It is an event in motion which is more appealing than ever to the crews and to the general public. In the early years of the Tour, cyclists rode individually, and were sometimes forbidden to ride together. This led to large gaps between the winner and the number two. "One of the assets of the TDFV is its assorted field made up of experienced sailors but also young talents and amateurs" admits Sofian Bouvet, skipper with Team SFS. Few sports events can boast such longevity. "This year, we will be celebrating the 40th edition of the Tour de France à la Voile! Alternating water-sports stadiums and coastal regattas, black flags, finals, etc., the formula has proved its worth and filled the teams with enthusiasm.There are several notable changes, such as the switch in finals in water sports stadiums from 6 to 8 Diam 24 boats. That year, there were only 17 stages, but the longest of … There will be plenty of challengers for victory, some of whom have featured in the top of the table on the Grand Prix Atlantique, Spi Ouest France or Grand Prix Guyader such as Fondation FDJ – Des Pieds et Des Mains, Omansail, Team SFS or also Beijaflore sailing.
The general consensus is that the teams are better prepared and race-ready earlier on, as explained by Quentin Delapierre, skipper with Team Lorina Limonade – Golfe du Morbihan and winner of the Tour de France à la Voile 2016: "The field will be very dense for this 40th edition with structured teams and the return of Olympic athletes". Plus haute altitude atteinte : 2 802 m sur la route de la cime de la Bonette, en 1962. "It's good news for the outsiders.
It promises to be an exciting race: an extremely multi-faced field with many different approaches and a high standard". The slowest Tour de France was the edition of 1919, when The fastest massed-start stage was in 1999 from Laval to Blois (194.5 km), won by 34 riders have won 10 or more stages (including half-stages, excluding Team Time Trials).
Consequently, seven different nationalities will be taking starting orders in July, with competitors from Belgium, Switzerland, Oman, Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom and of course mainland France and its overseas departments and territories.There will be a strong participation of women with the presence of Pauline Courtois and her 100% female crew Helvetia by Normandy Elite Team, as well as the return of Elodie-Jane Mettraux who, after the most recent Volvo Ocean Race on board Team SCA, will be reacquainting herself with an old racing flame as the project manager for the two Ville de Genève – CER teams.Like the beginning of the season which witnessed keenly contested regattas, the standard on the Tour de France à la Voile 2017 is set to be high. The Lorina Limonade – Golfe du Morbihan team, which especially stood out in pre-season, know that they will have much to do to retain their title, which they won in imperial style in 2016. TOUR DE FRANCE - Sylvain Chavanel, dont la sélection pour le Tour de France a été officialisée lundi par son équipe Direct Energie, va battre le record des participations à la Grande Boucle. Of these 16 Tours Zoetemelk came in the top five 11 times, a record, finished second 6 times, a record, and won the 1980 Tour de France.
George Hincapie had held the mark for the biggest number of consecutive finishes with sixteen, having completed every Tour de France that he participated in except his first one, before his disqualification in October 2012 from the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Tour de France for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Tour de France Records. This regatta is a coming together of sailors from different environments, from multi-hulls to ocean racing, not forgetting Olympic racing. In the early years of the Tour, cyclists rode individually, and were sometimes forbidden to ride together. At the front, the competitors will all be battling to keep their places, because there will be a bigger risk of finishing in the bottom half of the table". Tour de France à la Voile 2017: a participation record - photo © Jean-Marie LiotTour de France à la Voile 2017: a participation record - photo © Jean-Marie Liot
With an alternation of water-sports stadiums and coastal regattas, black flags, finals, etc., the formula has proved its worth and filled the teams with enthusiasm. It is great for the Diam 24 boat and the Tour de France à la Voile is a fine challenge to meet for the crews participating"
The general consensus is that the teams are better prepared and race-ready earlier on, as explained by Quentin Delapierre, skipper with Team Lorina Limonade – Golfe du Morbihan and winner of the Tour de France à la Voile 2016: "The field will be very dense for this 40th edition with structured teams and the return of Olympic athletes". Plus haute altitude atteinte : 2 802 m sur la route de la cime de la Bonette, en 1962. "It's good news for the outsiders.
It promises to be an exciting race: an extremely multi-faced field with many different approaches and a high standard". The slowest Tour de France was the edition of 1919, when The fastest massed-start stage was in 1999 from Laval to Blois (194.5 km), won by 34 riders have won 10 or more stages (including half-stages, excluding Team Time Trials).
Consequently, seven different nationalities will be taking starting orders in July, with competitors from Belgium, Switzerland, Oman, Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom and of course mainland France and its overseas departments and territories.There will be a strong participation of women with the presence of Pauline Courtois and her 100% female crew Helvetia by Normandy Elite Team, as well as the return of Elodie-Jane Mettraux who, after the most recent Volvo Ocean Race on board Team SCA, will be reacquainting herself with an old racing flame as the project manager for the two Ville de Genève – CER teams.Like the beginning of the season which witnessed keenly contested regattas, the standard on the Tour de France à la Voile 2017 is set to be high. The Lorina Limonade – Golfe du Morbihan team, which especially stood out in pre-season, know that they will have much to do to retain their title, which they won in imperial style in 2016. TOUR DE FRANCE - Sylvain Chavanel, dont la sélection pour le Tour de France a été officialisée lundi par son équipe Direct Energie, va battre le record des participations à la Grande Boucle. Of these 16 Tours Zoetemelk came in the top five 11 times, a record, finished second 6 times, a record, and won the 1980 Tour de France.
George Hincapie had held the mark for the biggest number of consecutive finishes with sixteen, having completed every Tour de France that he participated in except his first one, before his disqualification in October 2012 from the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Tour de France for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Tour de France Records. This regatta is a coming together of sailors from different environments, from multi-hulls to ocean racing, not forgetting Olympic racing. In the early years of the Tour, cyclists rode individually, and were sometimes forbidden to ride together. At the front, the competitors will all be battling to keep their places, because there will be a bigger risk of finishing in the bottom half of the table". Tour de France à la Voile 2017: a participation record - photo © Jean-Marie LiotTour de France à la Voile 2017: a participation record - photo © Jean-Marie Liot
With an alternation of water-sports stadiums and coastal regattas, black flags, finals, etc., the formula has proved its worth and filled the teams with enthusiasm. It is great for the Diam 24 boat and the Tour de France à la Voile is a fine challenge to meet for the crews participating"