But where exactly is the Côte d’Azur?

At the World Cycling Centre (CMC) in Aigle, of course! On the velodrome track there is a blue strip with a rather surprising name: the Côte d’Azur. 

Running all the way round the track, it is even an essential technical term in track cycling. This strip is a transition and safety zone, a sort of hard shoulder that separates the flat section of the track from the sloping wooden track. 

This is the section used when cyclists slow down to below 27 km/h. It is used in particular during deceleration phases, at the start or end of a race. 

On the Côte d’Azur, it is forbidden to overtake or gain an advantage, as this would shorten the official lap distance. 

Why the Côte d’Azur?

Its blue colour and its position at the edge of the track (much like the sea bordering the Côte d’Azur), as well as the more leisurely pace that prevails there, are said to have inspired this nod to the famous Mediterranean region. 

So, are you ready to hop on your bike and discover the Côte d’Azur… Alpes Vaudoises style?