The 1987 Triathlon International de Paris
Image: Tri-Athlete (FR) Septembre 1987
The 2nd edition of this race took place on 13th September 1987. I’ve already looked at 1986 here. It seems the sponsor-issue tri-suits were not compulsory anymore. Although some athletes still wore them.
Athletes were bused about 2.5km upstream along the Cours Albert 1 to the start at La Pont de la Concorde. It was hot inside with a wetsuit on. The dive start was chaotic and rough. You then needed to be vigilant to avoid hitting a bridge during the fast, downstream swim.
Wolfgang Dittrich, Phil Gable and the pure-swimmer Christophe Mourier were first out. The bike course was out and back to Versailles. Through the Bois de Meudon, Chaville and Viroflay. The roads were narrow and pot-holed.
The swim didn’t break up the race and bunches soon formed on the bike. Although the top 10 seemed to be able to ride clean.
Who was there? Dittirch. Blondeel. Hofmann. And Methion. Making up over 30 seconds in the first half. However, at 27 km he hits a pothole, rolls his tub and falls. A friend glued it on he said.
Dittrich hits the run 1st. He doesn’t look back but Blondeel is only 11 seconds down. And he’s a much better runner. Benefitting from a long straight section, he passes Wolfie at speed. And wins. The Italian Palmucci runs into 2nd. Shaking off Fabrice Trousset late in the race.
British athlete, Sarah Coope, was 2nd off the bike behind Anne-Marie Rouchon. But. She’d raced and won the day before in Geneva. Results below. Yes. This was a time when people did that.
However, her baggage was lost on route. Sent to Nice! And she only got the essentials at the last minute. I’m guessing her partner, Glenn Cook, was also planning to race Paris. He’d finished 3rd in Geneva. Behind Yves Cordier and Rob Barel. Yes. This was also a time when the best athletes used to race each other nearly every week.
Coope was riding a beautiful bike in 1987. A yellow and blue Rossin. With Scott DH and a Campagnolo disc-wheel. See photo. She wins her second race in two days. Catherine Jay is second and Anne-Marie third.
The athletes are happy at the finish. But they agree that the bike course needs to be improved. It’s too narrow and too dangerous.
Now to find the 1988. And plan the logistics for a Paris triathlon history trip. Lots to explore. Les Mureaux. Hauts de Seine.
