“Mini Tour de France” presence on the island increases speculation that the real thing might call soon
Having moved to the island for the first time this year, the Criterium Interntional will be held on Corsica for the next three years, race organiser Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) announced today. The race, known as the “mini Tour de France” moved south to Corsica after having been held in Charleville-Mézières, in the French Ardennes, since 2001; it marked the return of top-flight cycling to the island since the Tour of Corsica disappeared in the 1980’s.
The race, which features a hilly stage, a flat stage and a time trial, will once again be centred around the southern city of Porto-Vecchio between March 26th and 27th next year.
The decision to hold the race on the island has fuelled speculation that ASO is about to award some stages, or even the 2013 Grand Depart, of the Tour de France to Corsica; this would be the first time the Tour had visited, making it the only European region of France never to have hosted the race.
“Since the race formula won over not only the riders but also the organisers,” the ASO statement reads, “the representatives of the local authorities involved and the Corsican public, an agreement has been signed for the next three editions of this three-stage road race. Christian Prudhomme travelled to Porto-Vecchio for a meeting with the town’s Mayor, Georges Mela, to officialise the installation of the Critérium International in 2011, 2012 and 2013.”
This year’s edition was won by former French champion Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouyges Telecom) after victory on the first hilly stage; the previous three editions had been won by Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank).