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Vichy
178 km
Tuesday 10 March
Another new start on this Paris-Nice.
We will leave the Cher district to join Vichy, where Paris-Nice had not stopped for 10 years. As the day before, the victory should be decided after a massive sprint, just after the Pont de l’Europe.
© Ville d’Orval//
Forty minutes by car south of Bourges and close to the A71 motorway, Orval is situated in the geographical centre of France, right in the heart of the Berry region. The banks of the Cher mark its separation from the regional county town, Saint-Amand-Montrond. Spanning a small area of approximately 800 hectares, Orval is a dynamic town of 2 000 inhabitants with a diversified economic fabric and a highly active community life. In the cycling arena, Orval has been a stage town on the women’s international « Trophée d’Or Féminin » race for the last twelve years. For the last few years, the town has also hosted a leg of the Women’s French Cup. In the spring of 2009, and it is a great first time event in the town, it is with immense pleasure that the Orvaliens and Orvaliennes will receive the riders of Paris-Nice. A start town on this 3rd stage, Orval will be eager to continue the adventure…
© Photothèque ville de Vichy / Yves Le Chapelin//
Vichy is the town for every sport! With exceptional tourist and accommodation facilities, and recognised for its experience and expertise in organising training courses and hosting major sporting competitions, Vichy is a popular destination. A lake of 100 hectares on the river Allier, a 120 hectare sports complex with facilities for 27 different disciplines, two 18-hole golf courses and a race course: half of the surface area of the town is devoted to sports activities and amenities. With such outstanding assets, Vichy yearly accommodates training courses for athletes from top-level teams (the French men’s basketball team, Arsenal football squad, Northampton rugby team, the French Paralympics team…) and major national and international competitions (the World Water Skiing Championships, Parachute Championships, Canoeing-Kayaking Championships, French Ballooning Championships…)
