Le Touquet Enduropale - Photos and Video from Bikes in the Fast Lane

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Le Touquet Enduropale - Photos and Video

February
2012

  File under Racing France Video Feeds
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Normandy, France

For those of you who saw the Le Touquet Enduropale

beach race in Le Touquet (either on the spot, on TV or the Web), you'll agree that it was incredible... incredibly crazy that is. 1080 motorcycles leaving the start at the same time in snow & ice, not to mention the deep sand was a sight to see.

But this year, to slow down the holeshot winner, they made several curves in the circuit. Which is fine when you arrive as one of the first, but when the 1000+ Sunday riders arrive, they get stuck. On its own, not a problem, but it becomes an enormous problem when the front of the pack has done a complete lap (about 10-15 minutes), and reaches the backmarkers who are still stuck in their first curve or hill.

That is a sight to see. Check the video below (for as long as it plays since it might be removed). You'll see the front leader loose his position since he got stuck in a still-standing pack of Sunday riders, while the number 2 manages to pass on the outside. Fun. That's life on the Enduropale, it's not the circuit, nor the obstacles, nor the professional competitors who are a threat, but the Sunday riders, all 1000+ of them.

Here are some photos of the event, and below that videos.


A race steward checks motorbikes covered with snow, few hours before the start of the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race, on the beach of Le Touquet February 5, 2012. About 1,000 motorbike and 500 quad bike riders gather in Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol


A snowplough clears the beach before the start of "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race in Le Touquet, northern France, after heavy snowfall February 5, 2012. About 1,000 motorbike and 500 quad bike riders gather in Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol


A rescue helicopter lands on the beach to evacuate an injured biker during the start of the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet February 5, 2012. About 1,000 motorbike and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol


Bikers ride through the sand as they take part in the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet February 5, 2012. About 1,000 motorbike and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol


An injured biker lies on the sand after falling during the start of the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet February 5, 2012. About 1,000 motorbike and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol


A biker is stuck under his motorbike as he falls during the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet February 5, 2012. About 1,000 motorbike and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol


Jean Claude Mousse of France powers through the sand on his way to win the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet February 5, 2012. About 1,000 motorbike and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol

Here are the video, comments are in French. The videos may disappear, so hurry to see them.

Le Touquet Enduropale 2012 Start (3 minutes 43 seconds)