Stage 1 of the Ain Bugey Valromey Tour 2018

A flat and very long first stage, the first 50 km of which should enable the peloton, as in the peloton to cover them within the hour, as it did in 2017. But beware of the first GPM at Neuville sur Ain, where the peloton could break up. a break in the peloton. It will be very difficult for those who have been dropped to come back. a very short descent, there's the Col des Grandes Vignes to climb. Then a descent to Poncin to tackle the final SPRINT at Km 52.5. There's another 30 km of flat and uneven terrain along the the River Ain at very high speed. At "Le Port", there will be a very demanding finish, with the ascent of two successive GPMs, which will be very hard on the legs. Especially the last one, 5 km from the finish from the finish, to tackle a highly technical descent, which will allow the fresher riders to reach the finish in a a multitude of changes of direction. A BEAUTIFUL ARRIVAL in prospect.

Roger LEGEAY and Bernard GAMBADE