We take a look at the route for the fast and furious sprinters’ stage race – Circuit Franco-Belge.
Preview of the 71st edition
After a break for the World Championships, business picks up again with the 71st edition of the fast and furious cross-border contest Circuit Franco-Belge (or Tour de Wallonie-Picardie).
With a parcours suited to the sprinters, the race crosses the Wallonie and Picardie regions of Belgium and France respectively, taking in some of the most well-used roads in cycling.
Bonus seconds will likely play a vital role both out on the course and at the finish lines with closing circuits and a compact route making great viewing for spectators.
Team Sky will line up at the start in Mouscron with a strong eight-man squad made up of Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Kjell Carlström, Russell Downing, Juan Antonio Flecha, Greg Henderson, Michael Rogers, Ian Stannard and Chris Sutton.
Thursday 29 September – Stage one: Mouscron to Peruwelz – 178.2km
The race kicks off in Mouscron, just north of the cycling hotbed of Roubaix with a largely flat stage punctuated by a few short, sharp climbs. The riders head out east for an opening loop which takes in the first climb of the day. The first-category Monte-de-L’Enclus (26.9km) could provide a perfect platform for a breakaway to forge clear. The race then drops down towards Tournai for another brief loop and the second-category Croix Jubaru (61km). A sprint point at Ets Dhulst (74.7km) marks the start of the race dropping south towards the finish. The course sweeps around to the east and in towards the finishing circuit in Peruwelz. Three laps of the 14km anti-clockwise loop should see the action pick up with a tough climb set to thin out the bunch ahead of an opening bunch sprint.
Friday 30 September – Stage two: Menin to Poperinge – 154.2km
The second day of action sees an exclusively Belgian stage where the riders head west from Menin to an action-packed circuit around Poperinge. A long straight drag to Leper kicks things off before the peloton drop down to Mesen ahead of the first climb of the day. The first-category Auberge (36.9km) marks the start of a twisting run in to the main focal point of the day, a 24km circuit around Poperinge. The fan-friendly loop begins with an ascent of the Mont Rouge climb, the first of five passes over the berg which should see the bunch tire with every passing circuit. The riders then head back to the town centre where a flat but technical final kilometre should ensure fireworks at the finish.
Saturday 1 October – Stage three: Antoing to Ichtegem – 153.3km
The race heads north back into France during stage three for another day which should suit the sprinters in the bunch. Leaving Antoing the riders pass the outskirts of Tournai ahead of a characteristic early climb. The second passage of the race over the Croix Jubaru (13km) will likely have little effect on the bunch as the stage continues north-west. The riders turn a hard left at Roeselare before a final run to a short finishing circuit. The fast men will need to be vigilant over the top of a brief uncategorised climb ahead of the finish, scaled four times during the same amount of 13km laps. Lead-out trains will fight for the optimum line through a fast but possibly tight chicane with around 200 metres to go which could prove key to victory.
Sunday 2 October – Stage four: Mons to Tournai – 175.4km
The final day begins with an undulating run north-west out of Mons, heading past the airport outside Ath before continuing west. A lack of flat terrain will make life tough for the riders, but with no significant ramps things should stay together as the bunch head through Leuze. The race pushes on north before dropping back down into Tournai and the finish area. Seven laps of a 15km circuit will decide the race, each one featuring an ascent of the now familiar Croix Jubaru. With just 9.4km to go after the final ascent, some attackers could fancy their chances of staying away, but with the race likely to be hanging in the balance, expect a tense finish and a battle for position as the riders approach the final right-hander.
