Sport – The 4th edition of the Enduropale du Touquet starts on Saturday! –

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The 4th edition of the Enduropale du Touquet starts on Saturday !

Sport - The 4th edition of the Enduropale du Touquet starts on Saturday! -

A legendary race, the Enduro du Touquet has brought together up to 1,100 drivers since 1975 on the sands of the famous seaside resort! Revisited in 2006 for a better respect for the environment, this major event is preparing to receive more than 200,000 spectators !

It was in 1975 that Thierry Sabine – then press secretary for Le Touquet – decided to adapt the mass enduro races that existed in the USA to France: 286 competitors then took part in this first meeting which would mark the history by becoming one of the biggest motorcycle events in France !

2009 program

Wednesday February 18

  • opening of the exhibitor village and first events
    Saturday February 21

  • Quaduro Jeunes: departure at 9.15 a.m. – arrival at 10.30 a.m.

  • Quaduro: 12:30 p.m .: crossing the city in a convoy / 12.45 p.m .: pre-grid setting by lines of 50 quads for a start every 20 min / 12.55 – 15.55: race
    Sunday February 22

  • Enduropale: 12:45 p.m .: crossing the city in a convoy / 12:55 p.m. – 3:55 p.m .: race (with mass start) / 7 p.m .: awards ceremony at the Palais de l’Europe

    • The images of pilots leaping across the dunes have traveled the world and for some enduro specialists, attaching a "Touquet" to his record is considered the culmination of a career..

    Threatened by ecological pressures, the event got a facelift in 2006 by integrating quads, but above all by abandoning the famous dunes and emphasizing the site’s environmental respect and safety..

    Renamed Enduropale du Touquet-Pas-Calais / Quaduro, this race is a great success and it is the young Timotëi Potisek who wins on the motorcycle, while the Quaduro attracts 250 participants !

    Last year, it was Arnaud Demeester’s turn to win over the same Timoteï Potisek a few hundred meters from the finish – after a fierce struggle of 3 hours and 14 minutes! – and to engrave his name in capital letters on the tablets of the discipline by winning his 7th motorcycle victory !

    For the 2009 edition, which opens its doors on Wednesday (read the program opposite), the organization remains faithful to the original spirit, but wishes to strengthen actions in favor of the preservation of the environment and encourage the good citizenship of each individual (the race having sometimes known some "excesses" little appreciated by the inhabitants of the city).

    Actions will be taken to make Enduropale more "green", thus prefiguring the revolution of the 2010 edition, in which electric motorcycles should participate. !

    The organizers also plan to progress in the quads category and open its Quaduro to 500 machines, becoming one of the biggest quads races in the world. !

    Internationalization also continues thanks to several partnerships, the establishment of an FIM price for motorcycles and quad bikes and the sportiness of a few dealers who offer ready-to-race machines for hire..

    Friendly and resolutely turned towards the future, the race is also open to cadets with the Youth Quaduro and offers various activities (presence of professional exhibitors, initiation to the Road Safety Certificate, exhibition of vintage motorcycles at the Palais de l’Europe etc. .) starting this Wednesday and not stopping until Sunday February 22.

    Located 120 km from Lille and 220 km from Paris, Le Touquet is preparing to welcome thousands of enthusiasts and as a result, the motorway company Sanef and its partners in the Baie de Somme area are joining forces to safety, well-being – and the wallet! – bikers by promoting access to the city.

    The motorways will thus be free on the outward journey for exits at Berck (n ° 25), Le Touquet (n ° 26) or Neufchâtel-Hardelot (n ° 27), regardless of the entrance on the A16. On the way back, all exits of the A16 motorway with an entrance to Neufchâtel-Hardelot (n ° 27), Etaples-Le Touquet (n ° 26) and Berck (n ° 25) will be concerned. In addition, a "Relais Motards" will open its doors on Sunday afternoon on the A16 motorway..

    So many good reasons to go there and experience this exceptional and grandiose event attracting more than three times more spectators than the GP of France! Especially since the announced revenge between Arnaud Demeester – record holder for victories – and Timotei Potisek promises to be epic !

    Alexandre BARDIN – Maindru Photos

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