Oléron has already hosted the Tour de France.
It was 1983. For the islanders, it all started with a phone call a year earlier.
The one given by the Antenne 2 journalist, Pierre Salviac, from the region, to Serge Delsol, the president of the Pédal Club Oléronais.
Salviac called on behalf of Félix Lévitan, the boss of the Tour at the time.
The Oléronais let it be known that they would be delighted to receive the Tour de France but that the city does not have the financial means to face such a proposal.
Serge Delsol's response was clear: the Pédal Club would welcome such an opportunity, but it has neither the human resources nor the necessary finances.
The General Council of Charente-Maritime will be generous and grant a subsidy of 150,000 francs (22,500 euros) to the organizing committee.
The Sivom of the island of Oléron, for its part, contributes 25,000 francs (3,750 euros).
And Oléron won the right to be city of arrival of the 7th stage, Nantes-Oléron.
The Irishman Stephen Roche as "at home"
At that time, the inhabitants all hoped to see Bernard Hinault, then quadruple winner of the Tour de France.
But in 1983, the Badger remained in his burrow in Brittany, injured.
So, the locals transferred their affection to a sympathetic Irishman, Stephen Roche, future winner of the 1987 Tour.
With his French wife, this native of Dublin fell in love with the island when he came on holiday to Saint-Denis-d'Oléron.
In a local newspaper, he had played the regional game of the stage: “I looked at the map a bit and I know the island well,” he said.
I will try to be in front.
It's like coming home here.
I know a lot of people now and then I know quite a bit of all the roads, I will try to be placed.
It's quiet when I come in winter or in May-June, it looks a bit like my country.
So I intend to see them a little ... "
But it was ultimately the Italian Riccardo Magrini (Metauromobili-Pinarello) who won by resisting the return of the sprinters, especially Eric Vanderaerden.
The Italian has contagious happiness.
Even if he also won a Giro stage in 1983, there is no comparison.
“A success in France is well worth 5 in Italy,” he says at the foot of the podium.
I am world champion!
"