The course of the 66 Degrés Sud event in Perpignan was updated for 2024 as both the time trial and granfondo/mediofondo moved location to outside the city with a more challenging course and more elevation.
Belgian Julien Desmarets won with a clear 1m16 seconds lead to French Achille Metro and 1m31 to French Lucas Vignes in the 19km time trial on Thursday starting from Cases-de-Pène and finishing on an altitude 285m above the sea,
Aurora Pauchet was the strongest woman in the time trial, 14 seconds faster than Amélie Barbetta with Marylaure James as third at 1m20 for a complete French podium.
Jules Desmarets (BEL) proved that his time trial win was no coincidence as he outsprinted Benjamin Buchetet after the hard 189km Granfondo on Saturday to win the overall men’s race. Damien Degot was the fastest of the small group behind at 46 seconds to take third spot.
Miryam Nunez was the fastest lady in the 139km mediofondo, qualifier distance for all women and men over 60. Her nearest opponents were Agua Espinola at 1m16 with Gwenaelle Legendre in third at almost 16 minutes. Again a full French podium in the women’s race.
