Toulouse. Queue, access: the organization of the soapbox race pointed out
By Quentin Marais
Published on
25,000 people found themselves on the hill of Pech-David, at Toulouseon the occasion of the soapbox race, which was held on Sunday September 18, 2022. A crazy event, good weather, but an organization… finger pointing.
Organization and access pointed out
Many visitors savored this sunny day which offered spectacular routes. On the other hand, others have deplored failures around the event. “The organization, as usual, at the lowest. A single giant screen in the middle of a football field, fortunately under the sun…”, regrets a first spectator.
“The organization, if next edition, is totally to be reviewed, even to relocate from the city”, plague a second. A third spectator, she adds: “We were there, too bad they were not insured for catering and drinks. Quickly in sold out “.
If the organization once there was not to the liking of several spectators, it was also the access to the event that made people react. “On a fact two hour queue to the cable car…”; “Result: this cable car is the worst means of transport there is. I have everything on foot! »: there too, there are many testimonials on the difficulties encountered in accessing the race site.
“An incredible crowd”, justifies Tisséo
Nearly 24 hours after the event, Tisséo justified these long queues presented near the cable car. “It’s linked to the affluence, which has been amazing. We had many, many travelers who wanted to go see the race. The transport service of the Toulouse conurbation also explains, to Toulouse news, that its latest jewel launched on May 14, 2022 has not suffered ” no breakdowns or stoppages »on the occasion of this afternoon of Sunday, September 18.
“We are sorry, but for once, this expectation is explained by the crowds! »
“We did not expect to be so successful”
It’s not just Tisséo who was surprised by the crowd. Alexis Vidal Soler, race director, concedes to Toulouse News “We didn’t expect to have as much of hit “. However, he acknowledged “that we could have had a little more supply on the catering part. The popular success with Toulouse residents will allow, next time, if next edition, to be able to anticipate a little more that part.”
“We tried to set up a great event, free above all: often, we forget that now, we don’t have many free events anymore… The idea was to allow everyone to come. was a great time, a great party, a great success.”
A return to Toulouse?
“If next edition”, says Alexis Vidal Soler, does this mean that RedBull intends to put down its bags again in Toulouse? “It’s true that, often, we tend to come back to lands where things are going well, where people are happy,” recalls the race director. Which underlines the positive atmosphere in which the event was orchestrated. “It was a real partnership with the City of Toulouse, the events center and its elected representative, Jonnhy Dunal. It went really well.” Before concluding: “So we don’t come back year after year, from time to time a few years go by… and we come back”. Suspense !
.
Was this article helpful to you? Note that you can follow Actu Toulouse in the My Actu space. In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.