The Mercan'Tour Classic is scheduled for May 29th this year. Although a recent addition to the peloton, it has gained popularity as one of the few climber-focused one-day races of the year. Positioned just before the Criterium du Dauphine, it serves as a crucial preparation race. Let's explore its profile.
The 167-kilometer long race takes place in the Alpes Maritimes and is a race that has a long sequence of climbs. The start, in Puget-Théniers, is actually flat but soon the riders begin to climb. The first ascent is long and takes the riders from 300 to 1600 meters of altitude. The categorized part of it is 20 kilometers long at over 4% but there is more climbing.
Then the Col de la Colmiane which is 15.9 kilometers long at 5.4%, it ends with 50 kilometers to go. After a descent the riders go into the main climb of the day: the Col de la Couillole; 15.8 kilometers at 7.3%. It's not the hardest of the day but it finishes rather close to the finale in Valberg and will be a decisive moment in the race. If the winning attacks did not happen there, they still can in the final 6-kilometer climb which averages around 4%.
Puget-Théniers - Valberg, 167.5 kilometers
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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➡️ Les têtes d’affiche de cette 4ème édition de la Mercan’Tour Classic @departement06 🤩 🚴♂️ ⛰️ 🔜 Rendez-vous mercredi 🔥 #MercantourClassic06
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