|
|
|
|
The 15th stage of the Tour de France on Sunday the 20th of July which was due to start at Digne-les-Bains, will take off from Embrun.
Indeed, the risk of rock falls in the climb up the Col de Larche being fairly important, the organisers of the Tour de France have decided after speaking to the local authorities and following the recommendations of the State departments, to modify the itinerary in order to guarantee the security of the riders, the spectators and the followers of the Tour.
The risk of rock falls on about 4 kilometres of the course was known for several months and all the parties concerned were trying to find a solution. Unfortunately, three months before the start of the Tour, the works considered could not guarantee the necessary security for the passage of the race, and based on the time necessary for the study of a new course, wisdom commanded to change the itinerary.
Like for the stage on the 23rd of July which will finish at the Alpe d’Huez, the 15th stage of the Tour de France will take off from Embrun and head to Prato Nevoso on a distance of around 185 kilometres (before the reconnaissance), in other words 30 kilometres less than the stage initially planned. Instead of the Col de Larche, the pack will have to face the climb up the Col d’Agnel (2744 m).
The Tour de France organisers have chosen the teams that will constitute this year’s field. Twenty teams, of which each will nominate nine riders, are invited for the 2008 Tour de France, which will begin in Brittany on July 5 and conclude on the Champs- Élysées on July 27, three weeks later.
However, this selection is being announced subject to each of the teams respecting the ethics and honesty that must prevail in cycling.
|
GERMANY Gerolsteiner (GST) Team Milram (MRM) BELGIUM Quickstep (QST) Silence - Lotto (SIL) DENMARK Team CSC (CSC) SPAIN Caisse d’Epargne (GCE) Euskaltel - Euskadi (EUS) Saunier Duval - Scott (SDV) UNITED STATES High Road (THR) Slipstream Chipotle (TSL) |
FRANCE Bouygues Telecom (BTL) Credit Agricole (C.A) Cofidis Le crédit par téléphone (COF) Française Des Jeux (FDJ) AG2R - La Mondiale (ALM) Agritubel (AGR) GREAT-BRITAIN Barloworld (BAR) ITALY Lampre (LAM) Liquigas (LIQ) NETHERLANDS Rabobank (RAB) |
Download the press release(1 page, .pdf, 77 ko)
As it regularly expressed during the negotiations held with the AIGCP in regards to the participation in the Paris-Nice race, A.S.O. understands and shares the concerns of the riders and teams, who, under threat from the UCI, would like to ask the TAS to cancel the interdiction of participation in the race, announced by the UCI.
However, the request from the IPCT to the TAS, stemming from the dispute between the UCI and the teams relative to " UCI PRO TOUR license" with which A.SO. has no ties to whatsoever, A.S.O. can not be associated with this legal action.
A.S.O. thus reaffirms to the riders and teams the absolute legality of the Paris-Nice race, which is placed under the aegis of the French Cycling Federation according to French law.
A.S.O. also notes with satisfaction the change in attitude of the UCI President regarding the participation regulations for the Tour de France and would like to believe that he is equally ready to recognise the "historic" stature of the Paris-Nice event.
Consequently, it leaves reason to believe the UCI will finally accept the mediation offered by the French Secretary of State for Sport, Mr. Bernard Laporte. This complete and precise long-term project could in effect bring an end to this conflict that has damaged the sport of cycling for too long of a time.
Download the press release(1 page, .pdf, 23 ko)
Invited today by the Mayor of London, Christian Prudhomme welcomed with the highest interest a new candidacy on behalf of the English capital that wishes to continue its relationship started with the Tour during the 2007 edition. Last July, the organisers as well as the riders were overwhelmed by the popular enthusiasm they witnessed in London and then in Kent with a total of three million spectators on the sides of the roads during the weekend. "London wants to host the Tour de France again'', explained Ken Livingstone during a press conference after having presented his candidacy project. The Tour de France Director who had viewed the Grand Depart as a unique experience in 2007 was seduced. The prospect of a new visit in a close future was therefore considered: "Ken, we shall come back", claimed Christian Prudhomme to the Mayor of London.
Visiting the Paris agricultural fair, Christian Prudhomme met French Prime Minister François Fillon who made the best of the occasion to insist on his interest for the Tour de France which will start next 5th of July in Brittany for its 95th edition. Alongside Bernard Hinault who started a long career as a farmer after his sporting retirement, Christian Prudhomme mentioned the links that unite the Tour de France with the agricultural world. In the presence of Jean-Michel Lemétayer, President of the FNSEA and of Michel Barnier, Minister of agriculture, François Fillon also insisted on the common values shared by the universe of cycling and of agriculture.
The 2007 Tour de France was marked by the beginning of the bilateral cooperation between A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation) and the A.D.F. (Assembly of French Departments).
This cooperation took place in total satisfaction and it was therefore natural that a partnership agreement was renewed for the occasion of the 2008 Tour de France and signed on the 6th of February at the headquarters of the A.D.F.
This partnership sets the practical modalities for the use of roads, the disposal and adjusting of roads for the passage of the pack during the month of July.
The course of the 2008 Tour de France will use 97% of roads managed by the Department Councils (Conseils généraux) and will travel through 39 departments.
Among the missions renewed this year:
Finally, at the start of each stage, a coordination meeting will be set up at the A.D.F. stand of the Tour de France village between the representatives of the General Councils, the police and A.S.O.
A.S.O. has decided not to invite Astana on the events that it organises in 2008, based on the damage caused by this team during the 2007 Tour de France and to cycling in general, both in 2006 and 2007.
The Astana team has indeed betrayed, last year, the confidence of the organisers that had invited them based, already, on their faith of a renewal announced by its leaders.
However, as the team has once again changed, A.S.O. will remain careful at the efforts that Astana will set up to live a 2008 season without affairs or suspicion, and could then reconsider a possible candidacy for its future events.
This afternoon the organisers of the Tour de France unveiled the programme for the first few days of the 2009 race, which will kick off on 4 July. For the first time in its history, the Grande Boucle will set out from Monaco. The Principality has already been the finishing point for race stages on five occasions, including the famous finish between Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor when the Tour last visited Monaco, in 1964.
With this prestigious Grand Départ, those racing in and following the Tour will have the opportunity to enjoy spending some time in the South-East – a region the convoy rarely passes through. In the last thirty years, only Nice has hosted the Grand Départ. The city had the privilege of serving as a springboard for Bernard Hinault to achieve his third victory in the challenge.
The first pedal strokes from Monaco will perhaps give contenders a chance to stand out – the uneven path that the initial stage will follow favours the more accomplished cyclist. For this individual 15 kilometre time trial race, cyclists will tackle in particular a section of the famous Monaco Grand Prix circuit. The next day, 5th July, the starting signal for the second stage of the 2009 Tour will also be given from Monaco.
1939
Stage 12. Saint-Raphaël > Monaco - Maurice Archambaud (France)
Stage 13. Monaco > Monaco - Pierre Gallien (France)
1952
Stage 12. Sestrières > Monaco - Jan Nolten (Holland)
1953
Stage 16. Marseilles > Monaco - Wim Van Est (Holland)
1955
Stage 9. Briançon > Monaco - Raphaël Géminiani (France)
1964
Stage 9. Briançon > Monaco - Jacques Anquetil (France)
Download the pdf(190 ko)
Sagem Communications, a subsidiary of the SAFRAN Group specialising in high-speed connection communication products (printing terminals, residential terminals, digital set top boxes, etc.), has just signed a partnership agreement with the Tour de France for the 2nd year running.
So, once again, the SAGEM brand will be an official partner of the Tour de France 2008.
The adventure of the 2007 Tour had positive repercussions for SAGEM, with valuable international visibility for the brand which allowed it to improve its notoriety.
For Sagem Communications the Tour de France is an excellent opportunity to promote the company’s various flagship products, especially the photo products (photo printers, digital photo frames, digital photo kiosks).
Patrick Sevian, CEO of Sagem Communications, declares: “we were really pleased with our partnership on the 2007 Tour and the positive repercussions that it had. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the A.S.O. teams, they are real professionals, and to say how much we enjoyed the partnership. That’s why we have decided to renew the Tour adventure in 2008, to continue even further on the road to success!”
Sagem Communications (SAFRAN Group) is a major player in the field of communications, having acquired international positions thanks to a high innovative potential. The SAGEM products benefit from a particular awareness in the following activities: printing terminals, residential terminals, digital TV set-top boxes, systems, electronic metering…
For more information, visit the following Web Sites: www.sagem.com and www.safran-group.com.
Download the pdf(42 ko)
In 2007, the Tour de France started an important information campaign on cycling for the young generation. With the release of teaching application guide, used by school teachers of CM1 and CM2 in the areas visited by the Tour and then through the visit of the Cycloparc, a moving exhibition that stopped in a dozen cities, many children and adolescents were able to discover cycling and its biggest event in a differnt way.
This year the “À chacun son Tour” operation supported by the Ministry for national education, the USEP and the FFC, expands to a major part of the French territory for its first phase that associates in an even larger way the teachers of elementary schools. The teaching application guide has been developped for this second version (a chapter in English has been added) and will now be available on the www.achacunsontour.com website that appears today on internet, simultanously with the official annoucement of the 2008 Tour course.
The achacunsontour.com website has a goal to become a place of dialogue around the initiatives linked to the operation. Teachers but also instructors from the cycling clubs or parents interested by “À chacun son Tour” are invited to come and visit the site regularly to collect information but also use it as a meeting point between keen amateurs of the future of cycling.
Download the pdf(191 ko)
Škoda Auto has extended its partnership with the legendary cycling race Tour de France by a further four years (2008-2011) and will therefore continue its involvement in top-class cycling that started in 2004. The partnership agreement was signed with A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation), the organiser of the Tour.
By extending its partnership with this prestigious race, Škoda Auto continues supporting cycling that, alongside ice-hockey, is one of the pillars of the Company’s sponsorship and communication strategy. “Our continuing involvement in cycling and especially the partnership with the Tour de France is part of our long-term strategy of teaming up with the best and thus enhancing the brand awareness and visibility on one side while demonstrating first-class quality of our products on the other”, said Martin Lauer, Head of Škoda Auto Corporate Communications. “Cycling is a worldwide phenomenon, a sport done by millions of people of all age categories and professions. We want to be where our existing and potential customers are and, at the same time, help support this wonderful sport,” adds Martin Lauer.
The partnership with the Tour de France includes support for a number of competitions in France and Belgium organised by A.S.O., such as the well-known spring classic Paris-Roubaix. Thanks to Škoda Auto’s foreign-based agencies, the Mladá Boleslav-based car manufacturer has also been involved in the Giro d’Italia since last year.
For further information, please contact: Jaroslav Černý, Corporate Communications
Tel.: +420 326 811 176 - jaroslav.cerny@skoda-auto.cz
Download the pdf(81 ko)
In the presence of Mr Jaime Lissavetsky, junior minister and President of the Supreme Council for Sports, and Patrice Clerc, President of Amaury Sport Organization, Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France has presented the yellow jersey to the 2006 winner, Oscar Pereiro.
Following the announcement of the official results by the International Cycling Union, this ceremony has been organized at the "Consejo Superior de Deportes" in Madrid on Monday 15th October at 6pm in the presence of a lot of journalists.
These proposals would notably create a 'European' schedule for such well known and long standing events, which are Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Paris-Nice, Paris-Tours and La Flèche Wallonne, which have always been included on the world calendar
Additionally, the Tour de France would be forced to follow the participation rules of the "Pro Tour" and would be forced to use this closed system the A.S.O. is not in agreement with.
The A.S.O. deems these proposals to be harmful and unacceptable for the concerned events and more in general for the interest of cycling.
Noting the failure of negotiations and, once again, the refusal of the UCI to listen to the legitimate demands of the major events and preoccupied by the situation this has created, A.S.O. has turned to the French Cycling Federation and the Royal Belgian Cycling Federation in asking them to help preserve the future of these cycling 'Classics'.
In addition, A.S.O. hopes that the meeting to be held in Paris next October 22 and 23, organised by the French Minister of Health and Sport, will make it possible to develop an efficient action plan, along with all those involved in professional cycling and in a framework assuring the largest objectivity and impartialness required, to end the practice, that until recently has tarnished the image of this magnificent sport and it's champions.
Download the pdf(22 ko)
