Vosges, Ballon d'Alsace, Saturday 4 July 2026
Rally to commemorate René Pottier's victory in the Tour de France in 1906
That year, the Tour went over the Col du Ballon d'Alsace (FR-88-1171)
A commemorative gathering organised by the Association of Friends of Grez-sur-Loing (77) and the CSB Cyclotourisme de Brétigny-sur-Orge (91) will be held on 4 July 2026 at Ballon d'Alsace
At the same time, CSB will be organising a tour from 02 to 04 July from Brétigny-sur-Orge to the Ballon d'Alsace, limited to 40 cyclists.
2026-04 : Addition of the article published in the magazine 100% Vosges on 1st April: See at the bottom of the page.
January 2026, anniversary project:
A commemorative gathering organised by the Association of Friends of Grez-sur-Loing (77) will be held on 4 July 2026 at the Ballon d'Alsace to mark the 120th anniversary of the town's founding.th birthday
April 2026, article in 100% Vosges magazine
In the latest issue of the monthly magazine «100% Vosges» (page 50 of issue 309 dated 1 April 2026), there's an article about our event.
https://www.centpourcent-vosges.fr/magazines/
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The Club Sportif de Brétigny/Orge (CSB) de CYCLOTOURISME is organising a ride limited to 40 cyclists from 02 to 04 July, from Brétigny/Orge to the Ballon d'Alsace, passing through the birthplace of René Pottier. The ride is in his honour and is called «La René Pottier». This will be the 4th edition (2006-2018-2019 and 2026). CSB cyclo
A videoconference meeting will be held on Thursday 05 February between Christophe Ligere of the Association des Amis de Grez-sur-Loing, Gérard Rodriguez, President of the Cyclo sportif de Brétigny-sur-Orge (CSB) Cyclotourisme, Denis Mathieu and Christophe Badonnel of the Club des Cent Cols to prepare for this event. Details of the day's activities on Saturday 04 July will be announced at a later date.
René POTTIER: strong physically, strong in his legs, strong mentally, strong on the Col du Ballon d'Alsace... but weak mentally in the face of Love, on the Col de l'Amour! What a pity he didn't have the support of a Boris Cyrulnik to overcome his shadow in the vertiginous descent of disappointment in love... Perhaps without his fatal act he could have lined up in the 1909 Tour, battled with François Faber and crossed paths with my Grandfather (?).
My grandfather Alfred Vaidis, from La Flèche in the Sarth region of France, entered the 1909 Tour as a «lone» rider. Of course without the synergy and support of a professional team. He too climbed the BALLON d'ALSACE in Dantesque weather conditions, the coldest of all the Tours, with snow for the first time...
He wasn't the champion that Pottier was, but halfway up the pass he couldn't take it any more, exhausted, the urge to give up overcame him... he spotted a small hotel on the side of the road and decided to stop there, and agreed to put an end to his Tour!... The landlady gave him a room with a window overlooking the road and the bad weather! He took off his waterlogged woollen jersey, but before lying down on the mattress of a very comfortable bed, he looked out of the window and saw a competitor passing in the fog, a competitor who was of course behind him in the race (there were 150 of them at the start in Paris). His blood ran cold, his pride was wounded by his mental weakness and the courageous man he saw passing by!... He called the boss, apologised to her as he was about to set off again, wrung out his jersey as best he could, put it back on, descended the stairs 4 by 4, refilled his cycle which was waiting for him quietly but solidly (a «Chevalier» cycle from La Flèche, none of whose welds failed during this Tour), and set off again more determined than ever! He finished the stage in Belfort...
After this setback, his sporting pride would not let him go and he finished at the Parc des Princes in 29th place overall behind Luxemburgish winner Faber and 15th among the «isolated» riders... Out of the 55 valiant survivors! My hero for eternity.
I'll be there
Arssène