For four days, 17 teams will explore the paths of the PACA region, covering 510 km and 5,154 m of elevation gain to climb.
The 8th edition of the Tour de La Provence cycling race starts this Thursday, in Marseille, in Bouches-du-Rhône.
After the Marseille prologue, the edition will be spread over three events: the first between Aix-en-Provence and Martigues on Friday, the second between Forcalquier and Manosque on Saturday, and the last between Rognac and Arles, for the final on Sunday.
Before a blank year in 2023 for financial reasons, the previous edition in 2022 was won by the Colombian Nairo Quintana (Arkéa Samsic), ahead in the final general classification of the Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) and the Dane Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl -Trek).
“It’s very open.
I will simply exclude pure climbers because we do not have a summit finish, however it could be a good rider with the prologue, a sprinter, or why not a puncher with the 2nd stage”, predicts Thomas Voeckler, sponsor of this new edition.
The Tour de La Provence program.
Thursday February 8:
Marseille-Marseille prologue (1:55 p.m.).
Friday February 9:
Aix-en-Provence-Martigues (2:25 p.m.).
Saturday February 10:
Forcalquier-Manosque (2:30 p.m.).
Sunday February 11:
Rognac-Arles (3:15 p.m.).
The Tour de La Provence will be broadcast on Eurosport 2, France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France 3 Corse Via Stella and France 3 NoA.