This year, the International Cycling Tour of Guadeloupe put the competitors to the test, with some new features. A longer and slightly improved course with, for the first time, in particular, the indigestible climb of Palmiste, in Gourbeyre. A configuration that makes some say that the Tour was much more difficult this year.
The 71st International Cycling Tour of Guadeloupe will be remembered for having been the edition of many sufferings, abandonments in cascades (47 in total), all the risks, surpassing oneself, fatigue and, even, sometimes nervous.
Beyond the hardships faced over the stages, the gaps at the finish confirm how ruthless the 2022 edition was.
Fréderic Théobald, the president of the Regional Cycling Committee of the Guadeloupe Islands (CRCIG), assumes his choice to have made things more difficult:
It’s an international tour, so we have specifications to respect and, as president of the organization, we wanted to position the Tour in a premium, that is to say with arrivals at the summits, to get some inspiration from the Tour de France.
Fréderic Théobald, president of the CRCIG
Fréderic Théobald, president of the CRCIG
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The courage of the men was widely called upon, as rarely in the history of this competition, with an average that makes you dizzy, confirms Claude Bourriquis, race commissioner:
In mileage, it was longer, but vis-à-vis the Tour class, you had to have mileage that complied with the specifications
Claude Bourriquis, race steward
Claude Bourriquis, race steward
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The participants in this race turn out to be tough guys, who have proven their immense capacity for resistance but who, on a few occasions, have had to admit defeat.
This was the case during the stage whose finish line was positioned at the Village of Bouillante section, described as the hardest, by this amateur rider:
The question does not arise: the Tour was really hard. As Molia says: “Té ni dombrés tou boneman! “. It hurt, especially Village, which is very very difficult to climb
amateur runner
amateur cyclist
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The runners, however, rose to the challenge. Men whose defeated faces and haggard eyes we could see and who, after crossing the finish line, had trouble standing up.
It was really difficult this year, because the guys suffered. The race was for the fittest. It’s not that our West Indians weren’t good, but the event was of a very high standard. But we do with it!
Supporters
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These men are made of a different wood than us, who look at them, admiring, because they have to constantly fight against the will to say “stop”.
And when failure or abandonment is decided, it awakens emotions, even among the supporters.
Supportrices
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Fréderic Théobald was not mistaken. For this follower of great heroic epics, yes, this edition was really very hard, the hardest of all time. A tour at its best level, believes the president of the Regional Cycling Committee of the islands of Guadeloupe.
