Walking underwater is a great exercise for both recovery and recovery, but running in an area where the water can reach four metres quickly due to the tide is something many people wouldn’t consider. But since 1987, a race has been held somewhere in France that starts when the road is under water.

About this incident The Foules of Goisand will celebrate a new edition this weekend to coincide with the Tour de France. Interestingly, the two events are more linked than they seem.

Passage du Gois. On the French Atlantic coast is the island of Noirmoutier. It is a small inhabited island located a few kilometers from the continental coast and, for centuries, connected to Bourgneuf Bay by a causeway of approximately 4,125 kilometers; oddly enough: it floods every afternoon. Depending on the tide, the height of the sea varies between 1.30 and 4 meters. Its name was Passage du Gois.

A bridge was built to reach the area in 1971, but the road can still be crossed on foot, by car or by bicycle when not under water. And he’s quite famous.

There is nothing special. It is not known exactly when the road was built. Like many other bays, it is an area where sediment is still very active, so the land has not completely settled and changes in tides can move the bottom. Due to this movement of water in the region, sand clusters formed on a kind of rocky reef that gradually rose, creating a natural passage.

This passage was mentioned in 1701 and gradually became a route connecting the island to the mainland, but it was only in the 1930s that a series of signs and railings were installed to help those who got confused by this passage. tide. This is easy due to its speed and the heavy fog in the area. In addition, part of the path was covered with cement slabs.

There are plenty of signs and shelters, as well as a sign that lets you see clearly the condition of the road and whether we need to cross it.

Race against the seaThe attraction of the site inspired Jo Cesbron, head of the Beauvoir-sur-Mer tourist office, to organize a sporting event. So, in 1986, it was decided to create a competition with a simple rule: to travel the 4,125-meter section of the Passage du Gois. The peculiarity is that the starting signal is given when the tide begins to rise, so the runners start directly on the wet ground.

This is the elite race because it is an important event for the region and there is another series of races for amateurs held at low tide and the participation in the elite race is very small: about thirty participants. The first race was held in 1987 and the race at high tide was the most complex test. This 2024 edition will feature 36 male and female athletes who will try their luck. It is estimated that there are more than 1,500 participants in all categories each year.

Supplied. The rest of the year the area is a hotbed of accidents due to both fog and tidal conditions. It is a race that can be multiplied by physical exertion, so the organization has 250 volunteers, two doctors, 25 lifeguards and two zodiacs in case something goes wrong.

1999 Tour. And boy, something could go wrong. Due to this interest in attracting tourism to the region, it was decided that the Tour de France would have a stage that would pass through the pass. The Tour decided to pass through the area for the first time in 1993, but there were some demands: The most defective sections had to be repaired. This covered an area of ​​1.4 kilometers and was carried out over three days in difficult conditions as repairs had to be carried out at low tide.

They went to Gois again in 1999, but the more worn and wet pavement caused a spectacular joint fall that cost that year’s tournament favourite, Alex Zulle. After avoiding the area in later rounds and then going over the bridge in 2005, it was decided in 2011 that Passe du Gois would be a key part of that year’s Tour, namely the starting point.

After all, the Tour is still a brutal spectacle for the country and it is interesting to visit the most representative regions as well as others that could benefit from a media speakeasy.

To catch fish. The rest of the year, given that the bridge is nearby (a much safer route), the Passe du Gois is what we can understand as the “green route”. It is still the point of union between the island and the continent, but it is also a comfortable step, as long as the tide does not rush us.

In addition, this is an area where coastal fishing and oyster, clam and mussel farming are carried out. This is the area. This is the area; when the waters are low, you can easily go fruit picking.

Pictures | Tux-Man, Patrick Despoix, Les Foulées du Gois, Florian Pépellin

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