Under an azure blue sky and a not quite lead sun, fortunately, the runners crossed Courthézon, historic cradle of Vaucluse, at the end of the afternoon on Tuesday July 22, under the offshore of an enthusiastic crowd massaged along the streets.
The village, adorned with yellow for the occasion, housed stands of local products and other entertainment for children.
Shortly after 3 p.m., the advertising caravan distributed smiles and goodies.
Then the first runners tumbled at high speed. A suspended moment, when the heart of Provence beat to the rhythm of the pedal strokes.
A moment of communion with the big loop
After 140 kilometers of dish from Montpellier, the peloton approached the roads of Vaucluse with the giant of Provence in line.
Courthézon, nestled between the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the foothills of the Ventoux, was a picturesque stage before the first serious ramps.
The summit, perched at 1,910 meters, saw the favorites explain themselves within a lunar decor, between pebbles and mineral silence, to see Valentin Parentre to win in the last meters.
For the inhabitants of Courthézon, this day will remain engraved as a moment of communion with the large loop. Between admiration for champions and local pride, the tour has once again proven that it is much more than a race, it is a living link between the territories and the legend of cycling.
