by Marc Lesourd of Association Française de vélo couché, photos Nicolas Ebner, Stephane Smets, Gilles Mondet, Philippe Lasnier
Nandax
Lyon
Recumbent activities in France in 2020 Nandax 2019 The AFV (Association Française de vélo couché) organised the WHPVA world championships in Nandax in the central region of France. Building on the great experience of the organisation of the event in 2014 in Saône, the AFV core members wanted to even improve on the quality of the event both on the roads but also around the competition. For that purpose, we established a close relationship with the local authorities, in particular the mayor of Nandax. The price to pay was to spend much time at the local bistrot! The involvement of the local people was tremendous. This allowed us to propose a very good mix of social interactions and races including sprints, uphill and criterium on privatised roads. This approach, developed as early as 2006 in Allegre, gives a more open competition where fully faired and unfaired vehicles all stand a chance to win the overall title. In addition, a week of touring was organised straddling the weekend to discover the nice roads of this region.
Velorizon
www.afvelocouche.fr
During the whole year informal bike tours are organised by AFV members (with support of AFV) all over France. These generally take place during long weekend or a full week. Accommodation is most often in camp grounds. There is even a couple of nomadic tour with different stopovers every night. The distance covered depends on the relief but are
most commonly less than 100km. For registration it’s simple: look at the calendar and register on the French forum.
French championships In collaboration with the UFOLEP (Federation aiming at developing sports in France) we have official French championships titles attributed in time-trial and road race. In fact, there are several ‘championships’ in the trike, 2 wheels semi-faired and unfaired and velomobile categories, provided there are at least 8 participants in that category. This year the events took place in Trept, near Lyon. Here’s a link to the video of the full road race: www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1137&v= v8mUj_nflBI&feature=emb_logo
Paris–Brest–Paris.
Paris–Brest–Paris Every 4 years many recumbent bikes participate to this mythical event. Hajo Ekstein with his DF was the fastest. I guess he didn’t have time to enjoy a break at the AFV tent that some volunteer’s set-up exclusively for laidback pilots.
The world championship 2019 in Nandax.
Viperine Originally this ‘race’ was a pure hill climb (1000 m D+, 16 km). This event is now a bike rally with timed sections and relaxed stretches in the hills near Grenoble. In 2020, why not come and play with us! Velorizon.
Duo Normand This gentleman time trial (teams of 2) takes place in Normandy every year and is an official UCI event where recumbents bike and trikes and velomobiles are welcome. So far the pros have always been faster on the demanding 50km course. A challenge for a strong velomobile team for 2020? <
Viperine. 2019-2
45
