French Cyclosportive/Cyclotouriste

[alp1950]

Do sportives differ in France?

The cyclocoeur charity is organising a series of events this weekend including two climbs from Bourg St Maurice to Arc1950. One of the climbs is described as a "cyclosportive" and requires a doctors certificate or a sportive licence. The other "cyclotouriste" ride on the same course only seems require each rider to have personal accident insurance.

The requirement for a certificate surprised me & I wondered what other people's experiences were of riding organised events in France?

 

[Rassendyll]

Do sportives differ in France?

The cyclocoeur charity is organising a series of events this weekend including two climbs from Bourg St Maurice to Arc1950. One of the climbs is described as a "cyclosportive" and requires a doctors certificate or a sportive licence. The other "cyclotouriste" ride on the same course only seems require each rider to have personal accident insurance.

The requirement for a certificate surprised me & I wondered what other people's experiences were of riding organised events in France?

It is generally the same ride - just that the cyclosportive version is treated much more competitively. They will post results and ranking on the website, and in some cases they might give awards to the top finishers, or it might be part of a series of races. In the cyclotouriste you will still get a time but it just won't be part of the official results. Nothing to stop you riding fast or in the fast groups though.

So I don't really see the point of going through the hassle of getting a doctor's certificate. On the other hand if you already have a racing licence (which requires a doctor's certification) they will accept that - you don't have to get a new one.

 

[yello]

Raddendyll has pretty much covered it. You get rides that can be ridden as a sportive or as a cyclotourist, or even (in the case of the Bordeaux-Paris 600km) a tourist. Same course just different time limits, and prices of course. The sportive versions have timing chips, car/motorcycle escorts, support vehicles and published results. I did one in Corsica last may. I was going to ride the cyclotourist version with my wife but she decided against so I road it as a cyclosportive instead. Good fun despite me being, achem, some way back...

That's not to say all rides are like that. Obviously you do get cyclosportive only rides, or cyclotourist only (audaxes and randonees etc).

The doctors cert is nothing to worry about and is common practice. Many sporting events/competitions require them; marathons, swimming, tennis, etc etc. I get one every year as a matter of course, whether I'm going to ride a sportive or no. I have an FFCT licence but that's not sufficient to ride a sportive. As Raddendyll said, a UK race licence would probably do but I'd advise one to check first.

 

[alp1950]

Thanks guys.

Pretty much as you described. As anticipated they insisted on the documentation to ride the sportif so I rode the touriste. No race number or official timing for the touristes, but we were able to leave with the sportif group. The sportif had various categories (junior, senior and veteran men & women). Not sure what the age cut-off would have been- is there a uniform categorisation in France? There were a handful of touristes but I would guess at least 90% of participants took part in the sportif.

Some superfit riders there: the top guys rode the 25km climb much of which was 6-7% with a speed that would have averaged around 23km/h. Had I done the sportif I would have been in the bottom 20% with my average of 15.5km/h.

Is the Etape run on similar lines and does anyone know if there is a minimum speed to be maintained on hill climbs?

 

[yello]

Some superfit riders there

I can well imagine. A couple of sportives I rode last year were on the UFOLEP national championship series and so quick boys were quick indeed. Averaging around 35 - 40kmph for 160km I'd estimate, on pretty hilly circuits too. I'd guess these are guys if not already on top teams then are looking for it. It was cool seeing my name on a national championship results list though! Even though I was well down the list!

Age brackets wise, yes I think there is a standard categorisation. It's probably on the organiser's web site, and definitely will be part of the enrolment documentation (or should be!).

I don't know about the Etape but I'd guess it's pretty much the same type of set-up, albeit on a MUCH bigger scale. Personally, whilst I would probably enjoy the ride, I wouldn't want to take part in an event with that many participants.

These days, I am content to ride the cyclotourist versions of such events. I like the buzz of sportive events, and I like being a part of them, but I'm just not that committed to riding flat out. So being able to take part at a more relaxed pace just suits me perfectly.