Will the “Race to the Sun” shine on the Montluçonnais basin in 2022 ? In any case, this is what the cities of Montluçon and Domérat. Indeed, this Monday March 1, 2021, during a press conference, they officially declared themselves candidates to host a stage of the cycling event. Paris-Nice. And this from next year if possible. This would not lack salt (the) …
The joint application
“The idea is to bring back a cycling race of international level on the territory, in order to show our attractiveness and that together we are stronger, ”explained Frédéric Laporte, Mayor of Montluçon. “We want to talk about us, showcase the region and of course take advantage of the fallout economic aspects of this type of event, ”added his counterpart from Domérat Pascale Lescurat.
“We will re-apply as long as we are not selected, but we are hopeful that we will be selected from 2022 or 2023”.
Frédéric Laporte (Mayor of Montluçon)
From left to right: Thierry Penthier (Montluçon Community), Pascale Lescurat and Frédéric Laporte.
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Response expected in December, before the presentation of the route of the 2022 edition normally at the beginning of January, as is the case every year.
No Auvergne stages on Paris-Nice 2021, from March 7 to 14
The planned step
If of course this is only an application and everything remains to be defined, leads emerge. We already know that the departure would be for Domérat, undoubtedly on the side of avenue Albert-Poncet. And so the arrival for Montluçon, why not on Avenue de la République, wide enough to accommodate the 175 or so runners usually entered. ” A final circuit in the upper Cher valley could also be ideal, both for the public and for the visibility of the territory ”, launched the local and former professional cyclist Florian Vachon, also present this Monday.
Budgets
Excluding organization costs, just the “entry ticket” paid to Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), in charge of the event, would be 25.000 € for Domérat and 35 to 40,000 € for Montluçon. An arrival is more expensive than a departure.
Back to the Paris-Nice stage starting from Gannat (Allier) in 2020
Past and future
The past is 2016, date of the last passage of Paris-Nice on the district, with the victory in the sprint of the Australian Michaël Matthews in Commentry. It is also the second place in the final general classification of Roger Walkowiak in 1953, Julian Alaphilippe’s fifth in 2017, or even the four participations of Florian Vachon… All Montluçonnais.
The last time Domérat hosted a major cycling race was the Women’s Tour in 2001, it’s starting to date! So we are going to cross our fingers so that Paris-Nice comes as quickly as possible.
Patrick Dufloux (sports assistant at Domérat)
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As for the future: “If this project is successful, we will think about positioning ourselves on other races “, Confided Frédéric Laporte on Monday. “I think about Tour de France or at Dauphiné “. Hopefully the wheel turns the right way …
A look back at the Paris-Nice stage, which arrived at Commentry in 2016
Text: Luc Barre
Photos: Cécile Champagnat + Bernard Lorette and Florian Salesse archives
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