Jean-Luc Perez had promised to come back to win, he kept his promise. A few days before the start of the Tour de France, this weekend in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), the 47-year-old ultracycling specialist paved the way for the Grande Boucle peloton with the other entrants of the formidable RAF (Race Across France). A 2,600 kilometer long crossing of France with or without assistance, which sets off from the Var to reach the Pas-de-Calais, after having taken the great peaks of the Alps in particular.
Two years after his second place, Perez, who is a professor of physical sciences at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris (Ve), crossed the 21 laces of Alpe d'Huez in the lead, then the passes of Sarenne, Lautaret, Galibier, Iseran, Cormet de Roselend or Les Saisies. “It was my strategy, to leave quickly to do all these climbs without pause, reveals the person concerned. Then, I had to consolidate my advance in the plain and until the arrival at Le Touquet. "
"Going under the 5 hour mark is an extraterrestrial thing", savored Jean-Luc Perez
Beyond the victory, the Parisian, nicknamed the American because he discovered the bike in the country of Uncle Sam, broke the record for the two-hour event: 4 days and 23 hours against 5 days and 1 hour for the Luxembourger Ralph Diseviscourt, world record holder of the 24 hours (915.390 km). “Going under the 5 hour mark is legendary, like an extraterrestrial thing, the winner ignites. And even if I have ch ... in the Alps, the contract is more than fulfilled. "
He also rode for his stepfather Mark, seriously ill and confined like his family to Northern California. “I left thinking of him and them, confides the dad of Lauren (20), Cloé (18) and Sebastian (13) married to Californian Johanna. Between the Covid and the fires very close to their home, I knew that for five days, they would follow a small point on a map and that it would keep them alive (sic) . I had my son in line on the bike, and I said to him: I ride for you son! ".
Crossing the line as a winner, Perez also had a thought for all amateur sportspeople who have been deprived of competition for months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "With my assistance, we had a lot of fun thinking that it was a bit like our vacation," he says. We had the chance to pass between the drops (sic) . "
This Monday, the teacher, who claims to have a small bike in his head, makes his pre-entry to Lycée Louis-le-Grand. With a trophy and one more record on his desk and many challenges planned ...