The French sand championship under pressure due to health crisis
Major events such as the French “championnat sur Sables” are difficult to reconcile these days with the restrictions imposed by the current health crisis. With the race in Berck-sur-Mer event canceled, other organizations will likely have to adapt if they don't want to suffer the same fate.
The Ronde des Sables de Loon-Plage, scheduled for October 25, will therefore be the opener of the championship. However, the Moto-Club du Littoral must find solutions to respect the “maximum 5000 spectators rule” imposed by the measures related to the coronavirus crisis.
A pre-sale system?
Unlike an event held in the middle of a city like Berck-sur-Mer, there are solutions for an event held on a closed site. The club is considering setting up a system of pre-sales at democratic prices (1 or 2 euros) that will make it possible to know the identity of every person present on the site and make it available to the authorities if necessary.
On the part of the organizers, the development of the pandemic in the north of France must also be closely monitored. A deterioration in the health situation would lead to travel bans that would inevitably affect many pilots, especially the Belgians, who are always very numerous at the French Championship sur Sables, especially when the championship takes place in the north.
And Le Touquet?
To talk about the French sand championship is of course to talk about the final on the prestigious beach of Le Touquet. The Enduropale is a configuration identical to that of Berck-sur-Mer, but with a much larger audience. Between now and the end of January the situation could change very quickly, in one direction or the other. In this uncertain context, Mayor Daniel Fasquelle refuses to dramatize for the time being and prefers to postpone a decision.
Believing that “an Enduro Pale behind closed doors is better than no Enduro Pale at all”, the mayor of Le Touquet gives himself time to analyze the situation before making a decision. And, as he points out in the columns of La Voix du Nord, the TV coverage of Le Touquet Enduropale can justify holding the event in itself, even if the absence of spectators will hit local business.
Photos: CFS
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