Cycling Organizations in France

Four of the organizations that govern bicycling in France are:

• Fédération Française de Cyclisme (FFC)
• Fédération Française de Cyclotourisme (FFCT)
• Union Française des Oeuvres Laïques d'Education Physique (UFOLEP)
• Fédération Sportive et Gymnique du Travail (FSGT)

Fédération Française de Cyclisme (FFC)

The FFC governs racing in all cycling disciplines: road, criteriums, track, off-road, BMX, and indoor, as well as some cyclosport events. It maintains a points-based rider and race categorization hierarchy. It classifies clubs, publishes a bimonthly newsletter, and has cycling classes for children. It is affiliated with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), and sends riders to the World Championships, European Championships, and the Olympic Games.

If you are interested in racing in France, obtain the appropriate license from your country's racing federation. USA Cycling issues an international license that is accepted in France.

The FFC website has the names, contacts, and rankings of racing clubs in France, as well as information about cycling classes, its newsletter, and the racing calendar. The information is in French.

Fédération Française de Cyclotourisme (FFCT)

The FFCT governs cycletouring and offroad (VTT) touring. It provides:

• Cycling classes for children and adults
• A national calendar, which lists the rallyes, randonnées, randonnées permanentes, and other information for all the cycletouring leagues in France
• Books, maps, and other touring information
• Administration of the various Brevets -- Le Brevet Cyclotouriste Nationale (BCN), Le Brevet des Provinces Français (BPF), Le Brevet Cyclo Montagnard Français (BCMF)
• Administration of the Randonnées Mer-Montagne and the Diagonales de France

The FFCT license costs 317 francs per year, if you belong to a club, 386 francs if you do not (in 1997 -- it is 390 francs as a member of a club in 2000). The fee includes a subscription to the monthly magazine and insurance. For an additional 145 francs you can obtain bicycle-replacement insurance.

The FFCT's address is 12, rue Louis Bertrand 94200 IVRY sur SEINE
Telephone 33 (0)1 56 20 88 88 FAX 33 (0)1 56 20 88 99

The FFCT website has information in French.

Union Française des Oeuvres Laïques d'Education Physique (UFOLEP)

The name in English means the French Union of Physical Education Laypersons. It governs many sports and tries to be all things to all people. For cycling, it is involved in cycletouring, cyclosport, off road (VTT), and bicross. It organizes races, a cyclosport trophy series, and cycling tours. It has its own system of licensing and category upgrading based on placings in events. A license costs 120-150 francs and includes insurance. A medical exam is mandatory to obtain a license.

UFOLEP's address is 3, rue Récamier 75341 Paris Cedex 07 Telephone 33 (0)1 43 58 97 65 or 33 (0)1 43.58.97.71

Fédération Sportive et Gymnique du Travail (FSGT)

Like UFOLEP, this is a multisport organization, but for blue collar workers if I understand correctly. The cycling side is involved in cycletouring, cyclosport, and racing. The fees are 111 francs for 12 months, 55 francs for four months, 28 ff for a weekend, and the license includes insurance.
FSGT's address is 14, rue Scandini, 93508 Pantin
Telephone 01 49 42 23 19

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