vincent, president of the club.
l’Octogonale Aveyron originally scheduled 16 May in Averyon has also cancelled. “Given the uncertainty surrounding the current health crisis, the Cycling Agreement office Luc La Primaube has made the decision to cancel the Octagonale Aveyron 2021,” race officials announced.
Both races plan to return in 2022, but French cyclosportive riders may not have to wait that long for an exciting ride.
On 17 July L’Aindinoise, a new cyclosportive around the Grand Colombier in the French Alps will make its debut.
The amazing course features 3500 metres of climbing in only 108 kilometres. That averages out riding a continuous 2% climb for 108km!
Using some of the same roads as the 2021 Tour de France, it will link Culoz to the Grand Colombier, via the climb of the Selle de Fromentel (11.1 km at 8.1%) and the Col de la Biche (7 km at 8.9%) before the final ascent of the giant du Bugey (17.7 km at 7.1%).
GRAN FONDO DAILY NEWS 