Twenty-four hours skating at Le Mans

Other than New York, the real city that never sleeps is only one: Le Mans. Whether it’s engines or men, you won’t find the realm of the 24h anywhere else. This weekend it’s up to the rollers, mythological figures, half men and half skates, athletes capable of remaining balanced on wheels for hours. Someone even for twenty-four in a row, in fact. They will battle it out on the Bugatti track, a four kilometer circuit, a smaller version of the more famous Sarthe that they use for the 24h of cars. Over 2,000 participants from all over the world divided into three categories will be present at the 24 Heures rollers: solo, duo, team of 10. 40 have left Italy, there are three teams and all will compete to try and take the glory. In 2019 they postponed the demonstration due to too much heat (the asphalt exceeded 45 degrees). The following year it was Covid’s turn. Both in 2018 and in 2022 the quad title was always taken by Italy. It was won by the “Qui quo quad” team.

This world on wheels is full of champions. Almost all quad rollers are children of the 70s and 80s, girls and boys with a passion for rollerblading have gathered here to test the magnificence of a very tough competition. “Many of us met thanks to Facebook. As kids we all skated, then we lost sight of each other. For a few years, however, we have met again and we go to these competitions”. The blue coaches are Stefano Mazzarini and Stefano Melandri. Instead Cinzia Lodi is one of the coordinators for our country. It is she (but not only her) who pulls the strings inside the paddocks, where the racing cars usually rest, now there are the athletes. Le Mans is a magical place. But competition is competition and everyone wants to impress. There are two types of skates allowed: in line (i.e. the wheels one in a row) or quod (the classic skates, the traditional ones). The aim of the competition is to make more laps than the others. But getting to 24h is long, very long, infinite. And tactics are decisive. For teams, almost everything is worth it: you can take turns every lap or maybe every three, but for those who participate alone it’s a whole different story. “You have to measure your strength, there is a climb, Dunlop, that makes the difference. Like any endurance race, grip counts”.

Sleep is not the main problem. The risk of blisters on the feet is very high. Many of these skaters use carbon gear, custom forged with a foot cast. They can cost 400, 800, even 1,000 euros. The position of the foot is decisive, but so are the plasters applied at strategic points. The cruising speed with traditional skates can reach an average of 27km/h, with inline skates it can even go up to 40. Traveling downhill: 70-80km/h. There is the problem of departure. Skaters on one side, skates on the other of the rink: at the start you run, put on your rollers and then the race begins.

The “Qui quo quad” team boasts the most experienced athletes. There are Stefania Ghermandi (11 world titles, 22 European, 69 Italian), but also Massimo Muzzi, Paola Cristofori, Michele Cicognani, Sergio Melilli. In the pits you can find athletes like Mirco Pancaldi. And for the in-line part (Team XXX Master Team) the leading man is Luca Bagnolini (15 Italian, 8 European and 1 world titles plus a world speed record), son of the man who made roller skating widespread in our country.

The only blue in the race who will participate alone is Stefano Bertasini, 62, a technical employee who designs aluminum windows and doors. After Le Mans he will go to the European Masters. “I also participated last year, but I had done it with a partner. In the duo we finished fourth. Those in front of us were 47 in two, we 120. But we held on”. Stefano is part of the Roller Club Scaligero, he trains twenty boys between the ages of 8 and 15. There is passion, but sport in Italy is not so widespread. “The desire to play this sport has always been great – he says – I started as a kid, I resumed at an advanced age”. Bertasini wants to try to get to the end. “I’ve made my own strategy, but I don’t know if it will work.” Summarized is simple: never sleep. But is it possible to travel 24 hours along a four kilometer track? Last year (the two of them) did 137 laps, almost 600 kilometers of roller skating. “We had used the microsleep tactic, little 20′ naps. Maybe I’ll take one, let’s see”.