| 2003 Info Brochure |
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| This translation of the official 2003 PBP Brochure was posted on the Randonneur Ontario web site. The translator is not indicated. |
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ACP Brochure PBP 2003: Cover August 18 to 22, 2003 15th Paris (St. Quentin-en-Yvelines) - Brest - Paris (St. Quentin-en-Yvelines) Randonneur Organized by Audax Club Parisien, with the co-operation of the towns and cities where controls are located
ACP Brochure PBP 2003: Inside Page 1 (Section Labeled "Edito") In August 2003, 3500 randonneur cyclists
will become part of the ongoing story of Paris-Brest-Paris. They
will be following thousands of sport tourist cyclists who have
taken part, since 1931, in this test of cycling endurance - 1200
kilometers, to be completed in 90 hours or less. By participating
in this event - the most important in the calendar of a randonneur
cyclist - they will be testing their physical Riders will not be cycling alone. In the company of 1500 cyclists from around the world, and another 2000 cyclists from France, riders will be working together to achieve the same goal: to reach Brest and then return to Paris. Many spectators line the route offering encouragement, energizing riders to attain their goals. Cyclists will need to manage themselves carefully, overcome periods of exhaustion and lapses of confidence. But the thrill of accomplishment, of reaching the end of the ride, will obliterate any memory of discomfort on the roads of Brittany. The running of this 15th edition of Paris
- Brest - Paris has involved necessary authorizations from jurisdictions
along the route. The ongoing success of the ride depends on the
riders' good conduct in Thanks are owed to the City of Guyancourt and to the New Town of St. Quentin-en-Yvelines. They will be riders' hosts both for the departure and the arrival of the event. They will be placing their services and facilities at cyclists' disposal in order to make this 15th Paris - Brest - Paris a memorable cycling event. To everyone, a good ride (Pie Chart) Paris - Brest - Paris In Numbers (Pie Chart labelled) Certified Finishers
and DNF's by Departure Time in 1999 (Bar Chart Labelled) Number of Riders:
Growth History of Paris-Brest-Paris In 1891, Charles Terront entered legend
by winning the first Paris-Brest-Paris ahead of 100 other competitors.
The second running of the event, held ten years later, became
international in scope and In 1931, two cycling organizations emerged,
one representing randonneur cyclists and one representing cyclists
who preferred to ride in organised groups - Audax cyclists. 44
randonneur cyclists finished the 1951 saw a big climb in the number of participants with Pierre Bontemps leading in 379 finishers. This was the last event in which professional participation was to be permitted. Rene Martinez finished first in the 1956 and 1961 editions of the long brevet ride in front of 179 and 220 participants in respective years. In those years, the ride started at the Cafe Les Trois Obus, Porte St. Cloud, on the south-western fringe of the city. 1956 was surely the most difficult edition of the ride: atrocious weather conditions were experienced the length of the route. Only 155 survivors reached the ride end. In 1966, Gilbert Bulte took over the organization of Paris-Brest-Paris. It was an event he knew well having once finished first tandem (with Lucien Detee) and, in 1961 riding solo, third overall. For this event, the ride time limit was lowered to 90 hours. In 1971, organizers of the event undertook to make it one held every four years, rather than once every ten years as had previously been the case. From 1971 to 1999, Robert Lepertel served as the head of the ride's organizing committee. Jean-Claude Masse presided over the centenary edition of the ride in 1991. In 1999 the number of ride participants grew dramatically, increasing to 3500 registered riders. Riders from 20 countries around the world helped to make up these numbers, each rider qualifying in brevets organized under randonneur rules set by Audax Club Parisien.
ACP Brochure PBP 2003: Page 3 Qualifying Brevets To ensure a high success rate, and to make the event more widely known, each ride participant must qualify for the event by finishing a series of qualifying rides - from 200 to 600 kilometers - in the year the event is held. These qualifying rides, known as brevets, are organized under rules set by Audax Club Parisien in 20 countries around the world. In 2003, ACP will certify more than 30,000 brevet rides world-wide.
(Box) BRM (Brevet Randonneur Mondiaux) 200 Km
March 1 to April 21 You will find the schedule of brevets - both those in France and those abroad - at our internet site: www.audax-club-parisien.com
Some Rules Highlights - Paris-Brest-Paris is open to French licensed cyclists, and to riders from abroad. Ride participants must be 18 years or older on the day of the event's departure. - A medical certificate less than three months old is required at the time of registration. - Aerobars, and all other handlebar extensions, are prohibited. - Support vehicles are prohibited on the ride route, save at control points. Three departure times are available, at the option of the rider, at the time of registration. Monday, August 18, 8:00 pm Monday, August 18, 10:00 pm Tuesday, August 19, 5:00 am
Safety - Lighting affixed to the bike in front
and at the back of the bike, in good working order
Schedule of Events Paris - Brest - Paris will take place from Monday, August 18th to Friday, August 22, 2003 with departure from and arrival to the Gymnase des Droits de l'Homme at Guyancourt in the new town of Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines.
Registration Registration will take place by correspondence at the end of the certifying period for qualifying brevets, between June 10th and July 10th 2003. Registration. (this applies to French riders only - trans.) As in 1999, the number of participants will be limited to 3500.
Bike Inspection Bike inspection and distribution of ride documentation will take place at the Gymnase des Droits de l'Homme on Sunday, 17th of August.
Prologue As in 1999, with the sponsorship of the new town of Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines, a Prologue ride will be held on Monday, August 18th. We hope that many of you will take this opportunity to thank our ride hosts.
Further Information A web page documenting the progress of the organization of the event is now available at our internet site, www.audax-club-parisien.com . Route information and a more complete set of the rules of the event are also available at this site.
ACP Brochure: Back Cover Controls No change in the location of the control points. (Note: By "Retour" they mean on the return portion of the route only. This is a mistake as outbound riders stop in Mortagne - the first control at about 150 kilometers) More than 1500 volunteers will welcome riders with warmth and courtesy, providing food and moral support. These volunteers have had years of experience with this event: riders have every reason for confidence that they will be well looked after. The control system that has been in effect for the last three editions of the ride will again be in place, that is: - electronic registration of riders' arrival
times at each control point
The Game Less tiring, but more playful, the game created by the Paris-Brest-Paris ride organization for the 15th anniversary of the ride will allow you to relive the route, to rediscover it.
Overseas Riders at Paris -Brest - Paris In 1999, of the 2979 finishers, 1353 riders
from abroad, or 45%, completed Paris - Brest - Paris. They came
from 20 different countries. This year, with the arrival of the
Japanese, there will be riders from In 2003, will riders from overseas outnumber French riders? Hotel reservations in Saint Quentin would seem to suggest so. What an outcome to the founding of the Randonneurs Mondiaux organization in 1983.
(Italicized conclusion) Paris-Brest-Paris with its many-coloured
cycling jerseys, its classic marques and its wide assortment
of unusual cycling machines, its cyclists ready to help one another
despite barriers of language, brings Audax Club Parisien
(Further Information) www.san-sqy.fr/parisbrestparis |