The Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var is taking place this weekend. Can Nairo Quintana retain his title? We’ll find out on Sunday. One thing is certain, though. The show will be there.
The Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var is happening this weekend. The program appears to be quite extensive, with a very selective route. The first stage, this Friday, will be a very hilly one between Biot and Gourdon (188 km). The finale promises to be eventful with the final climb of the Col de Gourdon (8 km at 4.5%), a climb to be tackled three times in the last 60 kilometers of the stage.
The second stage also promises to be very tight. This Saturday, the riders will complete a loop around Fayence (177.4 km). It’s hard to make a prediction as the race should be undecided. The course could favor a breakaway with the ascent of the Col de Mons in the middle of the stage. But if the peloton is grouped at the approach of the finale, a puncher-sprinter could well make the difference.
Finally, the third stage, this Sunday, should undoubtedly be the most spectacular. It’s a loop around Blausasc (134.7 km). Three first-category climbs are on the program: the Col de Saint-Roch, the Col de Braus, and the Col de la Madone, whose summit is less than 25 kilometers from the finish. A showdown among the strongmen should take place for the general classification of the event.
The Favorites of the Event
Titleholder Nairo Quintana is present to defend his title. After surgery on both knees, the Team Arkéa-Samsic rider is making his return to competition. But the Colombian will have a hard time facing formidable opponents. The British team INEOS-Grenadiers is fielding a very high-level team, with Geraint Thomas, 2018 Tour de France winner, Tao Geoghegan Hart, 2020 Giro d’Italia winner, as well as Pavel Sivakov, Rohan Dennis, and Dylan Van Baarle. Very formidable indeed.
Meanwhile, the Astana PremierTech team is fielding Danish rider Jakob Fuglsang. He is notably accompanied by Basques Gorka Izagirre and Omar Fraile. The UAE Team Emirates is among the outsiders to watch, with Spaniard David De La Cruz, and former world champion Rui Costa. Dan Martin should lead the Israel Start-Up Nation team. Bauke Mollema and Giulio Ciccone will spearhead Trek-Segafredo. Finally, the AG2R Citroën Team fields a strong composition, following Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet and his Belgian compatriot Oliver Naesen.
The French Riders to Watch
The AG2R Citroën Team has French riders of very high caliber. Nans Peters, winner of a stage in the 2020 Tour de France, and Nice native Clément Champoussin are ones to watch. The Team Total Direct Energie is notably led by Pierre Latour and Alexis Vuillermoz, riders capable of shining in events like the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var. On the other hand, Cofidis can rely on its sprinter Christophe Laporte. For Trek-Segafredo, Julien Bernard and Kenny Elissonde might go on the offensive.
Finally, the Groupama-FDJ composition was particularly anticipated. Uncertain due to a back injury, Thibaut Pinot is well aligned in this event. The French team has a very strong lineup on paper. Pinot will thus be able to count on the support of Vencois Valentin Madouas, as well as Rudy Molard and Bruno Armirail. The spectacle should indeed be present this weekend!
The Statement
Nairo Quintana (Team Arkéa-Samsic, winner of the 2019 edition): “I have competed several times in the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var, and I have good memories from it. The best was last year, with a very beautiful victory in the general classification, and the day before at the summit of Col d’Èze, with the Arkéa-Samsic team. I will start my 2021 season in competition with this event. But one thing is certain, I do not have the same condition as last year. Nevertheless, my motivation remains strong.”
