The Race
32nd edition : back in summer
The next Tour de l’Ain will take place from 07 th to August 09 th. A cycling event for all, it brings together, over 3 days, nearly 800 participants from all categories.
The Tour de l’Ain is above all a revealer of future champions: Thibaut PINOT, Romain BARDET, Julian ALAPHILIPPE, Warren BARGUIL, the current leaders of French cycling won their first professional victory or got first noticed at the event.
This is no coincidence: one of the strengths of the Tour de l’Ain is its territory, a playground which, thanks to its geographical diversity – so favourable to cycling – enables us to create a stage race, alternating between plains and mountains, which will allow the best riders to emerge at the end of an often captivating and fiercely contested contest.
Organised these last two at the end of spring, the Tour de l’Ain 2020 has been moved to summer.
While, in sporting and TV viewership terms, the 2018 and 2019 editions gave us full satisfaction, we also noticed that, for a number of reasons, the traditional public of the event is harder to mobilise at the start and finish sites as well as in the towns crossed in May.
Yet besides the sporting competition, the raison d’être of this race is to hold a popular event for a public that is passionate about cycling – or not – and that wishes above all to take part in a festive and convivial event. We risked losing this dimension gradually. This is why, in full agreement with the elected officials of the Ain Department, of relevant local authorities, and of our partners, we have chosen to move the Tour de l’Ain in the heart of the summer.
Les enjeux sportifs
Blue Polka Dot Jersey
Green Jersey
White Jersey
Historique
Created in 1989, the Tour de l’Ain is part of the International Cycling Union calendar (Class 2.1) and counts for the UCI Europe Tour. A classification that allows it to host 20 of the world’s best teams.
Taking place a few weeks after the Tour de France, a special place is given to neo-pros and development teams.
The Tour de l’Ain has thus allowed young talents such as Romain Bardet, Warren Barguil, Pierre Latour or more recently David Gaudu to assert themselves alongside experienced riders such as David Moncoutié, Alexander Vinokourov or Thomas Voeckler.
The short and dynamic stages that take in the relief of the Haut-Jura at the end of the race make the Tour de l’Ain a sure value on the international circuit, favouring a complete rider with strong climbing qualities.
L'édition précédente
| Winner | Thibaut PINOT (FRA) – Groupama – FDJ |
| Second | Mathias Frank (SUI) - AG2R LA MONDIALE |
| Third | Rein Taaramäe (EST) - Total Direct Energie |
| Green Jersey | Thibaut PINOT (FRA) – Groupama – FDJ |
| Polka Dot Jersey | Thibaut PINOT (FRA) – Groupama – FDJ |
| White Jersey | Vadim PRONSKIY (KAZ) – Vino – Astana Motors |
| Team Classification | AG2R LA MONDIALE |
The Tour de l'Ain is an indisputable showcase of the best in cycling in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Positioned in the heart of the summer, just before the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de France, this event, which has now become a must for many seasoned riders, will be an opportunity to experience cycling at its best again after several months without racing.
At the Region, with Stéphanie PERNOD BEAUDON, our Vice-President of the Region in charge of Sports, we are very proud to be a major partner. We will thus be the exclusive partner of the polka dot jersey which fully corresponds to our identity, being the first mountain region in France. This 32nd edition will have a special flavour. Indeed, the final will take place at Le Grand Colombier on a route that will perfectly match the 15th stage of the Grande Boucle, a dress rehearsal that could attract great riders for a guaranteed show.
This is the meaning of our support for this event: to allow sporting events to make our territory shine while providing beautiful emotions. The bicycle, because it contributes to the diffusion of values such as surpassing oneself and the sense of effort, will always be able to count on our support. In this spirit, we have invested heavily to support more than 70 races and help more than 80 clubs throughout the region over the long term, not to mention our mobilization in favour of training centres, leagues and committees.
May this Tour de l'Ain be a great success. Good show to all!
Laurent WAUQUIEZPrésident de la Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Unheard of, the 2020 vintage!
Happily, our Tour de l'Ain survives the health crisis!
And we are pleased that our 32nd edition is gaining a little more prestige, in line with the constraints imposed on the UCI.
This 2020 vintage is a novelty, as it comes three times smiling at the passion we have for "the little queen". So let's smile at her too!
First of all, let's smile at the calendar: for the first time, the Tour de l'Ain precedes the Tour de France, which has been postponed to 29th August. Like a life-size test, between plains and mountains, it is a test of preparation for the Grande Boucle. Ideal for riders who are going to "get back on their feet" after a long confinement.
Smile at the course, too: true to the diversity of our territories, its route combines six intermunicipal areas of our department. And its third stage will mark the apotheosis by linking Saint-Vulbas to Grand Colombier. Same route, same pitfalls, same challenge as the 15th stage of the Tour de France (Lyon-Grand Colombier). Over the last 110 kilometres, "the strongest" will compete in a dress rehearsal for the September 13 event.
Finally, let's smile at the performance of the Organising Committee and its 600 volunteers: the conditions for welcoming the public, in strict compliance with health regulations, will sacrifice nothing to the festive atmosphere that is so dear to us! Animations and publicity caravans will criss-cross the most beautiful sites of our region. What better way to promote the tourist jewels of our department! And thus confirm our choice to support such sporting events, which are no less popular, to the point of elevating this race to the rank of the Ain's thirty-year old heritage.
Thanks to the Tour de l'Ain, thanks to the bike. Thanks to its champions...
Jean DeguerryPrésident du Département de l’Ain