"It's the most beautiful field since the creation of the event", smiles Guillaume Delpech, president of the organizing committee: 22 teams, including eleven classified WorldTour (AG2R Citroën, Astana, Bora, Cofidis, Groupama-FDJ, Intermarché , Jumbo, Lotto, Quick-Step, Trek, UAE), are registered for this event mounted in 2020 in the Pro Series category and contested behind closed doors last year due to the coronavirus.

Honor where credit is due, Alaphilippe will be looking for revenge on a field that must suit him.

He had to give up in 2020, on Saturday in Ardèche, and settle for 17th place on Sunday in Drôme.

But that was before becoming twice world champion.

"I hope I will be able to follow him this weekend", sums up Roglic, 32, gold medalist in the time trial last summer at the Tokyo Games, for whom the French champion "already had showed that he was very good, but he has improved a lot over the past two years".

The joy of Slovenian Primoz Roglic, Olympic time trial champion at the Tokyo 2020 Games, on July 28, 2021 on the Oyama Ina FASSBENDER circuit AFP / Archives

Three pretty bumps in a row

The Slovenian will be accompanied by the young Dane Jonas Vingegaard (25), 2nd in the last Tour de France.

"The more strong guys we have, the stronger our team. I must not be the only one to go for victories and I am happy that others are capable of it", adds Roglic, who will start his 2022 season in Ardèche after three weeks of training in Tenerife.

Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, leader of the Tour de France, leads ahead of Dane Jonas Vingegaard and Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, during the 17th stage, July 14, 2021 between Muret and Saint-Lary-Soulan Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP / Archives

Facing him, Alaphilippe, who has not raised his arms to heaven since his second world title at the end of September in Belgium, has just finished 2nd in the Tour de la Provence, behind Nairo Quintana.

He says he is "much more serene than last year", in the official program of these Loops.

"This route suits me quite well. These are difficult races with steep climbs", underlines the leader of the Quick-Step, for whom the rainbow jersey is "no longer a burden. It is the most beautiful in the world, so I might as well enjoy it".

Julian Alaphilippe, before the start of the Tour of Lombardy, October 9, 2021, disputed between Como and Bergamo Marco BERTORELLO AFP / Archives

Quintana having made the impasse, other "punchers" are on the lookout, starting with Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R Citroën) and Guillaume Martin, 8th in the Tour 2021: "These are two races that I can win", estimates the leader of Cofidis, 3rd (Ardèche) and 4th (Drôme) in 2020.

The third loop of the Ardèche Classic, on Saturday, will offer runners three pretty bumps in a row in less than 25 kilometers: the wall of Cornas, the climb of Saint-Romain de Lerps and the coast of Val d'Enfer (14% maximum slope), before arriving at Guilherand-Granges.

Another contender for victory this weekend, climber Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic), 3rd in 2019 then 2nd in 2020 in the Drôme Classic who will benefit from a little novelty on Sunday, after the Alleix wall (16%) : an uphill arrival at Etoile-sur-Rhône, along a "Côte Chaude" with a maximum gradient of 13%.

An entire program.

Ardèche Classic (Saturday): 168.5 km - 3 loops around Guilherand-Granges (3100 m of elevation gain)

Drôme Classic (Sunday): 191.5 km - 3 loops around Etoile-sur-Rhône (2400 m ascent)

© 2022 AFP