What Is 2019 Tour du Haut Var

Overview

The 2019 Tour du Haut Var was a two-day professional road cycling race held in the Var department of southeastern France. As part of the UCI Europe Tour, it attracted several top-tier teams and riders preparing for the spring classics.

Staged on February 22 and 23, 2019, the race served as an early-season benchmark for climbers and all-rounders. The event combined hilly terrain with unpredictable weather, typical of late winter racing in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

• Stage 1 began in Draguignan and covered 187 kilometers, featuring several categorized climbs and a finish in La Croix-Valmer.
• Stage 2 was a 208-kilometer loop from Le Cannet-des-Maures to Fayence, known for its steep gradients and technical descents.
• The race was classified as 2.1 on the UCI Europe Tour, attracting ProSeries and WorldTour teams.
• Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) claimed the overall victory after strong performances on both stages.
• Notable competitors included Romain Bardet, Bauke Mollema, and Benoît Cosnefroy, highlighting the race’s competitive depth.

How It Works

The Tour du Haut Var operates as a multi-stage road race with general classification, points, and mountain classifications. Each stage contributes to cumulative time, with seconds awarded for intermediate sprints and summit finishes.

• General Classification (GC): Awarded to the rider with the lowest cumulative time across both stages. Thibaut Pinot won with a final margin of 1 minute and 12 seconds over second place.
• Points Classification: Given to the most consistent stage finisher; Sam Bennett won this jersey after top-5 finishes in both stages.
• Mountains Classification: Awarded for points earned on designated climbs; Anthony Turgis claimed this title after summiting key cols first.
• Team Classification: Based on combined times of the top three riders per team; Groupama-FDJ won due to Pinot and Laporte’s high placements.
• Intermediate Sprints: Designated points along the route awarded time bonuses; there were three sprints per stage, influencing tactical pacing.
• Route Design: Both stages featured over 3,000 meters of elevation gain, favoring climbers and aggressive breakaways.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2019 edition compares to recent years in terms of format, distance, and winner performance:

The 2019 race maintained the two-stage format introduced in 2016, increasing total distance slightly compared to prior editions. The shift from a single-day race in 2015 to a two-day event allowed for broader tactical development and deeper competition, with Pinot becoming the first rider to win twice under the new format.

Why It Matters

The 2019 Tour du Haut Var played a key role in the early European cycling calendar, offering teams a chance to test form ahead of Paris-Nice and the Ardennes classics. Its challenging routes and competitive field make it a reliable indicator of spring fitness.

• Preparation for Paris-Nice: Many riders used this race as a direct lead-in to the eight-day stage race starting the following week.
• Team Strategy Testing: Coaches evaluated pacing, breakaway responses, and domestique roles under real-race conditions.
• Emerging Talent: Young riders like Dylan Teuns gained experience against WorldTour-level competition.
• French National Pride: With Pinot and Bardet on podium, the race boosted domestic interest in homegrown cycling stars.
• Weather Challenges: Cold, wet conditions tested equipment and endurance, simulating classic race-day adversity.
• Route Innovation: The 2019 course included new climbs near Fayence, setting a precedent for future editions.

Overall, the 2019 Tour du Haut Var reinforced its status as a pivotal early-season race, combining tradition with modern competitive demands in professional cycling.