Ruoen - Paris   

This race could be called the impressionist painting pilgrimage, as the riders will go all way along La Seine river in this beautiful valley among which delicate landscapes have been painted so many times by Monet, Renoir, Manet, Pissaro, Sisley and other major painters of this pictural school.

Starting from the old Rouen, still middle-age looking as it is the only big city of Normandy whom historic center was left un...

Read more

This race could be called the impressionist painting pilgrimage, as the riders will go all way along La Seine river in this beautiful valley among which delicate landscapes have been painted so many times by Monet, Renoir, Manet, Pissaro, Sisley and other major painters of this pictural school.

Starting from the old Rouen, still middle-age looking as it is the only big city of Normandy whom historic center was left undestroyed by german or ally bombing during WW2, they will be cheared by the numerous cycling fans of the area.
They'll go riding up the Seine along the turns of the peaceful river. They shouldn't take it too easy though, as frequent strong wings are roaring into the valley and could create some irreversible echelons quickly in the bunch.
But if the weather is calm, they will have time to admire the gardened hills around, prettily flowered by cherry, apple and pear trees most of the year, and where placid cows seem to have found their ultimate paradise on earth.
On their way they will climb to the many little cities above the valley like Elbeuf, Louviers, Les Andelys, Vernon, and riders without a minimal hill ability must fear those graveled tiny steep roads as they could lose all hopes here.
Then they'll follow the river beetween the clay cliffs until they meet old industrious towns indicating the approach of the capital city. They'll cross through the forest of St-Germain en Laye, join the Seine again on the other side, and rush to Paris on large roads.
Here LOs have to show their power to place their leader at the best spot for the prestigious victory on famous Champs-Elysées. The peloton will be super-stretched, and the strongest sprinter won't win in Rouen-Paris without a solid LO train.