Passage du Gois

The Passage de Gois or Gôa is a natural, periodically flooded passage leading to the island of Noirmoutier in France. It is located between Île de Noirmoutier and Beauvoir-sur-Mer, in the department of Vendée. It is flooded twice a day by the high tide.

The Passage du Gois

The track is 4.125 kilometres (2.563 mi) long.[1] Every year, a foot race – the Foulées du Gois – is held across it, starting at the onset of the high tide.

History

Passage du Gois was first mentioned in the 9th century.

In appeared on a map in 1701 and appeared as an official road in 1832.

In 1971 a bridge was build between the mainland and Noirmoutier: the Passage du Gois became a secondary road[2].

Tour de France

In 1999 Passage du Gois was used by Tour de France bicycle race during Stage 2. It proved to be decisive for the race after a fall took place because of its slippery surface. The crash created a six-minute split in the peloton which ended the hopes of many favourites to win the race, like Alex Zülle, who would eventually finish second overall, seven minutes after Lance Armstrong.

The Passage du Gois was used again in 2011 as the starting point of the first stage.

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gollark: Fascinating.
gollark: I'm only asking ironically. Have you not heard of the "if you're X, name all Y" joke?
gollark: I mean you should explain what happened to the rock.
gollark: I "know" what it is because I read a random pop-sci article this morning.

See also
  • Île de Noirmoutier

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-07-06. Retrieved 2015-07-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Passage du Gois road". Roadstotravel.net. Retrieved 2020-06-11.


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