To celebrate the original Tour de France scheduled dates of 27 June to 19 July, the UCI are sharing memories of previous events. This clip of Stage 1 in Corsica showcases just how dramatic both the scenery and the racing can be in this unique competition.
In 2013, the Tour de France hosted the Grand Depart in Porto-Vecchio in Corsica to celebrate its 100th edition of the series. Known as the Isle of Beauty, Corsica is one of the 18 administrative regions of France and has a population of 339,000 people.
With a floating race HQ moored in Porto-Vecchio, the riders are flat out on Stage 1 towards Bastia. A tight group sprint is underway, but there may also be a surprise waiting for them at the finish line. This is why you shouldn’t follow your Sat Nav on race day…