Editorial

International cycling in 2007 is particularly disposed to globe-trotting... a desire to break away... to take a trip to an island...

The Tour de France has selected Great Britain and London for the Start of the 94^th edition of the race. Prior to this on the calendar, the Tour d'Italie was launched from Sardinia, and the Tour de Bretagne from Jersey! A... quartet: on the 6^th of September the 44^th edition of the Tour de l'Avenir will set off from Belle-le-en-Mer. With a first stage that will travel through the four towns on the island: Le Palais, Bangor, Locmaria and Sauzon.

This 44^th edition of the Tour de l'Avenir will also include a number of innovations:

• National teams will be at the start. In total, 21 countries will be represented by teams of 6 riders, with two French teams in the line-up.
• Riders must be under 23 years old: 19 to 22 years included.
• The race is one of 7 competitions on the calendar of the Nations Cup. This trophy, attributed for the first time by the U.C.I., will be awarded to the winning nation at the end of the Tour de l'Avenir.

This heralds a dynamic race, with lots of action and an abundance of attacks right the way through the 1.435 kilometres and 10 stages which will take us to Saint-Flour and the final finish, judged on Saturday the 15^th of September.

Here the name of the winner of this 44^th edition will be revealed, the successor to the Spaniard Moises Duenas Nevado, but also to prestigious champions, riders who triumphed in both the Tour de l'Avenir and the Tour de France: Felice Gimondi, Joop Zoetemelk, Greg LeMond, Miguel Indurain and Laurent Fignon.

Christian PRUDHOMME