Cross Tour de France in making

Tour de France organiser ASO is planning a mini Tour de France for cyclo-cross. The revolutionary stage race is scheduled to take place between Paris and the Franco-Belgian border during the 2006-2007 season, and involve three stages.

"It's true, there is a lot of interest in creating something special," said Belgian UCI coordinator for cyclo-cross Peter Van den Abeele. "ASO is working on a new concept, a three-day stage race where the cyclo-crossers would ride different competitions. A time-trial in the morning, followed by a 40-minutes circuit race in the afternoon." But the new plan seems still open to suggestions. "Another idea is to make the riders race [as pairs], and then place the best twenty finishers of each in a final contest." Of course, the race leader would wear a yellow jersey according to French cycling tradition.