The Return of the Duo Normand!

Word has reached me via the timetrialling forum that my favourite time trial, the Duo Normand 2-up team time trial, is slated to return in 2025 and will be run on September 21st.

The last time I rode the Duo Normand was in 2019 - in 2020 it was abandoned owing to the Covid pandemic, and it never returned to the calendar, though I recall a half-baked effort with an event over two days with a short run and a very short 2-up time trial. My long-term 2-up partner and I are very excited by the possibility of another outing at the Duo. Our first race was in 2003, and with the exception of one event, roade it each year until 2019. We even won the Corpo category in 2010 at the combined age of 100! 

There are several reasons why we loved this race so much. Firstly we've become a tight-knit 2-up team over the years. Secondly it's always been a grand and generally well-organised event in a nice part of rural France. We generally make a very long weekend of the trip, so it's an expensive outing. The course itself is just over 50km and encompasses a variety of terrain, a lot of it in bacage lanes, but featuring significant ascents and of course descents.

After I wrote a semi-obituary of the Duo Normand earlier this year, I'm pleased that this fantastic event looks like it will return. Let's hope the rumours are true - indeed, it is confirmed at the Duo Normand Facebook page.

So a major event for me in 2025 and something to programme into Athletica!