After 33 years of absence, the Tour de France Women is back. And for their 3rd stage, this Tuesday, the runners will pedal for 133.6 km in the Marne. They will leave Reims at 12:50 p.m. to reach Epernay, around 4:15 p.m. Among the Marne municipalities through which they will pass, that of Condé-sur-Marne, to the south-east of Reims. A pride for this village of about 800 inhabitants, which wanted to mark the occasion by installing a lot of decorations.
– Marine Protais
Arriving in Condé-sur-Marne, you can’t miss them. Fifty bicycles, repainted for the occasion, line the roads and roundabouts. “There are yellows, blues, whites, reds”, describes Brigitte Bourel, municipal councilor in Condé-sur-Marne. Responsible for the flower and living environment commission, with Sandrine Collard, they wanted to decorate their town. “It was close to my heart! insists Brigitte Bourel, even if it’s true that we struggled a bit to recover old bikes.”
– Marine Protais
The town hall called in the recycling centres. “And there are even people from the village who gave us old bikes they had in their attics”, says Brigitte Bourel. The bikes were then all painted before being installed.
Promote the village and women’s cycling
All of these bicycles have been repainted by John Boulant, municipal employee, who has spent “three intensive days”, but who is satisfied with the result. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun to do it. Besides, it’s my village, so I like it to be decorated”, enthuses John Boulant.
The passage of the Tour de France riders thus shines the spotlight on Condé-sur-Marne. “It’s rewarding and it offers a nice activity to our inhabitants, rejoices the mayor of the town. And then it allows us to showcase ourselves and showcase women’s cycling.” emphasizes Romain Sinner.
– Marine Protais
Particularly proud to see a female stage passing through his commune, the mayor nevertheless fears that it will bring together far fewer people than three years ago, during the passage of the men’s Tour de France. He had gathered between 500 and 1,000 people in Condé-sur-Marne.