Bordeaux – Paris: the road monument made its grand return in the heat

Bordeaux-Paris, the mythical cycling race, made its return on May 21 and 23, 2022. 650 km non-stop from Bordeaux city center to the Cité des Sports in Issy-les-Moulineaux. Heat, numerous abandonments, and great performances for this renewed edition.

Source: Press Release

Only the less young or cycling enthusiasts remember it. Created in 1891, Bordeaux-Paris is the oldest and one of the longest one-day cycling events in the world. It was a unique race, reserved for specialists, due to its 600 km and its spectacular finish behind a Derny (a kind of moped that cut the wind for the rider and allowed them to ride at over 60 km/h). Nicknamed “the road marathon,” Bordeaux-Paris was a true sporting challenge that great names in cycling took on (L. Bobet, J. Anquetil, H. Van Springel, G. Duclos-Lassale…), but which scared many others due to its length and difficulty. This race was reserved for professionals until 1988, before experiencing a few editions for amateurs over the last 30 years.

A historical monument of cycling, Bordeaux-Paris appears today, 130 years after its creation, with obvious modernity, riding on the current success of Ultra distance. On May 21 and 22, nearly 600 ultra cyclists set off from the center of Bordeaux for a 650 km journey with 5500 m D+, via Châteauroux, to be completed in less than 40 hours (without a Derny). A challenge made even more demanding by the very high temperatures recorded on May 21, which took a toll on the bodies over the first 350 km. More than 100 abandonments and time limit disqualifications were recorded in this edition. Fortunately, the second part, benefiting from cooler temperatures, less hilly terrain, and ridden at night for the fastest, was less radical for the cyclists, despite a strong headwind in Beauce. A duo composed of Ludovic le GUILLY and former professional Jean-Marc BIDEAU, bib numbers 346 and 347, who had been leading this Bordeaux-Paris 2022 since around the hundredth kilometer, achieved a great feat by resisting the chasing groups for more than 15 hours. They completed this Bordeaux-Paris in just over 20h 14mn and 49s. The group of four chasers was 45 minutes behind. Stéphanie GROS recorded the 24th best time and best female time in 25h12’12, André AUBERT, 73 years old, was the last of the 394 finishers recorded in 2022 with a time of 39h58’11.

All results: https://solusport.solustop.com/bordeauxparis2022/carto

Bordeaux-Paris, ultra cycling accessible to all

Bordeaux-Paris offers an adventure of nearly 650 km from Bordeaux to Issy-les-Moulineaux, from the banks of the Garonne to the banks of the Seine, passing through Châteauroux and the Château de Chambord (bypassed in 2022), through a bucolic and authentic France. A true sporting challenge and an essential classic for all ultra cycling fans. Beyond the myth, Bordeaux-Paris aims to be an accessible ultra cycling event for the greatest number. The distance (650 km) is significant, while avoiding excess, and the positive elevation gain remains reasonable (5000 D+). No need for titanic training to be a finisher of this legendary event. For the less prepared, Bordeaux-Paris offered a comfortable restorative stop in Châteauroux, the official stage town, with sleeping facilities. Furthermore, Bordeaux-Paris does not impose bikepacking on competitors but frees them from it thanks to a luggage transfer service to be picked up at the halfway point. This allows riders to go “light” if they wish and retrieve their night equipment in Châteauroux.

Bordeaux-Paris 2022 – key info:

1 formula: • Bordeaux-Paris 650 km Non-stop (muscle bike or e-bike)
3 major sites: Start City: Bordeaux City Center Official Stage City: Châteauroux Arrival City: ISSY les Moulineaux (new Cité des Sports) Official Stage City: Châteauroux
2 intermediate life bases: Montbron (Charente) – KM 150 Mer (Loir-et-Cher) – KM 450

• Time limit: 40 hours maximum race time

Next edition on May 27 and 28, 2023.
Registrations open on bordeauxparis.com

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