This race was created in 1975 by Thierry Sabine. It was commonly called in French the “Enduro du Touquet” but was renamed as the “Enduropale” in 2006 because the organization of the race had changed drastically. In the past, the track was a lot more difficult because most of the race was happening in the sand dunes. Many people complained about the dunes’ deterioration, so the organizers were forced to modify the track. Today, the Enduropale only takes place on the beach and is about 15 km long (it’s more like a speed race now).

The day before the Enduropale, the French Bike Federation also organizes a quad race, which is also very popular.

The 2006 winner: Timotei Potisek (picture above)

This year, the Enduropale was tarnished by a terrible accident. Benjamin Schots, a 22 year-old motocross rider, lost the controle of his bike whereas he was at the seventh position. He was one of the new hopes of the French motocross. He suffered a severe skull fracture with a brain haemorrhage and a spine fracture. He is still in a deep coma. Last year, he had finished the Enduropale at the tenth position.

An overview of what the Enduropale looks like…finishing one lap is already a big achievement for a race that lasts 3 hours!