The
cycling experts know that to have as winner the best of that years peleton,the
Critérium International needs to have a course varied and
particular suited the racer graced with the talent to both road race
and climb .
For the year 2000, The organizers wanted it to started in the Atlantic Pyrenees a region that they know well ,notably because of the 1999 Tour de l'Avenir which finished in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
They found that they could choose the perfect route for this competiton and count on the support of the Conseil général des Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Which joined forces with the society de Tour de France to organize this early season race .
The formula of the Critérium International (A flat stage, mountain stage and a time trial) will be ideally served by the topography of this department, Which the residents and visitors love .
The first day ,
The difficulty comes in the length of
the stage:
192 kilometres between Saint-Jean-de-Luz
and Jurançon, broken by three climbs classed 4th or 3rd category
.
The testing section starts the second
day,
When the competitors leave from Morlaas
to join 1000m higher , The town of Gourette.
The time trial at Pau,after all the previous efforts will be the decisive test.
We look forward to a good week-ends cycling …