Eight hundred meters straight. Flat. An unbeatable asphalt. Amplitude. The straight of the Paul Armagnac speed circuit, inaugurated in 1960, welcomes the end of the fourth stage in Nogaro. It is the first time that the Tour arrives in the town. And an ideal and perfect goal has been prepared for sprinters and teams who want to prepare for the arrival with all the train.
While the favorites will be thinking about the first stage in the Pyrenees the following day, all the attention falls on the fast men in the peloton.
All of them will try to emulate Kenny Roberts. The American pilot won the French motorcycling Grand Prix in 1978 on this very stage. It was the first time that the Nogaro circuit hosted the World Cup. That year, Roberts would end up proclaiming himself world champion for the first time.
The Tour adds to the fashion of entering motor circuits. The Vuelta a España ended a stage in Assen and Imola, in Italy, hosted a road World Championship, with victory for Alaphilippe (2020).
