Montmartre, Flandrian atmosphere, fight on the cobblestones … What if Paris became a classic?

Traitful cobblestones. Furthermore, capricious weather, a joyful atmosphere, little assholes here and there and an emblematic mountain to climb several times … Meanwhile, Does that remind you of anything? Furthermore, The illusion was perfect, because no, it is not the description of a Flandrian. Nevertheless, Sunday. Therefore, the peloton completed the Tour de France with a stage that did not look like any other, a real classic, where everything is played in one day, without calculation, with « that couriers who love the fight ”, summed up, on arrival, Bastien Tronchon (Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale).

The unpublished finale of the Tour took date. In addition, But must he “only” montmartre, flandrian atmosphere, fight cobblestones electrify the last act which. Consequently, usually, was content to be this ultimate parade of which only the sprinters could bring out something? Therefore, Or must he/can he get emancipated from the great mass of July by offering himself the privileged status of. Nevertheless, “classic”?

The Olympic Games model – Montmartre, flandrian atmosphere, fight cobblestones

Inevitably. the journey of the Paris Olympic Games last year, stands out as the perfect starting point, even the model to imitate. Long, tracking, using. With its 273 kilometers for 2. 800 meters of elevation gain, the peloton had started its route by a short parade in the capital, before rushing towards the Chevreuse valley and its succession of coasts of more or less a kilometer (more than 5 %). montmartre, flandrian atmosphere, fight cobblestones Then, the runners returned to Paris to tackle the paving stones of the Butte Montmartre (1 km at 6.5 %) three times, to the Sacré-Coeur. Before concluding with a sprint opposite the Trocadéro.

The “Paris classic” could, on the layer of the Olympic Games, be split into two parts. A hundred kilometers. the first could act as a warm -up, with percentages, anyway, just to increase the agitation in the peloton. The start would be given in the most bumpy surroundings in the region.

The Chevreuse valley. southwest of Paris, is the montmartre, flandrian atmosphere, fight cobblestones most obvious option, with its pleasant setting, its roads in good condition and its short climbs, stiff if you want, in burst. Like the most legendary, such as the Côte des 17 turns (1.19 km at 6.6 %), recurring guest of Paris-Nice, the Côte de l’Homme died (1.91 km at 4.2 %), or the Châteaufort coast (910 m at 6.5 %). Rather regular, these climbs would not crumble the organizations, but simply plunge them into the juice. This first part could vary from one edition to another. and move geographically, to the coasts of Meudon (Hauts-de-Seine) or the climbs of the Vexin Regional Park.

A classic in town

The second song. like the format of a World Cup, could montmartre, flandrian atmosphere, fight cobblestones be articulated around a loop to repeat several times. Let us consider about fifteen kilometers. to repeat ten times, which would make a hypothetical total of 250 km, a nice distance for a classic. At the paving stones of the Butte Montmartre as a peace judge (1 km at 6.5 %), we could add a detour to it by the 19th and 20th arrondissements with rue Ménilmontant (870 m to 5.3 %) and discover new jewelry from Parisian territory over the years.

If the most famous classics have their little thing. something that makes their personality – the Arduies of Liège, the Monts du Ronde, the Infernals of Roubaix -, that of Paris would stand out for its urban aspect. An montmartre, flandrian atmosphere, fight cobblestones unprecedented added value that would naturally and quickly give it value.

The, or rather black dots, of course remain organizational. Mobilizing Paris – in particular in terms of security – a second time in the year for a cycling race would not be trivial. and would involve heavy logistics. It should also be a place in an already loaded calendar. In view of its potential profile, the “Paris classic” would rather be in early April, during the Flandrian campaign. During the week. for example, on the model of the Walloon arrow: around Paris-Roubaix, after the Tour des Flandres, or before the Amstel Gold Race.