Cycling: everything is rolling for the Tour Causses Aigoual Cévennes and Pays de Sommières

Le podium de l'édition 2023 : Charret (2e), Rafferty (vainqueur), Guichard (3e).

Le samedi 24 et dimanche 25 août se tiendra le traditionnel Tour cycliste U19, 21e édition. Derniers coups de pédale pour les meilleurs chez les juniors avant le passage en pro.

This weekend, some will be in Plouay (Morbihan), in their age category on the GP. Others have chosen the Tour du Léman juniors, on the borders of Switzerland. While part of the rest of the peloton – riders born in 2006 and 2007 – opted for the Cévennes (around 100, teams of five or six riders) and the traditional Tour cycliste Causses Aigoual Cévennes et Pays de Sommières, organized on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August by Montpellier Languedoc cyclisme.

Charret, 2nd last year, pro at Arkea in 2026

''The junior category is becoming so important, observes Nicolas Fuster, manager at the Hérault club. Pro teams are recruiting juniors today. In recent years, the most telling case is Remco Evenepœl (3rd in the 2024 Tour de France; double Olympic champion), whom Quick Step picked up at 18.''
At this age, the best are tracked. Like Camille Charret (2006), 2nd in the 2023 edition in the Gard and already signed up by Arkea for 2026.

''This Tour, over two days, allows strategies to be put in place''

''Without being extremely difficult, this U19 Tour, over two days, allows strategies to be put in place, recalls Fuster. This makes for an interesting movement race for that, on a course that lends itself to it.''

The program

Saturday, 1st stage (start, 2:30 p.m.): Souvignargues – Souvignargues (111 km). Sunday, 2nd stage (clim, 1st start, 9 a.m.): Logrian – Logrian (9.15 km); 3rd stage (start, 2:30 p.m.): Lasalle – Lasalle (80 km).

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