Thrills guaranteed in the Vaucluse and its iconic sites!

After returning to mainland France yesterday, the Olympic Torch Relay continued to explore the Provence region and in particular the Vaucluse. The day was marked with striking landscapes, from Rustrel via Orange to Avignon. More than 120 torchbearers took it in turns to carry the Olympic Torch, including 24 cyclists who made up the collective relay on the slopes of the famous Mont Ventoux and legendary handball player Michaël Guigou who lit the celebration cauldron at the end of the day.

A route all the way to the Avignon festival

Welcome to the heart of Provence! With its lavender fields, garrigue heathland and ochre cliffs, the Vaucluse is brimming with natural sites that have forged its reputation. In fact, it was in Rustrel that the Olympic Torch was lit at the beginning of the day. The landscapes here are breathtaking and impressive, in the heart of Provence’s own ‘Colorado’, with former open-cast ochre quarries that look like canyons.

The Olympic Torch Relay then went on to Apt and in particular the Riaille lake, before heading to the historical centre of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, nicknamed the Venice of the Comtat Venaissin area, where it visited the Bassin de Bouïgas weir.

What followed was as sporty as it was spectacular, with a cycling climb from the summit of Mont Ventoux, so popular with all cycling enthusiasts and one of Provence’s most legendary mountain passes at an altitude of 1909 metres. The relay then moved on to Orange passing in front of the famous Roman theatre. An original project was organised inside: the cultural Olympics, which involved a children’s choir from the Pop the Opera group accompanying Olympic Torch with a song.

The Olympic Torch also crossed the Ouvèze River at Sorgues via the Himalayan-style sky bridge. Lastly, in Avignon, the Olympic Torch Relay went along the ramparts and then passed in front of the Place de l’Horloge – the nerve centre of the Avignon Festival – before heading to the Papal Palace in Avignon, the Notre-Dame-des-Doms cathedral and crossing the famous Pont d’Avignon bridge. The celebration venue was set up not far from there, on Boulevard de la Ligne.

The celebratory spirit was palpable all day until the evening and with good reason, as the Vaucluse local authorities and the municipal authorities of Avignon organised an unforgettable evening of events situated on the Allées de l’Oulle car park, involving local DJ Meloko and internationally renowned DJ Bob Sinclar to close the day on a high note!

122 torchbearers take it in turns to carry the Olympic Torch throughout the day

As on each day, the spectators were able to cheer on many famous sportspeople who carried the Olympic Torch, such as renowned former athletes Miguel Martinez, a double mountain biking Olympic medallist at the Games in 1996 and 2000, Jérémie Azou, a rower who won Olympic Gold and the Games in 2016, and Jean-Claude Amoureux, an athlete selected for the Olympic Games in 1976 on the 4 x 100 metres relay. Mathieu Blanchard, who is one of the leading trail runners in France and present on the podiums of legendary ultra-distance races, was also present.
At the end of the day, legendary handball player Michael Guigou, a three times Olympic Champion, lit the cauldron at the celebration venue in Avignon before a large crowd of spectators.
There was another very familiar face among the Olympic Torchbearers today: Alexis Michalik, the actor, playwright and director who has won 5 Molière theatre awards. Alexis Michalik has been an ambassador for the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay from the very beginning. Indeed, he was one of the crew on the Ocean Relay and took part in the incredible Transatlantic adventure between Brest and Guadeloupe aboard the Maxi Banque Populaire XI trimaran. Graphic artist, writer and videographer Patric Baud, also famous for his YouTube channel, was also present on the roads of the Vaucluse today.

Members of the general public with wonderful stories to tell also played their part today. Among them was Estelle Gonzalez: though she has Down’s syndrome, Estelle debunks all the prejudices about this disability. She fulfils her potential every day thanks to participating in gymnastics, her favourite activity, as well as swimming and tennis. Danièle Michel, a former nurse who volunteers for the ‘Restos du cœur’ food bank charity, Adrien Renaudin-Chaptal, a basketballer who raises awareness of bone marrow and spinal cord disorders, and Agnès Berthonnier, who has climbed Mont Ventoux in trail running and bike races, are all examples of members of the general public with inspiring stories given pride of place by the Olympic Torch Relay.

A thrilling cycling collective relay!

The Mont Ventoux was one of the stars of the day. A high-speed collective relay dedicated to cycling took place on the slopes of this remarkable natural site. It was the second relay organised by the French Federation of Cycling. The 24 torchbearers demonstrated the diversity of the two-wheeled discipline. As a result, the crowds were able to admire BMX specialists such as Anne-Caroline Chausson, the captain of the relay and a former medal winner at the Beijing Olympic Games in the BMX Racing event. Alongside her were 23 other club members signed up to the federation, including Mathilde Doudoux and Laurent Vendittelli, who are also BMX riders, Victoire Plauche for cyclo-cross and Jean-Antonio Dias, who is involved in organising races on Mont Ventoux.

Tomorrow, the Olympic Torch convoy, with its official partners Coca-Cola, Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne, will head for the Drôme. From Grignan to Valence, nature, heritage and collective joy will again be given pride of place!