New 2014 Bordeaux Paris Cycle Challenge

Posted Wednesday 26th June 2013 –

It may have been 35 years since the last professional edition of the once legendary Paris-Bordeaux cycling race but it will make a return in 2014 in the form of an ultra distance cycling challenge that will be open to all. The first edition of this Bordeaux–Paris challenge will be held between 30th May and 1st June 2014 with riders departing from downtown Bordeaux before arriving over 600km later in the new national velodrome located at St Quentin en Yvelines city just south of Paris.

Created in 1891, Bordeaux–Paris was one of the oldest and longest one-day cycling events in the world sitting alongside other famous events such as the Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Brest-Paris. Despite it’s long history the professional race had its last edition in 1988, with the 600km distance proving unpopular with modern riders who preferred to focus on preparing for the Grand Tours. However, in its heyday in the 50s and 60s where exploits such as the one of Jacques Anquetil in 1965, who pulled of wins in both the Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré and Bordeaux-Paris, have remained in cyclings collective memory. It’s with this is mind that events company, Extra Sports, are looking to recreate the legend as an ultra distance challenge for amateur cyclists.

Amateur rides taking part will have a choice of categories, either riding solo or as a relay pair and deciding whether to target the sub 32 hour target or taking a more relaxed pace over the full 3 days.

Registration for the 2014 event will open tomorrow (27th June) with between 1,000 and 1,500 riders expected to participate in the inaugural ride. More details can be found at –
www.bordeaux-paris.com