Two weeks after the end of the Tour du Loir-et-Cher, the time is in the second highest level race on the territory with the 6the Grand Prix de la Sologne des Étangs.
This Saturday, May 3, the only elite event in the department, launched in 2019 by enthusiasts Erwan Grux and Stéphane Laving, is a support for the second of the seven heats of the French Cup N1 (1).
The cream of the amateur peloton cream
This new change of gear and this new place in the calendar is not trivial. Regarding the level, the race organized by Millan’Cyclisme is climbed in a very short time at the top of the pyramid. The event, after being a N3 round in 2023 and then N2 last year, was still mounted with a notch. This means that it will take the cream of the cream of the French amateur peloton with the nineteen best clubs in France, as well as three invited N2 clubs, for a total of 132 runners.
For the date, the online race, which took place at the end of June before, found a place in early May. Which is important for the quality of the plateau. Finally, this year, the fact that the GP is labeled the round of the French Cup N1 de facto forces all the best stables to fight. But a race is not intended to stay To eternal life Support for the Coupe de France. On the other hand, with a position in early May, in the heart of the season before the championships, the GP of Sologne of the ponds takes wages for the future.
The layout of the 6th edition of the Grand Prix de la Sologne des Étangs, which takes place this Saturday, May 3, 2025.
© (NR infographic)
A journey of 175 terminals
For the route, while the maximum authorized distance is 180 km, the Millan’Cyclisme team has set up a 175 terminals. In detail 145 km online through the community of communes of Sologne des Ponds then a final in the circuit (five 6 km towers) around the Ecoparc of Neung-sur-Beuvron, at the Château de Villemorant, which will serve as a departure and arrival area.
Like the previous editions, it should also drive very quickly in Sologne on a field devoid of major difficulty. Even if Erwan Grux recalls that “The territory is badly flat” and that “The runners will always be in touch”. Understand that there will be no moment of respite, especially with the gusts of wind announced, and that it will be necessary to support the pedals fiercely throughout the day to win and succeed the old pro Yannick Martinez.
After a big job from his teammates, Yannick Martinez settled the massive sprint on arrival last year.
© (Photo Archives Cor. NR, Patrice June)
Many contenders
Unless the latter doubles the colors of the Atria – Montluçon team. The Allier team, whose sports director is the Loir-et-Chérien Nicolas Vogondy, will not be able to count on the French amateur champion from Indre Titouan Margueritat, who decided to stop the bicycle. In this training, it is rather the young Matthias Sanlaville who seems to have the most chance of shining, he who turned out to be on the last round of Loir-et-Cher (9e and first Frenchman of the general).
-Speaking of the TLC, several will be to repress the departmental roads. Among them, we will keep an attentive eye on the Australian Matthew Fox (VC Rouen 76), the British Alfred George (SCO Dijon) and the French Malo Stavant (Dinan Sport Cycling), respectively 6e10e et 12e From the last TLC, which have raised their arms several times since the start of the season. Not in Loir-et-Cher but brilliant since the beginning of the year, it will also be necessary to closely follow the ex-Pros Tom Mainguenaud (Laval, ex-Roubaix) and Antoine Raugel (Villefranche-Beaujolais, ex-AG2R), or Gari Lagnet (AC Bisontine) and Julien Marin (Hexagon-Lyon).
Finally, the region will be represented by the runners of the Chalettois handlebars. We will find in the Loiret team one of the favorites with the Véloce Louis Hardouin, just like the sprinter Thibaud Bridron as well as the only Loir-et-Chérien at the start: Blese Ronan Racault, winner of the event in 2022.
(1) After the GP of the Pays d’Aix on February 22, will follow after the GP of Sologne des Étangs le CLM Champenois on May 18, the Souvenir Roger Walkowiak trophy on July 27, the Grand Prix de Cours-la-Ville on July 29, Paris-Bourges on September 13 and the classic Puisaye-Forterre on September 28.
Grand Prix of volunteers and coated with 1is May
Who says bicycle race says volunteers. And who says online bicycle race says a lot of volunteers. But for this test which will go through the various municipalities of Sologne des Ponds (Neung-sur-Beuvron, La Ferté-Beauharnais, Saint-Vétâtre, Marcilly-en-Gault, Millançay, Vernou-en-Sologne, Montrieux-en-Sologne, Yvoy-le-Marron, Villeny and Dhuizon), Erwan Grux and his team of Millan’cycism have been.
And the arms are there, present since last weekend or even the mid-week in this bridge of the 1st-May, “What is perfect for doing things without being urgently”slips the director general of racing. Since the start of the week, they were so “A fortnight every day” For the preparation of the departure and arrival area, the sign of the route or the preparation of vehicles. And on D -Day, they will be “Almost 180”. “The municipalities have played the game by providing signalers to secure crossroadsspecifies Erwan Grux. And we also have ten teams of two people who will travel the course to secure the crossroads outside the agglomeration. »»
Note the only little heat of the week. “We had a little concern on the course in Vernou-en-Sologne, a strategic place with two passages (63e km and 85e km), where half of the road was sentencedsays Erwan Grux. But the municipality was very reactive by asphalt on 1is May: Thank you and hat! »»
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