On September 27, 2020, Julian Alaphilippe was crowned World Champion at the Imola circuit. He is a cyclist. He’s a cyclist.
May 6, 2017, Eliud Kipchoge, at the Monza circuit, narrowly missed his goal of a two-hour marathon (in the Breaking 2 attempt) by just a few seconds, but he made history. He is a runner. He’s a runner.
In 2024, a leg of the US triathlon championship will again take place at the Daytona circuit, another temple of mechanical speed.
Also in 2024, the Bol d’Or Vélo edition will take place at the Castellet circuit. The events will include a 24-hour endurance race (teams of 4, 6, or 8), a 6-hour endurance race, and a 6-hour Gravel endurance race.
A bit of history.
The Bol d’Or was historically a cycling event in 1894, created by Paul Decam, owner of the “Paris-Pédale” newspaper. The Bol d’Or was historically a cycling event in 1894, created by Paul Decam, owner of the “Paris-Pédale” newspaper. It was most often held at the Vélodrome Buffalo in Neuilly-sur-Seine, then at the Vélodrome d’Hiver in Paris. It took place from 1894 to 1913, and then, after World War I, six times between 1919 and 1950.
Imola, like Monza, Daytona, Castellet, Spa Francorchamps, and many other circuits around the world, were conceived to celebrate speed and cars. They are becoming, albeit very marginally, the stages for another type of performance.
Power is Linked to Energy
But tomorrow, in a world whose relationship with energy will have to change, we can imagine that the evolution of the Bol d’Or from a cycling event to a motorcycle race, and vice versa today (but the motorcycle event remains) will produce replicas. And that mentalities, then imaginations, are slowly but inexorably evolving.
That human power and “natural” power (downhill skiing or mountain biking are demonstrations of this), regain more importance.
