This Wednesday, July 29, we headed to Choisy-le-Roi to experience the Crito'Star, one of the most unique events of the cycling summer, conceived by Éric Ramos. Here, people don’t just come to watch a race: they come to meet the champions, hear the derny bikes roar, see children leave with stars in their eyes, and reconnect with that sense of closeness—now so rare—between the riders and the crowd. Rather than recounting the results yet again, we chose to hand the microphone to those who bring this evening to life: organizers, champions, derny riders, announcers, volunteers, parents, and young riders… Here is the Crito’Star as told by its own participants.

By Jeff TATARD – Photos by 3bikes

Even before the champions took their places behind the derny bikes, the Crito'Star had already found its most beautiful winner: the children’s smiles. From early in the afternoon, cycling schools took over the Port de Choisy-le-Roi circuit, treating the crowd to a spectacle that was as refreshing as it was exciting. Led by Rémy Turgis, who over the years has become the true master of ceremonies for these opening races, the youngest riders experienced their moment of glory, cheered on like the professionals they may one day dream of becoming. One thing becomes clear: before it’s a race, the Crito’Star is a wonderful story of passing on the passion.

Then comes the moment when the derny bikes rev up, the engines begin to roar, and the crowd instinctively moves closer to the barriers. Forget the traditional criterium. To break with convention and offer a more accessible, intense, and spectacular show, Éric Ramos devised a unique format bringing together eleven teams—each consisting of a man and a woman—paired with their respective derny riders. The first five laps are raced in pairs to get the race going, before the women take over on their own for five laps behind their dernys. The men then take over for five laps of their own. This scenario repeats five times—for a total of 25 laps raced individually by each rider—before a finale where the pairs reunite for the final five laps. As the relays progress, gaps begin to open up, trajectories become precise down to the millimeter, speed increases, and every meter spent behind the derny demands perfect positioning, absolute confidence, and constant awareness of the race. Much more than just a criterium, the Crito’Star becomes a true team race, where teamwork matters just as much as physical strength.

And that is precisely what makes this event so compelling. The audience is no longer following a single race, but rather several intertwining scenarios, alternating between power, strategy, relay work, and suspense right up to the final laps. A simple idea on paper, but incredibly effective once the action gets underway. At the end of this collective display, victory went to the duo of French champion Lise Ménager and Baptiste Veistroffer—the breakout star of the last Tour de France—who delivered a performance marked by remarkable mastery. But even more than their success, it is the spirit envisioned by Éric Ramos that shines through: that of a spectacular, accessible, popular, and deeply human form of cycling, where children lead the way for the champions and where the champions then take the time to give back to them.

The eleven teams

The lineup looked particularly impressive.

• Team 1: Sylvain Chavanel – Léa Rondel
• Team 2: Baptiste Veistroffer – Lise Ménage
• Team 3: Pierre Rolland – Justine Gégou
• Team 4: Joris Delbove – Léane Tabu
• Team 5: Hugo Hofstetter – Loane Ménager
• Team 6: Samuel Leroux – Chloé Charpentier
• Team 7: Donavan Grondin – Claire Cassier
• Team 8: Léo Bouvier – Jade Wiel
• Team 9: Björn De Decker – Elke Timperman
• Team 10: Angus Miller – Lucie Spurling
• Team 11: Kévin Le Cunff – Léane Verschelde

But more than the names, it was the spirit that defined this year’s event. We simply handed the microphone to the people who brought this evening to life…

Much more than a criterium

As we leave Choisy-le-Roi, one thing becomes clear: the standings are already fading from our memories. In a few months, few people will remember the number of laps, the time gaps, or even the split times. On the other hand, many will remember the roar of the derny bikes, the children’s bursts of laughter, the autographs signed at the barriers, the champions taking the time to chat, and that now-rare sensation of experiencing cycling up close.

Perhaps that, in the end, is the Crito’Star’s greatest victory: succeeding, for one evening, in breaking down the barriers between generations, between the champions and the crowd, and between elite competition and the simple joy of sharing a common passion. In Choisy-le-Roi, people don’t just come to watch a race. They come to remember why they fell in love with cycling in the first place.

And behind this magic, there is a man. A man who, for years, has been envisioning, building, championing, and growing this event with extraordinary energy. We had the privilege of spending time with Éric Ramos, listening to his story, understanding his doubts, his convictions, and what drives him, every summer, to embark on this adventure all over again. In a few weeks, 3bikes will feature an exclusive profile on him. Because behind the Crito’Star lies much more than just an organizer: there is an enthusiast who refuses to let a certain vision of cycling fade away. And that story alone deserves to be told.