A gruelling edition of the Tour de l’Avenir looks to be in store for 2010, according to the French website Directvelo.com.
“This year, the route will be very difficult,” an unnamed source told the site.
Initial details have started to emerge about the race, which has been won by some of the top names in cycling, including Felice Gimondi, Joop Zoetemelk, Greg LeMond, Miguel Indurain, and Laurent Fignon. All went on to win the Tour de France, reinforcing the notion that the race is a strong predictor of future talent in the sport.
According to la Nouvelle République, the race will begin in Vierzon. The final agreement confirming that is expected to be signed in mid-January, but talks are advanced.
The race will also travel into the climbs of the Massif Central, testing the climbing abilities of the riders.
More details can be expected closer to the race, which is disputed by national teams and runs from September 4 – 12 next year.
The French Basque rider Romain Sicard triumphed this season, and later went on to win the under 23 world championships in Mendrisio. He will line out with the Euskaltel Euskadi team in 2010 and is tipped for a big future.