The beaches of Le-Touquet-Paris-Plage have become one more year, and now in their 50th edition, the epicenter of enduro worldwide for one weekend. More than 2,800 participants divided into different categories have gone out to give their all on the sand of the beach in a 15 kilometer circuit in which technique, mechanics and courage are equally important.
And the route, which varies and which this year has grown, mixes in the Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais terribly technical areas that become more complicated as the drivers pass, with fast sections in which the favorites can reach 170 kilometers per hour. And all, logically, on an irregular and unstable surface where value also plays a fundamental role.
This year’s route that, as we said, varied and grew. First and after the start, there was the great 5.6 kilometer straight, one of the most emblematic points where the entire peloton circulates in parallel along the width of the beach before leading to the first corner where, by the way, there was a holeshot that must be the furthest from the start in the world.
From there and parallel to the promenade, everything began to get really complicated: jumps, curves, chicanes, dubbies and even tunnels to go to the “yard” areas, the slowest and most secluded. There were even several route options before returning to the big straight and all this for no more and no less than three hours in the case of Sunday’s competition.
In the 50th edition of the Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais 1,300 riders left on Sunday
With complicated weather conditions on Sunday that forced the authorities to move the spectators’ vehicle access, the start took place. Todd Kellett started as the main favorite having achieved the three previous victories and he did not disappoint. In the three hours he was able to complete 14 laps of the track, achieving victory by 1 minute and 44 seconds over Cyril Genot who was second, and with 11 minutes 24 over Milko Potisek.
Such is the toughness of the event, only Van Berkel, Ferdrikse, Knuiman and Chapeliere were able to finish the test without being bent. The rest of the thousand or so participants could not finish less than one lap behind Kellet, who expanded his legend in Le Touquet, surpassing Eric Geboers, three victories between 1988 and 1990, and Adrien Van Beveren (2014-2016). Although he still has ahead of the Dutchman Kees van der Ven, with five victories between 1982 and 1986, and the Frenchman Arnaud Demeester, Touquet’s absolute record with seven victories between 1995 and 2008.
Now, as happens with big events, it is time to start working on the next edition of the most spectacular, toughest and most followed beach race on the planet. An event that, despite the passage of time, continues to be a challenge of the same level as when it was created by Thierry Sabine in 1975.
