This Sunday, the classic of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques will celebrate its fourth edition, so far disputed on the Béarnais roads with, each time, an arrival at the top of a pass including that of D’Aubisque, in the last two years.
The organizers innovate this year by offering a departure from Hasparren and an unprecedented finale in the rise of Issarbe. Never yet the village of Lanne-en-Barétous, at the top of the Col de la Hourcère, had welcomed cycling arrival
Talent
This classic attracts the junior national elite. Bretons, Vendeans, Normans, Nantes are tested for the great meeting of the Classic of the Alps. “We are the only national classic to offer an arrival at the top of a pass, we want to make the eyes of young talents shine that will test themselves on a Tour de France type profile,” rejoices Vincent Dedieu, the regional president, creator of this event.
-Starting from Hasparren, the peloton will cross the Basque country by marrying its valleys to reach the Col d’Osquich then Pagolle, Mauléon, Tardets as well as the Col de Lapixe, before completing the 120 km of the route on the slopes of Issarbe, in the climb of the Col de la Hourcére, which the Tour de France had crossed in 2020.
A particularly steep finale. “It’s very hard, very steep, analyzes Bastian Laffitte. The bottom of Issarbe is then terrible on 11 kilometers of climb. We are still in taking (8 % average) “, admits the regional of the stage, who went to recognize the final this week:” For me, junior first year, it will be a good experience, a test against the best juniors “. Renowned good climber, the runner of the Tarnos bicycle club will be on his playground. “There are a total of 2,800 m elevation, it’s a classic for climbers,” recalls Vincent Dedieu.
Last year, in the rise of Aubisque, Béarnais Jan Hernandez Reilhé, currently in selection with the French team, was revealed. We will know his successor, this Sunday around 4:30 p.m., on arrival in Lanne-en-Barétous.
