Tour de l’Avenir 2008 - Race winners since 1936

© A.S.O. / Bruno BADE
The Tour de l’Avenir, organised from the 6^th to the 15th of September 2007, and a treasured event in French cycling, couldn’t have dreamt of a more ideal setting: it was launched from Belle-Île-en-Mer, amid shouts of encouragement from an enthusiastic public.

© A.S.O. / Bruno BADE
From the very first stage, on an island and in bright sunshine, the French rider Poulhiès, one of the prime movers in the day’s breakaway, accumulated honours by winning the race and taking the lead in all the standings.

© A.S.O. / Bruno BADE
The following day, the Italian rider Cataldo tried to copy him by winning the 2^nd stage…

© A.S.O. / Bruno BADE
… but was unable to take the precious yellow jersey away from him.

© A.S.O. / Bruno BADE
On the third day, the Belgian rider Vandewalle claimed stage success in the sprint winning ahead of the breakaway group in which the Dutch rider Mollema played an active role, seizing the yellow jersey from Pouilhès…

© A.S.O. / Bruno BADE
The young Dutch prodigy held onto the yellow jersey in the 4^th stage, captured by Kholer, but the Sassay time-trial, in which the Tunisian Chtioui triumphed, proved fatal to him: 15^th in the time-trial, he dropped down to third place in the overall standings. All believed him lost but, like Don Quichotte, he didn’t give up on his dreams, determined to tackle the new leader, the German rider Martin.

© A.S.O. / Bruno BADE
The day after Herrada’s victory in the 6^th stage, Cataldo won again; Mollema, present in the breakaway pack, recovered his smile and the yellow jersey. He held onto the yellow jersey for three more days, right up until the fi nish in Saint-Flour!

Great moments 2007