March 26-27 - 2016 Critérium International - 2.HC
Until ’79, the race was called “Critérium National de la Route”. It was a spring race for French riders that set the stage for the season with bragging rights at stake. Things changed in ’79 with an international field and Joop Zoetemelk prevailing over Bernard Hinault. In its new format, the Critérium International has attracted many great champions over the years: winners include Hinault, Fignon, Kelly, Roche, Indurain, Jalabert, Olano, Basso, Evans, and Froome…not to forget five-time winner, the great Jens Voigt
. Since ’10, the race has been taking place in Corsica.
Two-time defending champion Jean-Christophe Pérault will go for the hat-trick. In ’15, his attack on the final climb of Stage 3, the Col de l’Ospedale, proved to be the winning move. A disappointed Thibaut Pinot finished second and Fabio Felline rounded the podium.
STAGE 1
The first of the two Saturday stages is a short but hilly course, quite flat towards the finish. Marked as a sprinters stage, attackers have a shot. Ben King proved it last year.
STAGE 2
On the 7km course, Fabio Felline triumphed last year, beating Bob Jungels by one second, and Pinot by six seconds. Jérôme Coppel will want to win this one.
STAGE 3
Sunday’s showdown on U Spidali, the Col de l’Ospedale, will be Thibaut Pinot’s opportunity for redemption. Last year, AG2R ganged up against him and he was slow to react when JCP went away. 14.1 km @ 6.2% may not look like much, but km 13 proposes a challenging 10.4% gradient.
Start List:
http://www.letour.fr/criterium-international/2016/us/riders.html
After very good showings at the Volta Ao Algarve and at Tirreno-Adriatico, will Thibaut Pinot avenge last year’s disappointment and win for the first time in ’16?
Until ’79, the race was called “Critérium National de la Route”. It was a spring race for French riders that set the stage for the season with bragging rights at stake. Things changed in ’79 with an international field and Joop Zoetemelk prevailing over Bernard Hinault. In its new format, the Critérium International has attracted many great champions over the years: winners include Hinault, Fignon, Kelly, Roche, Indurain, Jalabert, Olano, Basso, Evans, and Froome…not to forget five-time winner, the great Jens Voigt
. Since ’10, the race has been taking place in Corsica.Two-time defending champion Jean-Christophe Pérault will go for the hat-trick. In ’15, his attack on the final climb of Stage 3, the Col de l’Ospedale, proved to be the winning move. A disappointed Thibaut Pinot finished second and Fabio Felline rounded the podium.
STAGE 1
The first of the two Saturday stages is a short but hilly course, quite flat towards the finish. Marked as a sprinters stage, attackers have a shot. Ben King proved it last year.
STAGE 2
On the 7km course, Fabio Felline triumphed last year, beating Bob Jungels by one second, and Pinot by six seconds. Jérôme Coppel will want to win this one.
STAGE 3
Sunday’s showdown on U Spidali, the Col de l’Ospedale, will be Thibaut Pinot’s opportunity for redemption. Last year, AG2R ganged up against him and he was slow to react when JCP went away. 14.1 km @ 6.2% may not look like much, but km 13 proposes a challenging 10.4% gradient.
Start List:
http://www.letour.fr/criterium-international/2016/us/riders.html
After very good showings at the Volta Ao Algarve and at Tirreno-Adriatico, will Thibaut Pinot avenge last year’s disappointment and win for the first time in ’16?
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