Nestled in the Pacific Ocean, Tahiti naturally conjures up images of water sports. The national sport is va’a (outrigger canoeing), and the island will also host the surfing competition of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the only Games venue outside France.
But no mistake should be made… the population is also extremely motivated when it comes to cycling. With its annual stage race Tour Tahiti Nui back on its feet after two years of Covid-19, the launch of a separate stage race exclusively for women, and the Aito Tahiti Nui BMX promising to unite international stars with local riders, the Fédération Tahitienne de Cyclisme is delighted by the upturn of events this year.
The Federation is an Associate Member of the Oceania Cycling Confederation and currently counts 335 members - across road, track, BMX Racing and mountain bike - compared to 281 in 2019, pre-pandemic. Its President Teva Bernadino explains: “There has been a boom among our licensed riders, and they are thirsty for competition.”
The country’s riders – young and old – had a taste of that much-awaited competition at the beginning of this month at a road race in memory of one of their cycling heroes, René Malmezac. An accomplished cyclist, Malmezac also worked to develop the sport in Tahiti: the former President then Honorary President of the cycling Federation was a driving force behind the island’s stage race, known today as Tour Tahiti Nui. He died in August last year at the age of 88.
In recognition of a man dedicated to Tahiti’s cycling culture, the René Malmezac Memorial proposed various race routes for participants of different levels, as well as a free workshop for children.
Starting out in BMX with the help of champions
The youngest generation will also be a major focus of the two-week Aito Tahiti Nui BMX taking place from 26 October to 6 November on Tahiti’s only BMX track, in the commune of Arue, where they will rub shoulders with successful international athletes.
Established champions from Ecuador (2014 Women Junior UCI World Champion Doménica Azuero) and France, (2021 European Champion Arthur Pilard and Junior bronze medallist at the 2019 UCI BMX World Championships Nathanaël Dieuaide) are confirmed to lead three days of training and workshops followed by three days of competition for Tahiti’s licensed riders. The second week will be devoted to initiations for the island’s children - from five years up - eager to improve their skills at Arue’s Fei-Pi track.
“This will be a unique experience for our youth and an opportunity to share moments with some champions,” says Teva Bernadino. “We will have the presence of top-level athletes who can share their passion, their work ethic and perseverance and also enable our young riders to dream. It could lead to the revelation of a high-level athlete in Tahiti.”
Meanwhile, the first two rounds of the 2022 Tahiti Nui BMX Cup have attracted an average of 30 riders, from young children up to masters categories. Three more rounds are scheduled between now and 7 May.
For the Federation President, BMX is the gateway for other disciplines, which are also thriving. The island’s annual road stage race is his particular pride, especially as a separate women’s race will be organised in parallel for the first time in 2022.
Tour Tahiti Nui boasts new women’s edition
First organised in 1993 under the name Tour de l’Amitié (Tour of Friendship), the men’s stage race originally took place uniquely on Tahiti. When it extended to neighbouring Moorea and the Leeward Islands, the name changed to Tour de Polynésie before becoming the current Tour Tahiti Nui.
Over the years, the Tour Tahiti Nui has revealed local talents and attracted many riders from abroad, creating a spectacle for the local population. After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Tour Tahiti Nui is back for its 26th edition, from 30 October to 5 November.
“There is local passion, and if one of our riders wins a stage or the yellow jersey, all the public is behind him,” says Teva Bernadino, who hopes to see as much enthusiasm this year for the first women’s Tour des Vahine (Vahine is a Polynesian woman - ed).
As part of the Federation President’s bid to develop women’s cycling, he first accepted women’s teams and mixed teams at the Tour Tahiti Nui before establishing a separate race – and prize money – reserved only for women. This new Tour des Vahine, will see the women compete on the same days as their male counterparts, in shorter stages but with the same start and finish venues as the Tour Tahiti Nui.
It is another step forward in the overall development of cycling which last year, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, saw the Federation organise 10 courses for youth and women, introduce cycling lessons in several schools, stage bike initiations for youth, and re-establish a cycling school for children aged four to 12.
In 2027, Tahiti will host the Pacific Games and Teva Bernadino means his national cyclists to be ready!