Last weekend over 2,000 riders set off on the Bugatti circuit for the sixth edition of the Le Mans 24 Hour Cycling event. After the usual weekend-opening "Matinale" family friendly ride, which was attended by over 1,300 people, 462 teams from 14 countries took the famous “Le Mans” style departure, given by special guest, Sylvain Chavanel. 

"I accepted the invitation to give the start because this race is really great. For me, it's important to see something beyond what I usually do," said the French pro rider on the IAM Cycling Team.  

Eventual winners, Payname, consisted of Michaël Mazin, Max Massat, Julien Pétilleau and Tristan Chaboche. The four imposed themselves on the race after a good battle with ten other teams. As well as taking the victory, the team broke the race record by covering 1,004 km – bettering the previous record of 975 km set in 2011 by Vulco’s Team.  

The gap had been established in the early morning, when Max Massat came out of the leading group, trapping the defending champions, Mondovélo Plouhinec, who finished off the podium. 

Didier Plouze, Mondovélo’s sporting director comments: "Nothing wanted to smile on us, it wasn’t our year. We are a little disappointed, but when I see the former pros who tell me they want to come back next year, it makes me want to as well.” 

The teams of Essor-Fitnext-Mulbar-DMTEX and The Kyriad were left to decide the remaining podium places in a spring finish, and ended up second and third respectively. The Exploit Assos Team, led by Daniele Nardello - a former Mapei Tour de France stage winner – also led for a while, but faded to finish sixth. 

Cyclosportive des 24 Heures Vélo 2013 - Le Mans from 24 HEURES VELO on Vimeo.

Sébastien Bertholet, Solo Male winner in 2009, repeated his success with a huge performance that saw him cover 920km (220 laps.) Sandrine Ferrant took the women’s category, covering an impressive 757km. The first fully-female team, DGPN SICOP covered 783km and contained Patricia Lossouarn, the 2010 French Half Marathon Champion who only recently took up cycling. 

The success of the event this year should guarenttee another big field for 2015. 

Registration will open in November. For more details, visit www.24heuresvelo.fr