Mont Faron (image courtesy of Wikipedia)
Mont Faron, a limestone peak 584 metres high, overlooks the city of Toulon (the 15th largest city in France, situated between Marseille and Nice) and its major naval port from the north. From the city, a cable car provides access to the flattish Faron summit which houses a memorial to the 1944 Allied landings in Provence (Operation Dragoon Anvil) and a zoo specialising in breeding big cats.
It’s on, it’s off, it’s back on again. Yes, it’s the Tour Mediterraneen which was in danger of turning into a pantomime for its 39th edition. It’s the next French stage race following on from the weather-hit L’Etoile de Besseges. This time the racing takes place further east, in the Var, the Vaucluse and Bouches du Rhone. It starts on Thursday and finishes (again) on Mont Faron on Sunday. As you can see from the event poster, it’s supported by the local daily newspapers – the Nice and Var Matins. Please note, however, that the race starts on Thursday 9th February and not the day before.