The great week of La Lozérienne

The big Lozérienne week kicked off the weekend of April 29 and 30 with the Lozérienne Gravel and the Lozérienne Cyclo starting from Banassac-Canilhac!

It was in the heart of the village, on the Place de l’Eglise Saint-Médard, that more than 530 participants gathered all weekend to live their passion for cycling and (re)discover Lozère. Causse de Sauveterre, Gorges du Tarn, Aubrac, …, an immersion in the heart of Lozère, its terroir and its majestic landscapes awaited the participants.

On Saturday, the sixty or so participants in the gravel course rode across the Causse de Sauveterre, taking some small roads, forest tracks, and playful singletrack. This event, which counted as the second round of the Gravel’Tour Cannondale, was highly appreciated by the participants who had to use all their technique to overcome the difficulties of the course.

Captivated by the landscapes and the various panoramas of the Causse and the Gorges, smiles were etched on their faces as they crossed the finish line. Congratulations to Guillaume POTIER who devoured the 65km and 1650m of positive elevation gain of the course in 2h50m33s, as well as to Justine DUPENLOUP for her first place among the women in 4h07m38s.

On Sunday, it was time for the Lozérienne Cyclo with its three courses available in timed or touring format. More than 80 riders enjoyed the calm, beauty, and serenity of the Lozère roads this Sunday. In touring format, no timing, no pressure, just the pleasure of riding on a marked and secure course.

On road bikes, city bikes, or electric mountain bikes, the touring riders could take on the Parcours du Point Sublime (55km & 1,150m D+) or the Gorges du Tarn (105km & 1,750m D+).

The competitors met either on the Gorges du Tarn course or on the Aubrac course (155km & 2,600m D+), a variation of the first but with an additional loop towards the Aubrac plateau and the Col de Trébatut. The peloton quickly split into multiple groups and significant gaps were created, the speed and pressure exerted by the lead group being too strong.

Descending through Les Vignes and arriving in the Gorges du Tarn, the competitors were able to appreciate the beauty of this winding road and discover the picturesque villages of La Malène, Saint Chély du Tarn, Sainte Enimie, … The effort did not stop there as they had to climb back onto the Causse to find their way back to the finish line. To recover from all these efforts, all participants were able to gather on the Place de l’Eglise Saint-Médard and enjoy an aligot-saucisse under the sun, an essential end to the day for any Lozérienne!

Finishing in a sprint and at an average of over 37km/h, it was the Belgian Vince MATTENS who won the long course in 4h10m13s. Already awarded the day before in the gravel event, Justine DUPENLOUP from Haute-Savoie won among the women in 4h59m57s.

On the 105km, congratulations to young Clément BOCQUET who completed the course in 2h58m18s, paving the way for Tyffen SAURE who finished first among the women in 3h11m15s.

The Lozérienne adventure continues in early May with the Lozérienne VTT and its 3-day format from May 6 to 8, 2023. This year, the mountain bike event will once again set up camp in the heart of Lozère with 3 stage towns. See you Saturday 6 in Massegros, Sunday 7 in Peyre en Aubrac, and Monday 8 in Langogne. Each day will start and end in the day’s stage town, with a loop course. Whether for 1, 2, or 3 days, in Touring or Timed format, on a muscular bike or an E-Bike, the Lozérienne VTT awaits you in large numbers! With already more than 500 registered to date for this mountain bike format, the 2023 edition of the Lozérienne will bring together more than a thousand cyclists across the department for a week, proof of cyclists’ attachment to the event and its various formats, but also of the attractiveness of the territory hosting the event, Lozère.

Results: HERE

Source: Press Release

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