Paris–Brest–Paris
| Region | France |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | PBP |
| Type | Endurance Brevet Cycling Event |
| Organiser | Audax Club Parisien |
| First edition | 1891 |
| Editions | 7 (professional) |
| Final edition | 1951 |
| First winner |
 Charles Terront (FRA)
|
| Final winner |
Maurice Diot (FRA)
|
Paris–Brest–Paris (PBP) is a long-distance cycling event. It was originally a 1200km bicycle race from Paris to Brest and back to Paris. The start of the ride is scheduled from the national velodrome situated in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. It is one of the oldest bicycling events still regularly run (the oldest being the Catford CC Hill Climb). The last time it was run as a race was 1951. The most recent edition of PBP ran from 16 August to 20 August 2015.
In 1931 amateur cyclists were separated from professionals. There are two independent long distance bicycle tours. One is the brevet (also called randonnée), in which cyclists ride individually. The goal is to make it within 90 hours, but with no competition. This is held every four years. The other is an audax where cyclists ride in a group, held every five years. So in 1931 there were three independent cycling events, sharing the same route.
The audax is organised by the Union des Audax Françaises, while the brevet is organised by the Audax Club Parisien.
As in all brevet events, there is emphasis on self-sufficiency. Riders buy supplies anywhere along the course, but support by motorized vehicles is prohibited except at checkpoints. There is a 90-hour limit and the clock runs continuously. Many riders sleep as little as possible, sometimes catching a few minutes beside the road before continuing.
Participants must first complete a series of brevets (randonneuring events) within the same calendar year as PBP. The time frame is different for Australia and Oceania, so riders can qualify in summer. A series consists of 200 km, 300 km, 400 km and 600 km. Each can be replaced by a longer ride. Prior to 2007, the qualifying rides had to be completed from shortest to longest.
Where once PBP was contested by a few professionals as a demonstration of the bicycle's potential, today the focus is on the ordinary rider. PBP continues to attract competitive riders. Despite insistence that it isn't a race, PBP offers trophies and prestige to the first finishers.
Pierre Giffard of Le Petit Journal staged the first Paris-Brest et retour. Despite changes, Paris–Brest–Paris continues to this day as the oldest long-distance cycling road event.
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