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If this season we have unfortunately been forced to abandon the organisation of two very specific cycling competitions, the Grand Prix des Nations for time-triallists and the Alps Classic for climbers, due to a lack of "fighters", there is another specific cycling competition that has not lost any of its shine over the years: the Critérium International.
The Critérium is admittedly specific in its concept, as it is the only race on the calendar with three diverse stages in two days, but surely not so in the athletic qualities it requires as it precisely endeavours to place all riders on an equal footing, whether time trial specialists, established climbers or duly listed sprinters.
Without any special magical ingredient, the formula has worked magnificently for the last twenty years and each edition climaxes in an intense final suspense and a winner who is beyond dispute the best all-round cyclist of the moment. And it is in this way that the race has been run in Charleville-Mézières and in the Ardennes since 2001, and it is in this way that it will continue to be run for some time to come as the Critérium International has here found its ideal terrain, aid and support.
Indeed, it is more than combined interests that unite the organisers of Amaury Sport Organisation and their Ardennes hosts: it is a shared and true passion for sport and conviviality that has seen the day in this land where the values of cycling are highly appreciated. It is doubtless this approach and this well worked combined effort that contributed to the election of Charleville-Mézières as "the most sporting town in France" in 2004; and the passage of champions such as Brochard, Voigt, Olano, Martinez, Armstrong and Jean-Patrick Nazon add to the extremely legitimate pride felt by the inhabitants of the town, and its elected representatives.
And so this year the race follows the same unmodified format, with the exception of the start of the first stage, which will be held in Vouziers. It does however include a pack of riders that once again promises us immense pleasure and excitement, in particular if the weather smiles on us during this last week end of March, as was the case in previous editions.
Cycling friends, let’s all rejoice together at the prospect of this traditional pre-April Classics race, which so opportunely punctuates the cycling calendar…
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Jean-Marie Leblanc |
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