Cyclists Tackle Extreme Heat at the 2025 French Cycling Championship
Cyclists successfully navigated extreme heat during the 2025 French Championship, with improved strategies leading to higher completion rates.
Key Points
- • Race distance shortened from 230 km to 214 km due to heat
- • Men's race saw 53 finishers, compared to 23 last year
- • Cooling vests and hydration support were key strategies
- • Cyclists felt better prepared for heat management this year
The 2025 French Cycling Championship, held in Les Herbiers, faced extreme heat conditions with temperatures reaching 35°C, prompting significant adaptations from both organizers and cyclists to ensure participant safety. In a bid to mitigate risks, race organizers reduced the race distance from 230 kilometers to 214 kilometers.
Many cyclists employed innovative heat management strategies, including the use of cooling vests prior to the start and receiving extensive support along the route. This year, nearly half of the participating cyclists had access to assistants who provided much-needed hydration and ice during the race.
The results were promising: 53 out of the 145 cyclists completed the race—a stark contrast to the previous year's 23 finishers—indicating that improved heat management strategies were effective. Cyclist Kévin Vauquelin, who secured third place, attributed his success to the support available, stating, "I had my bottles, I had my ice. In fact, I managed the heat very well." Fellow racer Eliott Boulet echoed this sentiment, noting that although the conditions were hot, they were manageable thanks to thorough preparation.