Tour de l'Avenir 43rd Edition
Created in 1961, the Tour de l'Avenir (Tour of the Future) is an international cycle race ridden in 10 stages that is considered to be the “little brother” of the Tour de France. The race lasts 10 days and this years 43rd edition, follows a 1384km from Charleroi in Belgium to Marcinelle in Savoie, via the Massifs des Voges, Jura and the Alps.
Open to competitors 25 years and under, it is the event that reveals the champion cyclists of tomorrow. With time-trials, plains and mountains; all participants have the opportunity to find a terrain to match their potential ambitions. The Tour prides itself on having a prestigious list of past champions including Gimondi, Zoetemelk, Lemond and Fignon who have all gone on to great things in the Tour de France.
The penultimate stage of the race starts in Chamonix this Friday (8th September), and whilst it is the shortest stage by a long way at only 24.5kms, it incorporates some stiff climbs and the highest altitude of the Tour to that point. Travelling from Chamonix, the cyclists will climb the Col des Montets (1461m) before descending to Switzerland and then re-ascending to Finhaut (1285m) and the finish line.
The cyclists will set off at 2.15pm from the Place du Mont Blanc so expect severe traffic disruption the length of the route on the day. A number of roads will be closed to traffic from 13:30 – 17:00 namely: rue Whymper, place du Poilu, avenue du Mont-Blanc, rue Vallot, route des Praz, route des Tines, la Poya, le Lavancher, route d'Argentière, la Joux, les Villes, les Grassonnets, les Chosalets, la Rosière (direction Grands Montets cable car), route du Plagnolet, rue Charlet Stratton, route du village (direction Montroc-Le Tour - Tré-Le-Champs, Col des Montets, Vallorcine and Finhaut. The bus and train service between Chamonix and Les Tines will also be temporarily interrupted during these times. The free Mulets shuttles will transport passengers between these two points instead.
