A flèche is a cycling event, the term is derived from Flèche Velocio, which is Italian for 'speed arrow'. It differs from the more common brevets, as it is a team event. The object of a flèche is to ride the maximum distance (with a minumum of 360 km) in a fixed time, usually 24 hours, and usually finishing at or near a specified location, riding a route that the team has specified before the start. Different teams can not follow the same route. Teams usually comprise up to five riders, of which three must finish in order to complete the flèche. Flèche rules dictate a mandatory 22 hour control (the last control), at least 25 km from the finish location.

History of the flèche

Flèche events traditionally take place on or about the Easter holiday, usually in April. After the second world war ended in 1945, French citizens started to enjoy their freedom again and Audax Club Parisien made the most of the free time around the Easter weekend by starting the flèche concept in 1947, on the evening of Good Friday. It is the most popular world-wide randonneuring event.

Awards and certificates

ACP rewards Flèche riders world-wide with a personal certificate, sent later in the year. Korea Randonneurs provides the rider with a Flèche certificate upon completion of the ride at the finish location. The flèche is a necessary element in severa international and domestic awards, such as the ACP R5000 and R10000, and the Korea Randoneurs KR5000 and KR10000.

Flèche in Korea

Korea Randonneurs organized the first flèche in 2013. Spread over 9 teams, 30 riders arrived in Gwangju. Gwangju has since been the traditional place for the flèche finish. Riders enjoy a celebration lunch together after the ride. In recent years flèches have been ridden by well over 200 riders per flèche.

See the flèche teams and routes for 2026

Flèche controls

It's all about stamps, selfies and suffering: at control points a photo is taken, showing the team with the required object to be photographed in the background. The required object (a building, marker stone, road sign or any other object) is the same as on the photograph that was sent in with the course proposal. When the control is for example certification center or convenience store with stamps available, it is also possible that each member collects a stamp on the flèche card instead.

The flèche card and photos are checked by a staff member at the finish.

The 22 hour control

Fleche rules dictate a mandatory 22 hour control (the last control) at least 25 km from Gwangju. Each team is allowed to depart from this control only at or after 22 hours after starting and proceed to the finish. This is to make sure riders arrive at a similar time.

Forming or joining a flèche team

Riders interested in joining a team should contact, or be asked the by a team captain. The team captain collects the fee from each member and transfers the money. He or she is responsible for compliance with the rules for each team member.

Randonneurs who aspire to be a team captain and form their own team should e-mail Jan Boonstra containing the information below:

• 1. Team information
  • Team name in Korean and English
  • Team members (mininum 3 - maximum 5), including member numbers
• 2. A complete route proposal

  Routes of different teams should be unique, routes may coincide or overlap for short sections, but the starting place should at least be unique. Refer to the Maps link for the exact location of the finish.

  • Route criteria

    The distance between control points has to be the shortest distance possible and avoid four-lane highways, long tunnels and other dangerous roads as much as possible.

  • Course in GPX file

    Each team can make the course starting from anywhere in Korea as long as the total distance is more than 360 km to Gwangju.

  • Control Point (CP) information

    The control point locations must be clearly listed in your e-mail, and clearly be accompanied by a photo as attachment.

    The start- and finish location must be listed. The distance of the control from the start, the mandatory 22-hour control (at least 25 km from the finish - this should be the last CP) and possible self-stamp controls should be clearly indicated.

    E.g. (shortened for example):

    START	Mangwon Han-gang	Seoul	0 KM	Photo
    CP1	Intersection	Maedang	128 km	Photo
    CP2	Certification Center	Geumgang Dam	243 km	Stamp
    CP3 (22H)	Certification Center	Damyang Dam	345 km	Stamp
    FINISH	UNAM MTB	Gwangju	375 km

    *Resize your photos to less than 500 kb each. Some e-mail clients have limitations on conversation size, and with dozens of requests every flèche some e-mails don't get delivered or significantly slow down the process of the route proposal. E-mails with bigger attachments won't be answered.