The “Great Classic” Paris-Versailles returns and is extremely rare, there are places left less than two weeks before the race. After two years of cancellation due to the pandemic, the famous 16-kilometre classic between the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles has not completed its registrations*. The organizers communicated this week that there were a few hundred of the 25,000 bibs left, at 38 euros each.
If the expectation of the runners is real to confront the route which borrows the terrible coast of the Guards, in Meudon (Hauts-de-Seine) and its 2.2 kilometers of ascent with an average difference in altitude of 7%, it seems that they took their time this year to validate their commitment. Traditionally open on March 1, registrations have not been taken by storm as usual.
“It is a phenomenon that we had already observed before the Covid, specifies Emmanuel Feillard, coordinator of the event organized by Paris-Versailles Association. In 2017, we were full at the beginning of June, in 2018, at the end of June and in 2019, at the beginning of July. Today, we can speak of a recession even if we know that we will reach the 25,000 committed in this final stretch.
A budget of 800,000 euros based solely on the number of registered
After the health crisis, that of purchasing power could explain this unprecedented situation. “The runners take more time due to the context, observes Emmanuel Feillard. For some, whose end of the month has become difficult, 38 euros is an amount that they are not ready to pay very long in advance. »
Knowing that the budget of 800,000 euros is not based on any euro of subsidies and is built on the number of registered only, the organization – which is based on a single scheme, with about twenty volunteers in the year behind the etiquette Paris-Versailles Association – did she fear the worst? “We have always been confident,” said the race coordinator. Especially since 95% of our employees are Ile-de-France residents and therefore have no transport costs or accommodation costs. »
*43rd edition of Paris-Versailles, Sunday September 25 from 8:15 a.m. (first departures at 9:50 a.m.). Price: 38 euros. Registration on parisversailles.com
