A demanding course through the Massif Central and the Pyrenees, an eventful race, several favourites, an unsettled result all the way to the final stage… All the ingredients were gathered to make the 45th Tour de l’Avenir the key meeting of the under-23 season. Indeed from start to finish the likes of Coppel, Amador, Taaramae, Costa, Bakelants and co battled it out for final victory. It was finally Belgian Bakelants who claimed the race making the best of his victorious 207 kilometre breakaway, synonymous of the yellow jersey in Carmaux, before controlling the many attacks of his main rivals.
The cycling season has witnessed a great experience in the Montargis area with the start of the first major stage race of the year, Paris-Nice, at Amilly. A new episode will take place there on Friday the 5th of September when 114 riders registered in the Tour de l’Avenir will start fighting it out during a prologue at Chalette-sur-Loing. This time it will be the young and promising riders of World cycling who will meet up for the biggest event of the year in the under-23 category: after ten days of racing, the Nations Cup for which Portugal, Italy and France are still in contention will know its winner.
The course through France offered to the young riders will require just as much consistency as solid riding. The hilly stages that will for instance go through the Burgundy, Centre and Auvergne areas, will offer possibilities to the attacking riders on every single day. The Nations interested by the battle for the title will need to keep a close eye on every attempt. But most of all, managing the efforts should be key throughout the race, especially with a big mountain stage planned on the penultimate day of the event. Before the finish at Guzet in the Ariege area, the climbers will have the opportunity to make gaps in the climbs up the Port de Lers and then the Col d’Agnes. The best of the young riders of 23 years of age and under who will have the privilege for the second year running of the Tour de l’Avenir to carry their national jerseys, will then finish off their event on the road to Mirepoix, after 1386,5 kms of racing.
(by order of appearance in current standings of the Nations Cup)
Portugal, Italy, France A, Denmark, Germany, Slovenia, Russia, Belgium, Ukraine, Netherlends, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Canada, United States, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Mixed team, France B
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123 riders at the start, decided to battle it out after just a few kilometres of a fine course along the cliffs of Belle-Île-en-mer and under a bright sunshine… And pace, a very fast pace… Stage one of the 2007 Tour de l’Avenir was the scene of an ever-present show, under the influence of a pack riding full speed ahead in front of the Aiguilles of Port Coton, at the passage of the Apothicairie Grotto of in the streets of Sauzon and Palais. In the final part, at full blast, the pack led by the Slovenian riders started a tantalizing chase behind Poulhiès and his breakaway companions. But the Frenchman from Albi hung on to his lead and sprinted to victory capturing all three jerseys, the yellow, the green and the polka-dot…
On the finish line in Cholet, the Tour de l’Avenir witnessed a decisive move. Twenty-one riders who had broken away after only two kilometres showed up bunched at the start of the final straight with close to a 7 minute advantage. Among them some of the big guns like Martin (GER), Levarlet (FRA), Mollema (NED) or Instxausti (SPA), true contendors for final overall victory. The pressure reached a climax. Vandewalle took off while Mollema tried to respond failing however to catch up with the Belgian, victorious on the line. In the overall standing Mollema captured the lead with the authority of a real boss. Behind, Poulhiès (FRA), Cataldo (ITA) and Boasson Hagen (NOR) could only count the minutes. The Tour de l’Avenir had just faded away.
The race started getting tougher with the leaders revealing their intentions during the time-trial and the first mountain stages. In the timed stage around Sassay, Rafaa Chtioui (MIX - TUN) gave all he had and triumphed ahead of the expected specialists. Martin (GER) conquered the yellow jersey but Mollema remained within shooting distance. In the stage going to Saint-Amand-Montrond both men neutralised each other before the real battle on the way to Super-Besse. In the final climb, Mollema multiplied the attacking attempts. Martin tried to hang on but finally conceded 46" that cost him his yellow jersey. From then on Mollema took command of the pack making the best of his strong Dutch team and controlled the race all the waty to the last finish in Saint-Flour.