Are you a passionate cyclist? Do you possess an adventurous soul? Would you like to get to know your country and its natural beauty while riding a bicycle? Do you enjoy cycling in a group? How about long distance cycling, does it excite you?
Well if the answer to the above questions is clear yes, then perhaps it is time you joined a Brevet. The cycling sport of Brevet started in Greece in 2003 and grows more popular every year. The tourist agency ADVENTURES AND WINES (Outdoor Activities center and Tourist Guide Service) organizes trips to various races and Brevets both in Greece and abroad. Therefore, if you are interested in joining a Brevet, you can choose to travel with us instead of going by yourselves. That way you can avoid inconveniences such as needless discomfort and extra costs in the form of fuel, toll payments, etc., not to mention eliminating the need to find your own means of transport. The experienced athletes you are likely to meet will have some exciting stories to tell and you stand to gain from the valuable tips and information they can offer.
General info
A Brevet is a non-competitive, long-distance cycling activity where riders have to complete the course in certain limits without relying on external support. The distance and time limits of the courses vary from 200 km in 13.5 hours, 400 km in 27 hours, 600 km in 40 hours, 1000 hours in 75 hours, even up to 1200 km in 90 hours.
Brevets are also known as randonees, as this word stands for wandering, exploration, and adventure.
The first Brevets officially began in 1891 with the famed course Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) which was inspired by the contemporary Olympics and the Tour de France. However, Brevet courses as a concept were initially coined in neighboring but became popular in France. Professional road races, equipment trials and touristic cycling can all be traced to Brevets.
Both men and women participate in Brevets on equal terms. The countdown clock starts and then stops only when the cyclist crosses the starting line and the finish line respectively. Terms such as mechanical or structural malfunction, bad weather conditions and micro injury of the athletes are non existent ??????(τι εννοεις εδω δεν καταλαβα στα ελληνικα). Resting, eating, performing repairs and of course cycling must all be done in the time limit allowed. Brevet organizers always strive to reinforce the virtuous and non-competitive spirit of the sport. For this purpose, the order of completion is not announced. Instead, the reveal the results through the alphabetical order of names of all those that made it to the finish line, without mentioning the time of completion.
A noteworthy element of Brevets is the self-sufficiency of the riders, the absence of external support which is only allowed in certain control points along the course (usually every 50km). Riders must submit their Brevet cards at every control point. The card is then stamped and the seal serves as verification that the riders kept the predetermined course route as well as the time limit allowed. In addition, riders have a limited amount of time to make it from one control point to the next because each point has a time of “opening” and “closing”.