24 years of endurance, burning calves and family passion for the Solex Cup in Sillans
"The Solex Cup is the only Solex endurance race on dirt in France," proudly claims Luis Mariano, who, along with his friend Guy Cooremans and other volunteers from the Sillans tourist office, participated in the design of the course for the 24th edition of this event, which takes place among the olive trees of Bastidon, in Sillans-la-Cascade.
To the delight of the large crowd, sixteen participants lined up at the start yesterday afternoon, with the aim of completing as many laps as possible in an hour and a half on their mopeds.
"This year, the 500-meter course was designed to be a little winding in places. This is to give everyone a chance to win and have fun because it's more technical. There aren't just straight lines," explains Guy. The event was won by David Fernandez, who completed 59 laps on his No. 5 Solex.
"On this course, what can make the difference is the calf muscle to help the engine restart when exiting short corners. It's very physical if you want to win and you have to pedal hard! I tried for three years to finish first, but I never did better than second and I was wiped out every time. The race is almost 30 kilometers cumulative," explains Luis.
Having moved over to the organisation, he no longer intends to reach the podium but willingly shares his experience on the difficulties of the event without wanting to dissuade novices.
It doesn't matter, because the new participants who are running this year have come "to relax and not aim for the podium."
The Solex is far from being an unknown factor in the Fernandez family equation.
Several of its members have already won the Solex Cup.
"The Solex is a story that has lasted for more than 10 years. First with my father Patrick. Then, my brother David. He aims to win and has also already won the Roc d'Azur in electric mountain biking.
My son Diego too and my daughter Lola, who will be racing with me for the first time on a tandem today," says Julien Fernandez, quite proud that his daughter is passionate about two-wheelers.
She had been waiting for her first race for a long time.
"Every year, I was allowed to do a few laps of the circuit in a Solex during the practice sessions. I really enjoyed it, but I had to wait until my 14th birthday, last week, to finally sign up.
"Today there are some bumps on the ground and I find the climb a bit difficult but it's cool. I don't care about winning as long as I'm having fun," said Lola, who finished her race in fourteenth place with 21 laps.
For Delphine Ragueneau, it is also a first.
"I'd never ridden a Solex before. I'm here to have fun without stress.
At the trials [yesterday] morning, I used one for the first time!
A bit difficult at the start to manage between pedaling and the acceleration of the engine which was capricious. But it's really nice and it makes me want to have one," explains the Cotignacéenne who nevertheless finished eleventh with 43 laps completed.
Moreover, it is thanks to her Luxembourg friends, Isabelle the pink panther and her husband, Eric the rastaman, that she arrived in this race without having any previous experience or a Solex.
"I have dozens of them and we wanted to introduce him to this world. I've been participating in this race for ten years, each time with a Solex and a matching outfit with a different theme. While this year it's a Rasta tribute, I've already done a multi-colored Solex and another with a Ricard theme," says Eric, dressed in green, yellow and red and wearing a helmet enhanced with a woolen hat and fake dreads.
"My style is the Pink Panther and I don't change it every year, unlike my husband ," laughs Isabelle, dressed all in pink.
The Solex Cup is our unmissable event. We travel 2,000 kilometers every year so as not to miss it."
See you next year then!
Var-Matin
