Editorial
Picardie, cycling country!
Since 1936, the Tour de Picardie has delighted local lovers of cycling, who will be doubly spoilt this year as the Tour de France will stay overnight on 10th July in Compiègne before setting off on 11th July from Villers-Cotterêts. One finish and one start, it's enough to get the whole Picardy region celebrating.
But before this, on 18th-20th May, the Tour de Picardie will enable bicycle fans to see their champions preparing for the Great Race. Indeed, the Tour de Picardie holds a strategic place in the calendar, slotting in between the Spring “classics” and the great multi-stage races.
Over 60 years, the Tour de Picardie has steadily climbed the steps of international importance in the racing calendar. Originally contested just in the Oise département, then the Oise and the Somme, it takes place over all three départements, as the Aisne is now included. This ensures that the Tour de Picardie provides an authentically Picard event, which has criss-crossed all the region's roads. This development is the fruit of close co-operation between the various levels of local and regional government of the three départements and the Tour de France organisers.
The event remains very open and appeals to attacking cyclists, though it retains a balance between those specialising in overall pace, breakaways and the sprinters. Once again, then, many will be trying to add their name to the already-prestigious roll of honour that includes de Blanchon, winner in 1936, Stablinski, Guimard, Hinault, Duclos-Lassalle, Indurain, Vinokourov or Boonen.
This year again, the roads of Picardie should once again provide us with a great spectacle for the crowds.
Jean-François PESCHEUX