Final of the coupe de France in Réville

Coupe de France The normally sedate town of Réville in the Cotentin Normandy was a hive of activity this morning with the preparations of the coupe de France of pedal cars. From the atmosphere of excitement and tension one could get the sense that this was not just a Sunday afternoon of fun, the drivers and their vehicules were all under scrutiny from the gathering audience who had travelled from as far away as the UK for this big race. The cars were in all makes and shapes, some serious looking machines and many comical looking contraptions were getting last minutes tune ups and polishing. By 2pm the atmosphere was tense with anticipation for the starting gun to be fired, drivers stretched their muscles and limbered up in the hope to avoid the cramps that arrive after pedalling like hell in a tight space for 3 hours. The circuit was in the town and no more than a kilometer in distance which circumnavigated the church passing by the local baker, butcher and the only hotel in the sleepy village which today was alive with visitors. By 2.45pm the contestants starting squeezing into their respective "cars" many of them disguised as cartoon characters or traditional Normande dress. They are not only judged on speed but on their costume and the decoration of their "cars". Bang on 3pm the starters gun was fired and the "drivers" took off in earnest and with all their might in order to get poll position in the first lap. Spiderman was up to the task closely followed by the union jack. Tailgating was it seems obligatory, and when the first tense laps were passed some voiced their annoyance of being tailgated by saying 'you're giving me a pain in the arse!' But it was all good fun. People clapped and cheered as they zoomed past, though not all had the speed to zoom. The weather was perfect, no wind, some sunshine with lots of huge cumolo nimbus clouds creating a dramatic backdrop to this important sporting event held every year in Réville. I might just join in next year so watch this space...