June 20/07 6:52 am - 39th Tour de l'Abitibi Announces Route

Posted by Editoress on 06/20/07
 

39th Tour de l'Abitibi Announces Route
Courtesy Tour de l'Abitibi

July 16th to 22nd

By retaining a winning formula, and adding a touch of diversity, the 2007 Tour de l'Abitibi should prove to be a challenge to riders and a thrilling show to spectators.

In the 2006 edition, the finish line positioned in Val d'Or at the Belvédère proved to be a noteworthy success. As a result, the start and finish of this year's urban circuit will take place at the same location. In this year's Tour, the urban circuit will require cyclists to cover 10 laps of 8 kilometres each.

The 2007 edition holds another innovation: a whole stage will be completed in the city of Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. In addition, the town of Amos will welcome a criterium, in which the racers will complete 45 laps of a 1.4 kilometer circuit.

The 400 meter parallel time-trial sprint will return from 2006, and the urban team time-trial race, greatly appreciated by spectators, will once more be part of the program.

The grand classics of this international event have not lost their place either. For the seventh year in a row, the start line of the individual time-trial race will be placed 90 metres underground at La Cité de l'Or - a closed gold mine turned into a tourist venue. The road stages in the towns of Rouyn-Noranda, Senneterre and Preissac, are all still part of the competition.

www.tourabitibi.qc.ca