MARIGOT--Meetings with the Préfecture to fine tune final preparations have been taking place ahead of the French Overseas Departments Cycling Championship set to start on both sides of the island on the weekend of September 2 and 3, 2017.
It is the first time this championship is being hosted by St. Martin.
President of the Territorial Cycling Committee of St. Martin (CCTSM) Daniel Remi noted a total of 60 to 70 riders can be expected for the championship but registration is not yet complete. Teams are made up of a maximum eight riders and are coming from afar a field as Tahiti, New Caledonia, and Réunion Island. Delegations from those three islands are arriving today, Monday.
Still awaited is the registration for French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, and Dutch St. Maarten. The Dutch side was invited as a guest team but will not be eligible for the prizes.
The selection from French St. Martin comprises Jayson Rousseau, Grégory Blondin, Ludovic Turpin, Olivier Currier, Grégory Errin, Cassey Martin, Rémi Arrondell, and Yehudi Destouches.
The President of the French Cycling Federation (FFC) and delegation will be arriving on Friday, September 1. An Overseas Committees meeting with federation officials will be held on that same day at 4:00pm in the Chamber of Commerce, Concordia. A security commission meeting will also be held on Friday. Security barriers, sponsor banners and finishing arches are all being organised.
A cyclist’s village will be set up in the Lazy Bay car park where the opening and closing ceremonies, and presentation of participating teams on Friday evening at 7:00pm, will take place.
The Collectivité and Préfecture have come up with a communication plan to advise the population of the event, particularly motorists who will be sharing the roads with the cyclists on some of the stages. The plan includes distributing flyers and issuing regular radio and TV bulletins.
Especially important to know is that the RN7 from French Quarter to Grand Case will be closed to all traffic circulation, including residents living close to the route, for the 12K time trial that starts in Philipsburg from Carnival Village at 3:00pm and finishes at 5:30pm in Grand Case.
The road for the French-side portion is expected to be closed from 2:00pm. Residents in the area of French Quarter, Orient Bay, Mont Vernon, Cul-de-Sac, are urged to plan accordingly so as not to be inconvenienced.
At least 14 Gendarmes and 15-20 Territorial Police will be assisting at various points along the courses for traffic control and security, and likewise control by the Dutch-side police. So far 81 volunteers have been enlisted for the event although requirements are to have 100. Thanks to the cross border policing treaty, Gendarmes can operate on the Dutch side if necessary and vice versa for the Dutch-side police.
The first 48K race on Saturday, September 2, starts at the Great Bay Sports Auditorium following a route via Sucker Garden, Defiance Haven, Bishop Hill, up to Mount William, Illidge Road, and left onto Pondfill. This loop is done four times. Then it’s Divi Little Bay, link one, down to Grand Marché roundabout, and then to a finish on top of Cake House hill. No cars, except officials, will be allowed to go up the hill.
Sunday’s 107K race starts and finishes at the Louis Vanterpool Stadium in Marigot. The race goes via Agrément roundabout, Galis Bay back road, Marigot waterfront, tourism office, Sandy Ground, Baie Nettle, Lowlands, Cupecoy, Mullet Bay, Airport, Causeway Bridge, Bellevue, Rue de Hollande, and past stadium. This loop will be done four times before going to French Quarter, roundabout in Belle Plaine, and back to the finish at stadium.
