Cyclosportives in Normandy

Formed by a landscape oscillating between a wild coastline and vast peaceful plains, you can be sure that the Norman land will surprise you 😳. Inland, the cities of Évreux, Rouen and Caen offer you a unique medieval heritage. To the north, it's a whole different matter of sleeves (if you got that, you're already earning points 🎰). Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Le Havre, Étretat and Deauville lead the way, combining marinas 🛥️ and breathtaking views 💨. To better position yourself among these destinations, let yourself be guided by our expert advice 👀.

A region where life is good 😎

With its size of 30,100 km2 and its 3.5 M inhabitants, the region doesn't claim the usual titles of the most populated, the densest, or the largest, but perhaps the most soothing 🧘. Midway between the countryside and the sea, the landscape consists of small green hills 🌺, large cliffs plunging into the English Channel and 12% forested areas. The local totem animals are more cows 🐮 and fish than deer and wild boar. If you're looking for a place to do tree climbing rather than fishing 🎣, you should head to New Aquitaine and its very famous Landes Forest. Additionally, there are also famous cycling races 🚴 there (the Tour of Poitou-Charentes, the Tour du Limousin or even the Tour du Périgord, to name a few). But let's get back to our sheep to our cows: it's about the beautiful Norman region here. You will find the peace and tranquility we sometimes sorely miss on the paradisiacal beaches of the South ⛱️. Moreover, if you visit the North in high season, you'll see that the climate there is much more pleasant. In July and August, the fan is almost an urban legend in these parts. The wind, the sea, and the greenery take care of cooling the heat for you. For all budding runners 🌿, it's ideal for shaving off some record times ⏱️.

A competition both sporting and culinary 🥩

Just as your four pillars are endurance, mental preparation, recovery, and training, Normandy relies on four essential local products: the apple, the milk, the meat, and the seafood 🍤. You'll quickly realize the diversity of preparations possible with the same four ingredients. Norman cuisine is nationally renowned: its famous Calvados and its exceptional cider 🍏 also contribute. Once your belly is full 🤤, you can always quench your thirst with these different local drinks 🚰. However, be careful not to bring a bottle to the race, as it could weigh down your cycling shorts and reduce your performance. Moreover, excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health, so consume it in moderation ‼️.

Normandy, a land of sport 🏃‍♂️

In the Germanic language of the time, the term “Normandy” is pronounced Norðmannaland, meaning “Denmark” 🇩🇰. Symbolically, the locals are therefore our French Vikings 🪖. And although they may not all have beards as well-groomed as the mythical warriors of the north, we can assure you that physical fitness is present 💪. The comparison is not only due to the etymological reason, and the region is renowned for highlighting many athletes. For footix who know their stuff, Paul Pogba and Steve Mandanda were, for example, trained at Havre AC 🏟️. In swimming, 50 m butterfly champion Mélanie Hénique is also from the area. And like any good Viking worth their salt, water sports such as sailing, surfing, and sea kayaking 🛶 are also extensively mastered by our men from the north. Finally, since we're here to talk about sportive cycling, let's talk about Ms. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. The famous cyclist was born in Reims but is often associated with the Normandy region, which she favors for her races and training 🏋. When you pedal through the fields and along the Norman cliffs, you can say you're riding in Pauline’s footsteps.

A great lineage of cyclists 🚲

Over the years, the region has proven its worth in cycling and famous competitions have settled there 🏁. Many hills, the maritime coast, and small paved roads 🛣️ are perfect for bicycle touring and sportive cycling. Among the most famous local events are the Tour de la Manche, the Tour de Normandie, or the Deauville Triathlon. These notable competitions have seen many local and international stars, such as Thor Hushovd (NOR) and Thomas Dekker (NLD) or Thierry Marie and Anthony Delaplace for the purebred Normans 🪵. Will you be the next local celebrity? From a more touristic perspective, the cliffs of Étretat or the route of Suisse Normande 🇨🇭 also carry weight in the game of bicycle touring. The circuits are well-maintained and attract tens of thousands of visitors each year 🧳. No need to worry about getting lost on poorly marked paths 😬.

Our personalized selection 📋

So, if you also want to challenge yourself in Normandy, check out all we have in stock 📦. First, choose your period: winter, summer, or autumn 🍂, there's something for everyone. Next, determine the type of landscapes you want to cross: urban, maritime, wooded, or all at once 👊. Now that you’ve made your short list, here are our suggestions. Like a Christmas catalog, you can jot down ideas for later and register when the time comes 🎅. To start the year off right, you have the option to enter the Marais Blancs race, which starts in Montebourg, in the Manche department. This road race offers two courses of 150 km and 200 km that will show you the territory from a new angle. You will be among the few brave enough to face the chill of winter ☃️. Conversely, for our runners who prefer to exert themselves under a blazing sun ☀️: the Mad Jacques Gravel Grand Large, which takes place in July in Eure, will be the most pertinent choice. Don't worry: the race isn't exclusive to people named Jacques (though it's really classy to do the Mad Jacques if your name is Jacques🕺), other names are also allowed ✅. In this race, you will cross the Seine Estuary, pass by the Château d’Ételan 🏰, and finish your effort on the northern beaches. Don't think you’ll avoid elevation gain: between 1,000 mD+ and 2,000 mD+ will be required depending on the chosen distance. Finally, if you belong to the autumn team, you can challenge yourself on the Caen ça bouge, the Versailles - Deauville, or the GravelMan Series Paris - Deauville 🏙️. This last event offers distances ranging from 60 km to 500 km. We still recommend a bit of preparation for the 500 km, as it’s no minor feat, like a round trip from Bordeaux-Toulouse in less than 2 and a half days. And the bonus is that you don't even need to take transport 🚌 to get to Normandy: hop on your steed, and depart straight from Paris.

If you've read this far, you can't chicken out now 🛞. We'll leave you with our race calendar, which will provide you with more precise dates to ensure you don't show up on the wrong day 📆. Once you've booked on your side, it's time for training, Normandy awaits you 💥.