Tour du Haut-Var Presentation

The road to Paris-Nice goes on with the Tour du Haut-Var 2018. The two days long stage race, the third on French soil this year, will be held on 17 and 18 February, so giving the possibility to the riders to test themselves along a multiple-day challenge. Eighteen teams will take part to the Southern-French competition. Three of those are WorldTeams (Astana, FDJ, Ag2r La Mondiale), ten are Professional teams and the remaining five are Continentals. Last year’s edition winning team FDJ will be present but former winner Arthur Vichot will not take part to the event.

Official hashtag: #TourduHautVar

Tour du Haut-Var Gold Book

2017 VICHOT Arthur
2016 VICHOT Arthur
2015 GASTAUER Ben
2014 BETANCUR Carlos Alberto
2013 VICHOT Arthur
2012 TIERNAN-LOCKE Jonathan
2011 VOECKLER Thomas
2010 LE MEVEL Christophe
2009 VOECKLER Thomas
2008 REBELLIN Davide

Tour du Haut-Var 2018 Favourites

Without doubts Thibaut Pinot is the most High-sounding name at the start of the 2018 Tour du Haut-Var. The Frenchman, otherwise, hasn’t raced yet and his condition still has to be proved. Inside FDJ line-up Rudy Molard, who finished in third last week’s Tour de la Provence, and Benjamin Thomas can be competitive. Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie), thanks to the second overall position took at Tour de la Provence, is in good shape and the courses’ profiles are in his favor. Another rider that could get the highest result is Cristophe Laporte (Cofidis), who has been the author of impressive performances in the races on french soil in this beginning of 2018 season. Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r La Mondiale) won last year’s first stage of Haut-Var but also his teammate Alexis Vuillermoz can have a say. The former maybe will target a stage whereas the latter the overall.

Remy Di Gregorio (Delko-Marseille Provence-KTM) will probably seek another win supported by an excellent shape but also Mauro Finetto and Julien El Fares can fight for victory. Andriy Grivko will presumably lead Astana and the same will be doing Quentin Pacher for Vital Concept and Marco Canola for Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini. WB Veranclassic-AquaProject lines up a three-men lead with Justin Jules, Maxime Vantomme and Dimitri Peyskens whereas Wilier-Selle Italia’s Filippo Pozzato and Matteo Busato are ready to show their skills. Team Fortuneo-Samsic has not achieved yet a prestigious result over the last races but Maxime Bouet and Elie Gesbert can throw up roadblocks as Sondre Holst Enger and August Jensen for Israel Cycling Academy. Damien Touze (St. Michel-Auber93) and evergreen Davide Rebellin (Sovac-Natura4Ever) complete the roster of the fundamental favourites.

Tour du Haut-Var 2018 Course

Something unique carachterises the Tour du Haut-Var format. The French event is held among 2 days of race, a lengths which is not usual anymore for a stage challenge. Both of the fractions, first stage Le Cannet des Maures – Fayence (169.7 kms) and second Vidauban – Flayosc (188.5 kms), end on a up-hill finish. The former ends up over a two kilometers ascent which leads to Fayence traditional finish. The latter stage, more demanding than the first one due to the quadruple ascent of category 2 climb la Bastide de Tourtour, culminate on 7% average gradient ascent of Flayosc (1,2 kms), which will presumably decide the race.

17 FEVRIER Etape 1: Le Cannet des Maures – Fayence (169.7 kms)
18 FEVRIER Etape 2: Vidauban – Flayosc (188.5 kms)

Tour du Haut-Var Stages

Stage 1 Profile, Planimetry and Final 5 kms

Stage 1 Profile, Planimetry and Final 5 kms