Chris Desjardins : “We are studying the option of night cycle race in Mauritius”
CRA World Events Management started organising sports events in Mauritius 5 years ago for companies who want to associate their names to a sport activity. CRA organises road cycling and mountain bike events like the Coast 2, Coast Mauritius MTB Challenge over 3 days but also the Deutsche Bank Mauritius 100 km Cycle Tour. CRA Events Management has a sister company in South Africa where it organises the Mountain Bike World Cup for the last 5 years. We employ 2 people fulltime in Mauritius and our offices are in Mon Loisir.
We organised the 4th edition of the Vets and Masters Tour of Mauritius last week end ( 18, 19 and 20 October) including the ‘Under 23 Tour de Maurice’ where cyclists of all ages got together and cycled in safe condition along with other cyclists from around the world. These tours have now become international events where by a lot of foreign cyclists come to the island to compete. In the YOP under 23 Tour, we proposed young cyclists under 23, a 75 kilometre race in two legs that took place on Saturday 19 and on Sunday 20 October with the starting at Mon Choisy.The 4th edition of Salchain Vets and Masters was held from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 October covering 245 kilometres in three stages. This race was reserved for professionals aged above 32. This race started near Plaisance airport towards Choisy passing along the eastern coastline and finally the 5th edition of CRA International Classic took place on Sunday 20 October, starting at Choisy Shopping Promenade covering 80 kilometres. Cyclists of any age were allowed to take part in this race 80 kilometres long. The winners of each of the three competitions won prizes offered by Lux Resort and Air Mauritius and medals were given to all the competitors.Has the cycling community recovered from the tragic loss of life of one the most brilliant cyclists of Mauritius?
Well, after the tragic death of Jerome last year, cyclists in Mauritius became more aware that cycling can be dangerous on our roads and that they will have to be more careful while training. I must say that the cycling community did shrink a bit since his death.
Cycling remains quite discreet on the Mauritian scenery, with very little mass participation whenever there is a national event. What should be done to prompt people to be more involved in this sport like what we see around ‘Tour de France?’
Like any other sport, it starts at ground level with the kids, teaching them about the sport, organising safe races for them and getting the schools and teachers involved. Once we have that in place, cycling will become more popular. The only thing which is in place at the moment is a cycling school where only about 20 kids are involved which is not enough. Each region should have a cycling school.
Is Mauritius relevant for the practice of cycling- training, competition and international meet? Is it not too small a place for cycle races?
You know with the help of the Police everything is possible. Our local Police are very
competent and the federation has organised some international events like the Tour of Mauritius which is held once a year.
Is there safety on our roads whenever there is a cycling competition? Do you think that such cycling races should rather take place during the night for security reasons?
When CRA organises a cycling event we take maximum precautions and make sure that there is a lot of security on the roads in terms of marshals, police riders, ambulances etc., but we are aware that an accident can happen anytime as our roads are not closed to traffic. We are studying the option of night racing which we think will be better if the Police can close a section of roads where the competition takes place.
Cycling in Mauritius has remained within the hands of private organisations. Do you think that such a sport should be open to all Mauritians, that it should be included in the Olympic committee and that it should be under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sports?
Cycling in Mauritius is already under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sports and of the Cycling Federation. For sure they should be doing much more than what they are doing at the moment as both of them have come out with a plan of action for Mauritian cycling for the last 10 years or more and this is the reason that there are fewer cyclists in the peloton.
What would you tell a youngster who wants to choose cycling as a sport?
I will tell him that he has chosen the best sport in the world but that he will have to be very committed and be ready to make a lot of sacrifices to top the list.
Cycle Mauritius 
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