This Friday and until Sunday, Nice is hosting the arrival of the Tour de France à la voile.
Over three days, the best skippers will attempt to secure the final victory during several regattas in front of the Promenade des Anglais. It will be an exciting finale as only eight points separate the top two.
Three weeks of racing, eight stages from Dunkirk to Nice passing through Dieppe, Roscoff, and Hyères and 900 miles (or 1660 km) to cover, this is the challenge presented to the 9 teams engaged.
Twelve years later, the Tour de France à la voile finishes its journey in Nice once again. The boats will complete a final rally stage between Hyères and Nice, leaving this Thursday evening for an expected arrival on Friday afternoon.
The city of Nice is committed to its sailing culture, notably hosting the Extreme Sailing Series, a mini America’s Cup, since 2011. It is also the hometown of one of the best skippers in the world, Jean-Pierre Dick, who finished 4th in the last Vendée Globe in 2013.
For three days, thousands of spectators are expected on the Quai des Etats-Unis where the village is located and at the Port of Nice, Quai Cassini where the fleet will dock. Many activities are already scheduled, including a signing session on Friday at the Village Course and to conclude the first evening, Willy Denzey will perform in concert.
On Saturday at 2 PM, a Stand Up Paddle relay (a sport practiced standing on a large board using a paddle) will take place at Plage des Ponchettes.
On the racing side, the competition will be thrilling as only eight points separate the current leader, Courrier Dunkerque (Daniel Souben) from Groupama (Franck Cammas). Numerous points will be awarded over the weekend with the stage arriving from Hyères as well as technical courses set in the bay of Nice.
The grand nautical weekend will end beautifully with a parade on Sunday afternoon in front of the Promenade des Anglais where all the boats are invited on the water to applaud the skippers of this 2014 Tour de France à la voile one last time.
