Marcel Bastide is between races this week, and that’s saying something. The 63-year-old Orrington resident competes in about 30 bicycle races per year.

The avid cyclist is heading back to his native France for a week or so but will return soon to compete in and run his own race: Le Tour d’Orrington, a 26-mile benefit bicycle race on Sept. 16.

Earlier this month, Bastide finished sixth overall in a race in Presque Isle, but his highlight so far this year is his performance two months ago at the National Senior Games in Louisville, Ky.

The native of Albi, France, took home two bronze medals for third-place finishes in both the 40-kilometer race and the 10K time trials. He also finished fifth in the 5K trials and sixth in the 20K road race.

The Senior Games also provided inspiration for him to start up his Le Tour d’Orrington in memory of good friend Dick Williamson, who was supposed to compete with Bastide in Louisville but died in his sleep just days prior to the event.

“It was such a shock. I was really looking forward to riding with him,” Bastide said. “So I wanted to dedicate my race to him.”

The event will start at Center Drive School in Orrington at 1 p.m. and finish at the top of King’s Mountain. Proceeds will benefit Penobscot Community Healthcare. His next race will be a week later as he travels to Cumberland for the Maine Time Trials Championships.