Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

A charge up the Ospedale

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News Cycling Pro Road & Mtb 2011

Published on Tuesday, 22 March 2011 19:22

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Cycling races are past masters in adapting to the lands which play host to them. In Corsica, the Critérium International has taken on a sharper accent, in keeping with the pointy peaks of the island. This attractive opportunity has pushed the organisers into proposing an even more demanding route than last year on the opening chapter of the three-stage event, between Porto-Vecchio and the Col de l’Ospedale pass. Whilst a route with a number of gradients was expected, the changes made for 2011 mean that the riders will be tackling a genuine mountain stage, holding in store a session on the saddle that will last almost six hours: “Our first intention was to extend this stage”, explains Laurent Bezault, the event’s sporting manager. “In comparison to last year, we’ve added almost 25 kilometres. The race will be attritional right from the start on Saturday’. More importantly, the rapid succession of difficulties, with seven climbs on the menu, was totally revised, with an accent that gives voice to the bravest. “The island’s relief dictated these changes, because by heading further northwards, we came across tougher routes. The ascensions of the Col de Celaccia and Col de Saint-Eustache passes both account for around 10 kilometres of climbing. It’s therefore an invitation to attack, so the most offensive riders won’t have to wait until the Col de l’Ospedale pass to get stuck in”. With a route that is conducive to long breakaways, the riders will surely be mapping out their strategies already.