2026 Fleche
We are back to a breakfast buffet included in the ride registration fee!
Many randonneurs consider the fleche to be one of the most fun (and often challenging) events on the schedule. What makes it fun? You’re riding with friends and teammates, all working together toward a common goal. Plus, there is the fleche breakfast, where friends and riders gather, regardless of whether they rode or finished.
What makes it challenging? It’s a 24-hour, 224+ mile ride. You may be on a team whose route is more or less challenging. And … the timing of the fleche is usually determined by the week after Easter, which of course is variable. So, some fleches are characterized by bitterly cold weather; for others, heat may be a challenge. Sometimes the weather is lovely, others the weather is appalling.
Most teams will want to start riding the fleche at around 8 am on May 2 so that they can finish 24 hours later at the fleche “target,” the Crowne Plaza in Crystal City, 1480 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202, and join other exhausted and elated riders for the celebration breakfast and to share stories about their adventures.
Critical deadlines for forming a team, getting a route approved, or becoming a team member are shown further below. But first …
What is a fleche and what are (some of) its rules?
A fleche (French for “arrow”), is a team event in which each team rides different routes toward a common finish location, like arrows toward a target. Minimum distance is 360 km, which must be covered in 24 hours. Most people who have done a fleche consider it to be one of their favorite randonneuring events since riding together as a team for 24 straight hours builds strong bonds between team members and is great fun.
Fleche target: the Crowne Plaza in Crystal City, 1480 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202, where on Sunday May 3, teams will meet for a hearty post-ride breakfast. Breakfast is included in the fleche fee. If you would like to bring a guest, please do so, but they will pay separately for their breakfast.
Allowed start times: Most teams will want to start at about 8 AM on Saturday morning so that they can finish by 8 AM on Sunday morning and join other exhausted and elated riders for the celebration breakfast. Team members are welcome at the fleche breakfast whether or not they successfully completed the fleche.
Fleche rules: The fleche has its own set of rules that are somewhat different and more arcane, than those for a standard brevet. See https://rusa.org/pages/flecherules
Fleche Team Deadlines
To participate in this special event, riders should start forming teams now. Each team must have a captain who is responsible for designing the route and submitting it for approval. The schedule will be:
• Saturday, April 18: Applications from captains due to organizer. This includes the Captain Registration form and the Route Application form.
• Saturday, April 25: Final rosters due from team captains to organizer.
• May 2 – 3: Fleche
Captains and team members must register online at DCRand.org, entering all of the information requested–especially phone numbers and emergency contact–and following the payment instructions there.
Please contact Bill Beck with any questions. We also have many experienced fleche captains in the club who would be excellent sources of advice. If you are thinking of forming a team or looking for a team to join, the DCR Google Group (impossible to find) or FB group is one good way to connect with other riders. Planning and training are essential for finishing and enjoying a fleche. So I encourage all new teams to schedule at least one or two shakedown rides together, perhaps on a 200km (or even 300km) permanent route.
In case of Inclement Weather: Because each team rides its own route, weather conditions might be acceptable for some routes while unacceptable for others. If the weather forecast looks questionable for the region, team captains will be contacted, and they will be required in turn to contact their team members. For this event as for all events, it is up to each individual randonneur to decide based on the best information that they have available whether they think it is safe to proceed. Whether or not you ride (or complete) your fleche, you are welcome at the fleche breakfast, which will proceed as long as the hotel is open.
