Of all the teams that make up the organisation of the Alpe d’Huez Triathlon, this one is an exception, even a curiosity. Discover the WATCHERS, the team in charge of the refereeing of all the events of the week, and guardian of the spirit of the Triathlon. To understand how this group of enthusiasts who accompany the triathletes during their challenge works, here is an interview with its manager for the past four years, Marc Rullière. Third episode of our LEGENDARY PEOPLE series.
I am 54 years old, I was born in Auvergne (Valery Giscard d’Estaing signed my birth certificate) and I currently live in Lyon. I am in charge of the development for a Lyon-based company specialised in textile digital printing.
I got there by accident. As a marathon runner, I “treated” my back by swimming and cycling in 2014: the evolution towards triathlon was quite logical. At first I thought that the sequence of these three disciplines took place on flat profiles. I found out that they weren’t and challenged myself to do my first mountain triathlon in Alpe d’Huez in 2015. I am now co-president of LUGDUNUM TRIATHLON (a 100% Lyon-based club).
The Watcher knows how to read the race, observe and anticipate.
I was trained as a referee by the League Auvergne Rhône Alpes and then I served for two seasons. This summer, I will be in charge of the Watchers of the Alpe d’Huez Triathlon for the fourth year.
The organisers felt the need to adapt the refereeing, certain rules and the attention given to the participants during this very special event. They wanted to give a different meaning to the notion of refereeing, closer to the spirit of the race.
We face parameters that are characteristic of Alpe d’Huez and of certain mountain races. We have two transition areas to manage, with a lot of information to produce and share to support the triathletes. The cycling course is very demanding, sometimes difficult to access, with dangerous areas that we have to focus on. On top of that, there is the usual high heat at the end of July, or extremely changeable and unstable conditions during the week. We are therefore both responsible for enforcing the rules of triathlon to maintain the fairness of the competition and also responsible for the safety of the participants. In Alpe d’Huez, our action is particularly modulated according to the moment, the circumstance, the stake. I think the difference is here.
Very clearly, since the first year, we have tried to have a more attentive approach to the competitors. We are there to accompany them and help them above all. The repressive nature of our intervention is not at all what defines us first. For example, in our team, the majority practice triathlon and have already participated in the race. We share our experience by advising triathletes beforehand so that their race goes perfectly.
Before the start, we are very careful about the installation of the athletes and their equipment, which is fundamental and allows the triathletes to be stress-free.
On all the races, safety is our leitmotiv. Although we try to be as educational as possible, we do not hesitate to punish reckless behaviour. We are there to protect all the players, and all the participants from the first to the last.
We are also attentive to the respect of sporting rules, once again, by communicating as much as possible with the triathletes. On the other hand, we are uncompromising on the respect of the environment. I would also like to take this opportunity to announce that this year, we will be extremely vigilant and strict on the follow-up of the triathletes: it is formally forbidden to accompany the participants on the courses with a vehicle not accredited by the organisation.
We will have around 20 Watchers per event, almost 70 Watchers over the whole week. The 2022 edition is a great success and we will welcome a record number of participants in all the events. We will need more people than in 2021 to host and complete our mission. We are still looking for a few Watchers to complete the team. We favour triathletes by allowing them to be on the “other side of the fence” and to be part of a recognised organisation.
Their experience is fundamental in supporting and reassuring certain competitors.
A Watcher must be attentive, forward-looking, a good listener and master the rules of triathlon. He must be firm in his decisions, but show empathy if necessary. I would add that the Watcher knows how to read the race, observe and anticipate. At the heart of the action, we help coordinate the rescue effort.
Joining the Watchers team is above all fun. We have the chance to work in a magnificent setting and to take part in a major event, in contact with international athletes. The organisation takes great care to welcome us (accommodation and all meals are taken care of). We are completely integrated into the organisation and participate in the events for the partners and volunteers. For the most motivated, a registration is offered to the race of their choice, while the two triathlons are already “sold out”.