For the first time in two years, the streets of Amiens will see professional cyclists parade on this last Friday evening of August. Deprived of organization since 2020 because of the Covid, the Jean-Renaux prize is back. Created in 1972 for amateurs and opened to professionals in 1987, this criterium has been run in the city center of Amiens since the 2015 edition.
But for the organizers, it was not easy to revive an event that had been put on hold for two years. “There are programs that have been modified, organizations that have changed in cycling and the criteriums no longer have the same aura and the same visibility as before”confides Henri-Paul Fin, former cyclist, mayor of Saint-Fuscien and president of Promotion Sport Picardie.
Arnaud Démare as “guest star”
It is therefore not easy to convince professional riders to come at the end of August to compete in a race in which the issue is not the result but the communion, in very busy sports calendars with two major rounds in a row, the Tour de France but also that from Spain. But among the 16 professionals out of the 30 runners who will compete in the main race at 8:30 p.m., a flashy name: that of Beauvaisien Arnaud Démare, recent silver medalist at the European Championships and best sprinter in the last Tour of Italy. “At first it was difficult for me to be present, but in the end as I’m only going to Plouay from Saturday (to compete in the Bretagne Classic on Sunday) but in the end I’m still in the region for the prize”explains the Groupama-FDJ rider. “I will find the supporters of the region, in addition I have not run much in France this year”adds the one who will doubtless win the applause meter.
The runners will borrow between 60 and 70 times a route of 1.3 kilometers drawn between Mail Albert I, Rue Lamarck, Rue des Jacobins and Rue des Otages.
But the Jean-Renaux prize festivities will begin at 6.15 p.m. with a parade of young graduates from the region’s cycling schools, followed at 7.15 p.m. by a “pass” race for occasional amateur riders, before the presentation of the pro riders at 8.15 p.m. and the start of the race at 8:30 p.m.. Expected end around 10:30 p.m.