France has concluded with an all French podium with Julien Wirtz taking the win just two points ahead of Baptiste Lambert Former French champion Luc Armant came third Keiko Hiraki (JPN) came second and China’s XiaoYa Xie was third The PWC Gourdon attracted some of the best pilots from France and the rest of Europe Day one saw a low cloudbase that made for tricky flying close to ridge height conditions improved dramatically for a 100km full-speed ridge race which most pilots completed within 2h 40m Over-development brought an end to the third task but not before Arthur Moindrot had managed to secure the task win Booming conditions returned for the fourth task before rain appeared affecting the back of the race The fifth task began with gusts of 20km/h and strong thermals forcing pilots to stay high to avoid the turbulence which led to the task being stopped for safety reasons The pilot was rescued and will make a full recovery The final task took place right in front of Gourdon with a number of turnpoints that zig-zagged between Gourdon “It was a very interesting week with various conditions which allowed us to measure our adaptive skills,” Baptiste Lambert posted afterwards “Congratulations to @ju.wirtz who was the best at this game Eli shared after the final task that it was “the best Austrian result and a good ending for a not always easy World Cup” All results You can pay crazy money for waterproof backpacks Go back a few years and hardly any hikers used them but now models are cropping up from lots of outdoor brands complete with varying feature sets and a wild range of prices The Alpkit Gourdon 25L sits at the lower end of price scale First question: what do you want a waterproof pack for? If the answer is to drag through rivers and jungles and across fabric-shredding rocks, then by all means get something the top end of that price scale like the Osprey Transporter. But if the reality is to ensure your kit stays dry on things like walks, bike rides, overnight camps and watersport adventures (without the need from one of those useless waterproof rucksack covers), then the Alpkit Gourdon could be the answer. This is the second generation of the Gourdon we’ve tested, and we’re pleased to report the first one is still going strong after six years of weekly use. There’s nothing overly groundbreaking to report in terms of features – this is basically a big no-frills waterproof sack with a roll-top closure that seals it up effectively from the elements. Overall we’ve been very pleased with the performance, so read on for our full review of the Alpkit Gourdon 25L backpack. Pros & ConsSpecificationsProsSuperb valueRoomy and spaciousLightweightGood for multiple activitiesConsBasic set of featuresFabric100% recycled rPET nylon with PU backer and PFC-free DWR coatingWeight485gVolume25 litresOther volumes20L 30LPrice: £39.99alpkit.com [Editor's note: This pack is only sold through Alpkit and is currently out of stock If you think of the Gourdon as a big version of one of those smaller dry bags you can use inside your rucksack to waterproof and organise kit you get a good idea of how this pack shapes up as a waterproof barrier The outer material is quite lightweight and thin but in our testing experience it does the all-important job of keeping water out when used in the kind of conditions you’d expect on a standard British hike or hillwalk As mentioned above we’ve used a slightly older version of the Gourdon (the Gourdon 30L) for more than six years and it’s never let us down we’ve used it on canoe and paddleboard trips where it’s taken a few short dunkings in rivers and the roll-top lid has stayed fully sealed and impenetrable While testing the new pack we left it outside for a full 9-hour stretch while it got lashed with biblical rain by October’s Storm Babet if it could survive a downpour like that it could survive anything The Gourdon didn’t perform quite as well under those conditions as packs like the Osprey Transporter WP 30 or the Ortlieb Atrack which allowed water to bead off them easily despite the torrential rain The Gourdon’s material was quite saturated at the end of the day and the internal walls were wet to touch the waterproofing performance of the Gourdon 25L is decent for the price you’re paying We’d probably describe the Gourdon as more of a waterproof dry bag with shoulder straps than a full-on waterproof rucksack That’s not to say it doesn’t look and feel like a waterproof backpack but don’t expect the comfort levels here that you’d get from something like the Fjallraven Bergtagen There’s a thin back pad that stops the contents poking into your back plus some padding on the shoulder straps too The hipbelt is just a thin adjustable strap that doesn’t offer a lot of support but when you tighten everything it’s well-fitting and comfort isn’t an issue The stiff back pad mentioned above can be removed and replaced with a hydration bladder if you’d prefer which is a nice feature because it makes the Gourdon 25L feel a bit more like a multiuse hiking pack rather than just a waterproof bag The inside of the bag is basically just a big and roomy sack so if you want to organise things internally you’ll need to use a set of dry bags or packing cubes but it doesn’t have a zip closure so we wouldn’t trust it with a phone or keys There are some storage options on the outside of the pack with stretchy mesh side pockets that are big enough to hold modest-sized water bottles This new instalment of the 25L version also has stretchy webbing/bungee cord on the front that’s useful for stashing things like wet waterproofs There are no huge sustainability claims from Alpkit with the Gourdon 25L but the main fabric is made from 100% recycled nylon There’s also a PFC-free DWR coating on top of that and Alpkit state on their website that the whole pack is made from 50% recycled material And the fact it doesn’t have too many extra features like technical back panels or internal pockets or dividers means it probably feels roomier than most similar-sized packs It’s easily big enough to carry all of the kit you’d need for a standard hiking trip as long as you aren’t planning on carrying winter tools or overnight camping kit cycling and even for loading up with shopping on a quick lunchtime trip to the supermarket and it’s an incredibly useful bit of kit to keep around the house there are also 20L and 30L versions in the Gourdon range The Alpkit Gourdon 25L doesn’t feel like a particularly durable pack when you first pick it up with its lightweight construction and lack of reinforcement in traditional heavy-wear areas like the base BUT we’ve been testing the 30-litre version for over half a decade and it still hardly has a scratch on it We haven’t used it for anything like scrambling or mountaineering mostly because that simply isn’t what it’s designed for But we have filled it full of all sorts of unusual stuff like sharp sticks and logs for campfires and it’s always been up to the task The Alpkit Gourdon 25L waterproof pack does exactly what it says on the tin It won’t win many awards for futuristic innovation but if all you’re looking for is a well-priced waterproof sack that will keep your kit dry on wet hikes The Alpkit Gourdon was tested on hikes in the hills of North Wales in typically gloomy and drizzly October weather and then on local trails when heavy rain and strong winds battered Britain during the autumn storms This allowed us to test in the conditions it was designed for Your tester Oli Reed is the editor of Live for the Outdoors and Trail magazine Oli's a lifelong hiker who's climbed hills and mountains everywhere from the Lakes and the Dales to the Dolomites and Yosemite cycling or paddling along a trail or river with his two young boys in tow Which also makes him our go-to tester for family outdoor kit CLICK HERE for more information about how we test gear at LFTO. Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited, Company number: 1394141; Registered office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing, Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales. VAT no 918 5617 01 H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) Volume 11 - 2017 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2017.00101 Myotonic dystrophies are multisystemic diseases characterized not only by muscle and heart dysfunction but also by CNS alteration They are now recognized as brain diseases affecting newborns and children for myotonic dystrophy type 1 and adults for both myotonic dystrophy type 1 and type 2 much progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms underlying the DM symptoms allowing development of new molecular therapeutic tools with the ultimate aim of curing the disease This review describes the state of the art for the characterization of CNS related symptoms the development of molecular strategies to target the CNS as well as the available tools for screening and testing new possible treatments Summary of DM1 main clinical phenotypes and CNS related symptoms Clinical myotonia is neither a feature presented in the neonatal period nor can it be disclosed in the electromyogram (EMG) Patients often develop severe problems from cardiorespiratory complications in their third and fourth decades The diagnosis of the DM1 childhood onset form is often missed in affected adolescents or children because of uncharacteristic symptoms for a muscular dystrophy and apparently negative family history (Harper, 2001). These patients have cognitive deficits and learning abnormalities (Steyaert et al., 1997) and degenerative features often develop as these children reach adulthood There is increasing evidence of early heart conduction abnormalities thus annual electrocardiograms and consideration of electrophysiological studies should be a part of routine management The juvenile form with age at onset at 11 years is characterized by school and mating problems and is often under-recognized These childhood and infantile forms should be considered rather as a CNS disease than a muscular or systemic disease (see Neuropsychiatric Section) In late-onset or asymptomatic DM1 patients myotonia, weakness, and excessive daytime sleepiness are rarely present. Before DNA tests became available, there were many examples of incorrect ascertainment, even when using markers such as EMG evidence of myotonia and slit-lamp examination for the characteristic cataracts (Barnes and Hilton-jones, 1994) the search for cataracts is helpful for identifying the transmitting person The different cellular processes affected by the CTG and CCTG mutations and toxic RNAs are indicated in gray The possible “mediator” proteins are written in the branches and some of downstream affected genes known so far are named red The 4 possible entries for therapies are shown on the right side It is important to note that in the juvenile form classical neurological or motor symptoms can be absent and that cognitive (visuo-spatial deficit and executive dysfunction learning difficulty) or psychiatric symptoms (social mating with peers) can be the only clinical manifestations of the disease planning abilities and decision making and leads to apathy and inactivity which may have significant influence on quality of life in this cohort of patients the imaging analyses and the attempt to correlate pathological brain changes with cognitive dysfunction or personality profiles suggest that complex neuronal networks involving numerous CNS regions and mechanisms related to plasticity and neurodegeneration are implicated in myotonic dystrophies Half of the 13 patients of this longitudinal studies showed abnormal ventricular enlargement with time brain volumetric techniques were not available at the time of the first MRI observations in this retrospective study more longitudinal studies are needed to accurately determine the level of progression both on white matter and gray matter abnormalities and on more homogeneous cohort of patients (congenital psychological and social factors can be complex warranting referral to behavioral medicine specialists for neuropsychological testing Physicians should remain vigilant of possible substance abuse There is the current effort to develop care guidelines for patients with myotonic dystrophy that would address the CNS abnormalities as well quality of life The development of pathological models is an important step not only to understand mechanisms that link disease mutation and resulting pathophysiology, but also to screen, identify, and test new pharmacological molecules or molecular tools (Plantié et al., 2015) a variety of models from cells to mammalian organisms has recently emerged better characterization and standardized protocols are needed to determine how these different mouse models can be used for preclinical assays there is still a long road before to be able to apply nucleases in Human patients and to overcome the difficulties (1) to reach all the tissues affected in DM (2) to correct DNA in the maximum of cells for restoration of tissue function and (3) to secure treatments for minimal side-effects Another very important issue will be to target different brain cell types including neurons More studies are needed to determine the role of each brain cell type in the pathophysiological defects observed in DM CNS Of course all strategies developed for DM1 will beneficiate to DM2 with transposition to DM2 specificities (CCTG repeat mutation expression of CNBP in which lies the DM2 expansion) State of the art for new DM therapeutic development in CNS direct and intellectual contribution to the work The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest This work was supported by Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale—France (GG) and FMM—Fondazione Malattie Miotoniche—Italy (GM) Authors are very grateful to Elodie Dandelot for illustration Cognitive profile in childhood Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1: is there a global impairment A new window on neurocognitive dysfunction in the childhood form of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) Impaired cerebral glucose metabolism in myotonic dystrophy: a triplet- size dependent phenomenon Cerebral atrophy in myotonic dystrophy: a voxel based morphometric study and cognitive issues in myotonic dystrophy: workshop report CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Integrating display and delivery functionality with a cell penetrating peptide mimic as a scaffold for intracellular multivalent multitargeting MRI findings and cognitive functions in a small cohort of myotonic dystrophy type 1: retrospective analyses 23–27 doi: 10.1177/1971400916678223 Disease awareness in myotonic dystrophy type 1: an observational cross-sectional study Relationship between neuropsychological impairment and grey and white matter changes in adult-onset myotonic dystrophy type 1 Incorrect diagnosis of myotonic dystrophy and its potential consequences revealed by subsequent direct genetic analysis Severe cardiac arrhythmias in young patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 Loss of MBNL leads to disruption of developmentally regulated alternative polyadenylation in RNA-mediated disease Workshop report: consensus on biomarkers of cerebral involvement in myotonic dystrophy Neonatal neuroimaging findings in congenital myotonic dystrophy Consensus on cerebral involvement in myotonic dystrophy Caillet-Boudin Brain pathology in myotonic dystrophy: when tauopathy meets spliceopathy and RNAopathy FNIRS evaluation during a phonemic verbal task reveals prefrontal hypometabolism in patients affected by myotonic dystrophy type 1 Tau exon 2 responsive elements deregulated in myotonic dystrophy type I are proximal to exon 2 and synergistically regulated by MBNL1 and MBNL2 Rakočević-Stojanović Cognitive impairment in myotonic dystrophy type 1 is associated with white matter damage Cerro-Herreros Derepressing muscleblind expression by miRNA sponges ameliorates myotonic dystrophy-like phenotypes in Drosophila Muscleblind-Like 2 mediated alternative splicing in the developing brain and dysregulation in myotonic dystrophy [Cardiac involvement in Steinert's myotonic dystrophy] Contracting CAG/CTG repeats using the CRISPR-Cas9 nickase oxidative parameters and funcionality in Progressive Muscular Dystrophies Brain MRI abnormalities in the adult form of myotonic dystrophy type 1: a longitudinal case series study Unravelling the myotonic dystrophy type 1 clinical spectrum: a systematic registry-based study with implications for disease classification mTOR-dependent proliferation defect in human ES-derived neural stem cells affected by myotonic dystrophy type 1 The development of a viral mediated CRISPR/Cas9 system with doxycycline dependent gRNA expression for inducible in vitro and in vivo genome editing Psychiatric and cognitive phenotype of childhood myotonic dystrophy type 1 Psychiatric and cognitive phenotype in children and adolescents with myotonic dystrophy Congenital and infantile myotonic dystrophy Ekström Autism spectrum conditons in myotonic dystrophy type 1: a study on 57 individuals with congenital and childhood forms Ekström Cognition and adaptive skills in myotonic dystrophy type 1: a study of 55 individuals with congenital and childhood forms Fernández-Torrón Cancer risk in DM1 is sex-related and linked to miRNA-200/141 downregulation Cerebral and muscle MRI abnormalities in myotonic dystrophy Brain tumors in patients with myotonic dystrophy: a population-based study Cognitive decline over time in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1: a 9-year longitudinal study Prevalence and correlates of apathy in myotonic dystrophy type 1 Genome therapy of myotonic dystrophy type 1 iPS cells for development of autologous stem cell therapy Antisense oligonucleotides: rising stars in eliminating RNA toxicity in myotonic dystrophy García-Alcover Development of a Drosophila melanogaster spliceosensor system for in vivo high-throughput screening in myotonic dystrophy type 1 Genetic and chemical modifiers of a CUG toxicity model in Drosophila Recurrent posterior capsular opacification and capsulorhexis contracture after cataract surgery in myotonic dystrophy [2] PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text biodistribution and cell uptake of antisense oligonucleotides Myotonic dystrophy mouse models: towards rational therapy development CTG trinucleotide repeat “big jumps”: large expansions Gonzalez-Barriga Cell membrane integrity in myotonic dystrophy type 1: implications for therapy MBNL Sequestration by Toxic RNAs and RNA misprocessing in the myotonic dystrophy brain Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of brain in congenital myotonic dystrophy Patient-reported impact of symptoms in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (PRISM-1) Patient-reported impact of symptoms in myotonic dystrophy type 2 (PRISM-2) Hernández-Hernández Myotonic dystrophy CTG expansion affects synaptic vesicle proteins Cerebrospinal fluid proteins in muscular dystrophy patients and motor performance defects in DMSXL mice carrying >1,000 CTG repeats from the human DM1 locus Comparisons of intellectual capacities between mild and classic adult-onset phenotypes of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is associated with nuclear foci of mutant RNA sequestration of muscleblind proteins and deregulated alternative splicing in neurons The impact of congenital and childhood myotonic dystrophy on quality of life: a qualitative study of associated symptoms Mediates muscle pathology in myotonic dystrophy CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar A muscleblind knockout model for myotonic dystrophy Nuclear localization of MBNL1: splicing-mediated autoregulation and repression of repeat-derived aberrant proteins Therapeutic approaches for dominant muscle diseases: highlight on myotonic dystrophy Theory of mind impairment in adult-onset myotonic dystrophy type 1 Facial emotion recognition and cerebral white matter lesions in myotonic dystrophy type 1 Applications and challenges for use of cell-penetrating peptides as delivery vectors for peptide and protein cargos Evaluation of CNS involvement in myotonic dystrophy type 1 and type 2 by transcranial sonography Nanotechnology - new trends in the treatment of brain tumours Sleep complaints in patients with myotonic dystrophy Fatigue and daytime sleepiness in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1: to lump or split Elav-like family (CELF)-mediated alternative splicing regulation in the brain during health and disease Genome Engineering with TALE and CRISPR systems in neuroscience Myotonic dystrophy type 2 caused by a CCTG expansion in intron 1 of ZNF9 Genome editing of monogenic neuromuscular diseases CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Intranasal delivery of recombinant AAV containing BDNF fused with HA2TAT: a potential promising therapy strategy for major depressive disorder Zebrafish deficient for muscleblind-like 2 exhibit features of myotonic dystrophy Mutant human embryonic stem cells reveal neurite and synapse formation defects in type 1 myotonic dystrophy Impairment of odor recognition and odor-induced emotions in type 1 myotonic dystrophy Markers of brain illness may be hidden in your olfactory ability: a Japanese perspective contributes to a complex phenotype of muscular and motivational deficits in mouse models of myotonic dystrophy Similar brain tau pathology in DM2/PROMM and DM1/Steinert disease Challenges and new strategies for therapeutic peptide delivery to the CNS Intranasal administration of elastin-like polypeptide for therapeutic delivery to the central nervous system Myotonic dystrophy type 2: an update on clinical aspects Myotonic dystrophy type 2 and modifier genes : an update on clinical and pathomolecular aspects Cerebral involvement in myotonic dystrophies Reduced cerebral blood flow and impaired visual-spatial function in proximal myotonic myopathy Executive dysfunction and avoidant personality trait in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM-1) and in proximal myotonic myopathy (PROMM/DM-2) Sense and antisense DMPK RNA foci accumulate in DM1 tissues during development Positron emission tomography in myotonic dystrophy Grey and white matter loss along cerebral midline structures in myotonic dystrophy type 2 The brain in myotonic dystrophy 1 and 2: evidence for a predominant white matter disease Characterization of the pattern of cognitive impairment in myotonic dystrophy type 1 Atrial fibrillation following chemotherapy for stage IIIE diffuse large B-cell gastric lymphoma in a patient with myotonic dystrophy (Steinert's disease) CNS-restricted Transduction and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Gene Deletion with an Engineered AAV Vector Congenital myotonic dystrophy: ventriculomegaly and shunt considerations for the pediatric neurosurgeon Loss of serotonin-containing neurons in the raphe of patients with myotonic dystrophy: a quantitative immunohistochemical study and relation to hypersomnia Relationship between diffusion tensor imaging and brain morphology in patients with myotonic dystrophy Gonadal failure is associated with visceral adiposity in myotonic dystrophies Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of neurodegeneration in patients with juvenile and classic myotonic dystrophy type 1 Transcranial sonography in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 Clusters of cognitive impairment among different forms of myotonic dystrophies PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Molecular mechanisms in DM1–A focus on foci Plantié Model organisms in the fight against muscular dystrophy: lessons from drosophila and zebrafish Developmental milestones and quality of life assessment in a congenital myotonic dystrophy cohort Rakocevic-stojanovic Brain sonography insight into the midbrain in myotonic dystrophy type 2 In myotonic dystrophy type 1 reduced FDG-uptake on FDG-PET is most severe in Brodmann area 8 Shortening trinucleotide repeats using highly specific endonucleases: a possible approach to gene therapy Highly specific contractions of a single CAG/CTG trinucleotide repeat by TALEN in yeast Retrospective study on PET-SPECT imaging in a large cohort of myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients Sleep disorders in adult-onset myotonic dystrophy type 1: a controlled polysomnographic study Apathy and hypersomnia are common features of myotonic dystrophy Widespread electroanatomic alterations of right cardiac chambers in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 Cognitive impairment in adult myotonic dystrophies: a longitudinal study Schneider-Gold Cortical and Subcortical Grey and White Matter Atrophy in Myotonic Dystrophies Type 1 and 2 is associated with cognitive impairment “I know that you know that I know”: neural substrates associated with social cognition deficits in DM1 patients Brain connectomics' modification to clarify motor and nonmotor features of myotonic dystrophy type 1 How genetics affects the brain to produce higher-level dysfunctions in myotonic dystrophy type 1 The role of cell-penetrating peptide and transferrin on enhanced delivery of drug to brain when simple repeats reveal complex pathogenic entities: new findings and future challenges Caenorhabditis elegans Muscleblind homolog mbl-1 functions in neurons to regulate synapse formation A study of the cognitive and psychological profile in 16 children with congenital or juvenile myotonic dystrophy Muscleblind-like 1 knockout mice reveal novel splicing defects in the myotonic dystrophy brain In vivo interrogation of gene function in the mammalian brain using CRISPR-Cas9 Diffuse brain abnormalities in myotonic dystrophy type 1 detected by 3.0 t proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy Lowered sensitivity to facial emotions in myotonic dystrophy type 1 Transcriptional changes and developmental abnormalities in a zebrafish model of myotonic dystrophy type 1 CRISPR/Cas9- Induced (CTG·CAG)n repeat instability in the myotonic dystrophy type 1 locus: implications for therapeutic genome editing Brain 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic differences in myotonic dystrophy type 2 and type 1 Dose-dependent regulation of alternative splicing by MBNL proteins reveals biomarkers for myotonic dystrophy PKC inhibition ameliorates the cardiac phenotype in a mouse model of myotonic dystrophy type 1 Heterotopic neurons in congenital myotonic dystrophy with mental retardation and cognition in myotonic dystrophy 1 and 2 Cerebrospinal fluid tau and amyloid beta 42 protein in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 Cognition in myotonic dystrophy type 1: a 5-year follow-up study Diffusion tensor imaging reveals widespread white matter abnormalities in children and adolescents with myotonic dystrophy type 1 Tractography reveals diffuse white matter abnormalities in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 White matter abnormalities and neurocognitive correlates in children and adolescents with myotonic dystrophy type 1: a diffusion tensor imaging study Dynamic changes of nuclear RNA foci in proliferating DM1 cells Genome modification leads to phenotype reversal in human myotonic dystrophy type 1 induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells Generation of neural cells from DM1 induced pluripotent stem cells as cellular model for the study of central nervous system neuropathogenesis Triplet repeat-derived siRNAs enhance RNA-mediated toxicity in a drosophila model for myotonic dystrophy Relationship of white and gray matter abnormalities to clinical and genetic features in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Cell-penetrating peptides as noninvasive transmembrane vectors for the development of novel multifunctional drug-delivery systems Citation: Gourdon G and Meola G (2017) Myotonic Dystrophies: State of the Art of New Therapeutic Developments for the CNS Received: 26 January 2017; Accepted: 27 March 2017; Published: 20 April 2017 Copyright © 2017 Gourdon and Meola. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Genevieve Gourdon, Z2VuZXZpZXZlLmdvdXJkb25AaW5zZXJtLmZy Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish Another opportunity for the sprinters comes in the 203.6 km stage from Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot While the stage includes 2,200 meters of climbing most of this is in the early part of Stage 12 causing the breakaway group’s lead to diminish significantly The last stage over 200 kilometers in this Tour takes the riders from Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot the peloton heads over La Ségarie to the first categorized climb of the day This fourth-category climb is 2.7 kilometers long with an average gradient of 5.9 percent The route then continues hilly to the Côte de Rocamadour (2.1 kilometers at 5.5 percent) The stage progresses over small uncategorized ramps and hills to the sprint point in Gourdon at kilometer 100 the only significant obstacle is the Côte de Montcléra a 2-kilometer climb with an average gradient of 4.6 percent there are four turns and three roundabouts there is a straight final stretch of approximately 1,100 meters Stage 12 is highly likely to culminate in a mass sprint it’s not just about the stage win but also the battle for the Green Jersey has the confidence to challenge Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) in this and the upcoming sprint stages The heavier sprinters used up a lot of energy on Stage 11 to make the time cut The question is whether they still have the freshness and explosiveness needed in the second week to muster all their power after over 200 kilometers.Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) is a rider edging closer to a win The German seems to grow stronger as the race progresses and his sprint train is now better coordinated Mathieu van der Poel’s Canyon Aeroad CFR: The Bike Behind His Spring Classic Wins Mathieu van der Poels Cyclocross Calendar 2024/2025 Season Review 2024: Great Success of Team Alpecin-Deceuninck XDS Astana Team rider beats breakaway companions and Bahrain Victorious teammates to the top as Lenny Martinez takes third in Gourdon the Italian triumphing from a lead group against two Bahrain Victorious riders on the summit finish of Gourdon He beat Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) after jumping from the wheel of another Bahrain man 100 metres from the finish on the steep finishing slopes at the end of the 162km day Scaroni’s win continues his highly successful start to the 2025 season which has seen him take podium finishes at the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana as well as score victory at Friday’s Classic Var and Martinez had led the way for the final 5.5km of the finishing climb on a day which brought 3,500 metres of climbing with the Frenchman pushing the pace on the front to distance a strong chasing group Bahrain looked to set up the closing sprint for Buitrago but Scaroni – clearly in some of the best form of his career – had too much for the Colombian and shot to the win “Yesterday was really hard and today was harder because everybody waited for us,” Scaroni said after the stage “EF tried to make a really hard race from the start said that he was suffering on the long climb with the hard pace “I’m in good shape on the last climb Bahrain tried to attack a lot of times but in the end “Tomorrow we’ll try to keep the jersey I’m really happy for the team and we’ll see tomorrow Scaroni now holds the overall race lead heading into a gentler concluding stage to Vence on Sunday He enjoys a four-second lead on Buitrago while Martinez lies in third at 10 seconds Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS-Astana) and Jarno Widar (Lotto) are in fourth and fifth places at 57 seconds The opening stage of the two-part Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var would see the riders tackle a mountainous 162km course between Contes and Gourdon The first-category climbs of the Col Saint-Roch and Col de Châteauneuf as well as two ascents of the second-category Gourdon but it wasn’t until the riders hit the Col Saint-Roch that a breakaway got away Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto) was joined in a seven-man move by Edoardo Zamperini (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) Morné Van Niekerk (Van Rysel-Roubaix) and St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 pair Dillon Corkery and Kenny Molly EF Education-EasyPost were among the teams who settled in to control the peloton on behalf of their leader Richard Carapaz The men in pink limited the break’s advantage to 1:30 Corkery was the first man to drop from the breakaway letting go on the 6.7km climb of the Col de Châteauneuf as the peloton closed to within a minute of the leaders They wouldn’t make the catch so early instead letting the six remaining riders build their lead back up to the 1:30 mark As the final 40km – and the first climb up Gourdon (17.7km at 3.8%) – began with EF bringing it all back together at the head of the race The group went over the top of the climb all together and it would take until the end of the descent Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) made the move going clear on the downhill and pulling out a small gap before the start of the final ascent (13.9km at 3.9%) Vendrame pushed on to open up a 20-second gap He hit the final 10km holding that advantage with EF massed on the front of the slimmed-down peloton in pursuit Vendrame’s lead wouldn’t last to the top setting up a grand finale among the top climbers of the race Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) would be the man to launch that finale With the peloton at that point totally blown apart the Colombian was chased by groups of riders in ones and twos His teammate Lenny Martinez was in the second group along with Cristian Scaroni (XDS-Astana) while Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) dropped a little further back to chase alone With Martinez and Scaroni catching Buitrago at 5.5km to go the Bahrain duo had the numbers to work against the Classic Var winner though the trio settled in to work together and distance those chasing behind Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) with the leading trio enjoying a 40-second lead on the chasers heading towards the finish The Frenchman stuck on the front deep into the final kilometre setting up a Buitrago vs Scaroni sprint finish Scaroni launched from second wheel heading into the steep final 100 metres taking Buitrago with him as the pair shot past Martinez to the line But despite Bahrain having the numerical advantage it was Scaroni who had the legs to come through and win Results powered by FirstCycling Dani has reported from the world's top races She has interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars and her favourite races are the Giro d'Italia Château de Gourdon is a fantastic choice if you’re after Rhône wines that offer bang for your buck – especially with an exclusive 15% discount for Independent readers The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers When you purchase through links on our site The joyful ‘buddy’ wine with a sophisticated twist In the sun-drenched sprawl of southern Rhône where vineyards stretch out like an Impressionist painting come to life Château de Gourdon stands as a beacon of winemaking excellence and just a stone’s throw from the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape this estate is a splendid example of tradition and innovation fused into one elegant package The story of Château de Gourdon begins in 1870 but it is the lineage of noble families who have nurtured the vineyards since that truly adds depth to its tale These families have invested not just their wealth but their passion into crafting wines that speak of the Rhône’s rich heritage This isn’t just any old wine estate – this is a place where history and a touch of old-world charm converge to produce something truly exceptional The estate’s vineyards are a lush 50 hectares of pure delight nestled on the gentle slopes of the Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages appellations But it’s the proximity to Châteauneuf-du-Pape that adds a bit of historical glamour This area earned its moniker during the 14th century when Pope Clement V decided that Avignon was a much nicer place to live than Rome It’s this same blend of historical reverence and winemaking prowess that Château de Gourdon channels into every bottle The estate’s approach to viticulture is nothing short of meticulous while the ever-present Mistral wind keeps the grapes fresh and healthy offering just enough nutrition to allow the grapes to thrive without overwhelming them This balance between nature and cultivation is what allows Château de Gourdon to produce wines that are both complex and remarkably expressive The lineup of varietals is impressive: Grenache Blanc Each grape is handled with the utmost care reflecting the estate’s commitment to sustainable agriculture Wines that are as diverse as they are delightful And here’s the kicker: they’re not just quality wines; they’re quality wines that won’t make your wallet cry Château de Gourdon is a fantastic choice if you’re after Rhône wines that offer bang for your buck They manage to blend historical finesse with affordability meaning you can indulge in exquisite Rhône flavours without having to choose between paying rent or enjoying a glass of fine wine Let’s talk about the wines themselves. Château de Gourdon’s portfolio has been getting quite the attention in international circles The Vase de Pierre 2017 snagged a gold medal at the Mundus Vini 2019 while the Terrasse à l’Ombre 2018 scored a double gold at the China Wine and Spirits Best Value 2020 The accolades don’t stop there: the Concours des Vins à Orange 2020 awarded gold to both Terrasse au Soleil 2018 and Vase de Pierre 2018 Even wine critic Jeb Dunnuck got in on the action dishing out over 90 points to Fontaine du Sud 2018 So, whether you’re a seasoned oenophile or a casual wine enthusiast looking to impress without breaking the bank, Château de Gourdon offers a taste of the Rhône Valley that is as rich in history as it is in flavour. Here, in every bottle, is a perfect balance of past and present – a Rhône classic that promises to delight with every pour, all while keeping your budget intact. Independent readers can also enjoy 15% off when they enter the code CDR15 at checkout. The Terrasse à l’Ombre Côtes du Rhône 2022 isn’t your everyday Côtes du Rhône Village. Hailing from the somewhat elusive “Suze-la-Rousse” appellation, this bottle is a masterclass in how to take old vines and make them sing. The blend of Grenache and Syrah is like a wine lover’s dream cocktail, carefully harvested plot by plot to ensure that only the juiciest, ripest grapes make the cut. Fermentation in stainless steel with natural yeasts keeps the focus squarely on the character of the vine and vineyard, and it shows. In the glass, this wine flaunts a deep, saturated colour that’s as bold as its bouquet. Expect a lavish spread of crushed plums, blackberries, cherries and just a hint of herbs – aromas that scream “I’m special” with every swirl. On the palate, it’s a delicious riot of sweet black fruits, wild herbs and a touch of spices. There’s a whisper of plum conserve on the finish, rounding things off with a bit of sophistication. Let it breathe for an hour and serve it with roasted red meats, hearty cheeses, or game. This isn’t just another Rhône; it’s a Rhône that knows exactly what it’s about and is unapologetically fabulous for it. Meet the Le Coq Rosé Côtes du Rhône 2023, affectionately dubbed “Buddy” by the winemaking team. Why “Buddy”? Because this rosé is all about being your easy-going, joy-bringing companion in a glass. Crafted from a blend of Grenache with a splash of Syrah and other local varieties, it’s a limited-edition gem that embodies laid-back elegance. Fermented in a mix of concrete and stainless-steel tanks, this rosé strikes a brilliant balance between fruit-forward charm and surprising depth. The colour is a delightful ruby pink, hinting at the good times to come. The nose is a jubilant medley of red cherries, strawberries and a cheeky touch of raspberry jam, like a summer fruit salad with an extra splash of fun. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied with vibrant intensity. Expect an exuberant burst of strawberry, cherry and peach, rounded out by a hint of spiced blackberries on the finish. It’s like your favourite summer playlist, refreshing and full of zest. Perfect for casual sips with friends or pairing with light, sunny fare. Meet the Le Coq Rouge Côtes du Rhône 2022, the winemaking team’s ‘buddy’ wine, crafted with the aim of being your go-to companion for a good time. This gem is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and a few other local stars, produced in small quantities like a secret club that only a lucky few get to join. Fermented in a mix of concrete and stainless steel tanks, and treated to a cold maceration and slow fermentation, this wine delivers an impressive combination of fruit-driven exuberance and nuanced depth. The colour is a striking dark ruby red with a charming pink rim – think of it as the wine equivalent of a classic red carpet look with a playful twist. On the nose, it’s a delightful mélange of stewed blackberries, raspberries and a touch of black pepper, promising a sophisticated yet approachable experience. The palate is where the magic happens: juicy and lively with a harmonious dance of black fruits, red berries, cherries and spices. This wine is your perfect partner for hard cheeses, red meats, or a hearty mushroom dish. It’s not just a buddy – it’s the wine that’s ready to elevate any occasion with a touch of class and a lot of charm. Introducing the Fontaine du Sud Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2023, a white wine that’s as refreshing as a cool breeze on a hot day and just as stylish. This beauty is crafted from a harmonious blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, all grown sustainably to ensure that every sip is a nod to eco-friendly practices. With its pale gold hue, this wine looks every bit the part of a sophisticated white. The bouquet is a fragrant explosion of floral notes lifting a delightful medley of apricot, peach, citrus and mandarin. Imagine walking through a sunlit orchard in full bloom – this is the liquid version. Step into the world of Vase de Pierre Côtes du Rhône 2022, where traditional meets transcendent. This wine is a classic Grenache (60%) and Syrah (40%) blend that manages to be both opulent and refined. Despite its impressive 15% alcohol, it doesn’t swagger with bravado but instead exudes a fine, complex structure. The winemaking process is a labour of love: de-stemming the Syrah, extending the cool fermentations to a leisurely 30 days, and keeping oak ageing minimal. The result is a wine that’s intense yet remarkably rounded – think of it as a heavyweight champion with the grace of a ballet dancer. In the glass, it flaunts a deep purple hue and a bouquet that’s a fresh fruit fiesta – blueberries, black cherries, and plums – with a sophisticated lift of blossoms, spices and a hint of leather. The palate follows suit with a smooth, luxurious texture. Fresh black berry fruits dance with underlying notes of minerals, spices and a touch of red berries. This isn’t just a Côtes du Rhône; it’s a masterclass in elegance and intensity. Perfect for those who appreciate a wine that’s both bold and beautifully balanced. Dive into the Château de Gourdon Jolie Balade Côtes du Rhône 2020, a wine that proves elegance doesn’t have to be stuffy. Produced from a classic blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan and Mourvèdre, this gem is crafted on the light, sandy soils of Mont-Joli using sustainable methods. Think of it as the sophisticated sibling in the Côtes du Rhône family – graceful, yet packed with personality. In the glass, it reveals a deep ruby colour with tawny lowlights, suggesting both age and charm. The bouquet is a masterclass in refinement, offering an enticing mix of black fruits, herbs, spices and a whisper of undergrowth. It’s like taking a leisurely stroll through a well-tended garden after a summer rain. On the palate, the Jolie Balade delivers a harmonious blend of red and black berries, balanced with minerals, smoke, pepper and a touch of liquorice. It’s an intense wine, but with a supple, charming demeanour. The finish is long and satisfying, with rounded tannins and a layer of earth and leather adding complexity. Rated 4.1 on Vivino (July 2024), this wine is as versatile as it is elegant. It pairs beautifully with everything from tomato-based dishes to roast beef or creamy cheeses. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels A 79-year-old woman has died in hospital following a two car crash on the A92 was involved in an accident at 11.45am on Monday December 9 involved a blue Ford Focus and a black Kia Ceed Her family released a statement through Police Scotland this afternoon They said: “We would like to thank the emergency services ICU and HDU on their continued efforts throughout this difficult time “We ask that you please respect our privacy during this period.” Police Scotland continue to appeal for information about the incident said: “Our thoughts are with Wilma’s family and friends and those affected by the crash at this difficult time “Enquiries into the crash are ongoing and we ask anyone with information Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments We use cookies to collect information about how you use the Police Scotland website We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve our services A 79-year-old woman has died following a crash on the A92 near Gourdon Aberdeenshire.The crash happened around 11.45am on Monday 2024 about one mile south of the village and involved a blue Ford Focus and a black Kia Ceed.The woman was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment 2024.She has been named as Wilma Porter from Montrose.Her family has asked us to issue the following statement on their behalf."We would like to thank the emergency services ICU and HDU on their continued efforts throughout this difficult time."We ask that you please respect our privacy during this period."Sergeant Pete Henderson said: "Our thoughts are with Wilma's family and friends and those affected by the crash at this difficult time."Enquiries into the crash are ongoing and we ask anyone with information Police Scotland support those who wish to become police officers special constables or police staff by hosting various online and in-person recruitment events throughout the year supported victims and a thriving workforce Read about our 2030 vision and three-year plan Worried that your partner or the partner of someone you know might have an abusive past we'd appreciate your feedback on the service we provided Police Scotland has been working to make its websites more accessible - read our accessibility statement The second round of the S4 European Championship and the first one of the SM Junior European Championship took place at the Busca Kart Planet Alberto Surra (KTM) is the new Champion of the S4: the young Italian rider almost had a perfect weekend with the pole position and two victories out of three motos second place went to Spanish Alex Rafael Gourdon (Husqvarna) and third position to another Italian rider In the Junior Andrea Benvenuti ruled the day and strengthened his leadership in the championship thanks to two confident victories race directors called out a wet race and all the riders mounted rain tyres As the red lights blinked off Alberto Surra (KTM) did not make the best out of his pole position losing several positions The Gourdon brothers took the lead of the race but in the first lap Mattia Rato (TM) took the lead of the operations chased by Alex Rafael Gourdon (Husqvarna) Behind them Alberto Surra started to increase his phenomenal race pace and after a few laps moved up to the front Surra and Rato opened a gap on their chasers and battled it out till the chequered flag Alex Rafael Gourdon crossed the finish line in third position At the start of the second race of the European Cup Mattia Rato (TM) took the lead closely followed by Alberto Surra (KTM) The two Italians pulled away and during the race the rider with the TM bike took an advantage over his rival being able to manage the challenge Unfortunately the unexpected is always round the corner and with a few laps before the end Rato broke the engine awarding the victory to Alberto Surra Behind them there was a thrilling battle among several riders with Antonino Navarria (Team Gazza Racing) protagonist of the show as he recovered to second place Third position went to Spanish Alex Rafael Gourdon (Husqvarna) The starting grid of the last race is defined according to the results of Race2 Surra kept the pole position but Mattia Rato had to start from the last position Surra made no mistakes at the start and immediately took the lead with an unbeatable rhythm for all the other riders which allowed him to go far from them who made an amazing recovery till second place as well as Alex Rafael Gourdon and Antonino Navarria With two laps to go there was a twist when Alberto Surra crashed giving the green light to Mattia Rato The outcome for the final victory was not affected by what happened in fact Alberto Surra came home with the gold plate of the European Cup winner The second step of the podium went to Alex Rafael Gourdon while Mattia Rato was third thanks to the victory taken in the final moto Andrea Benvenuti (KTM MTR Racing) was the star performer of the Junior first race The young Italian rider and his KTM were impeccable with a solid start and a rhythm which allowed him to lead the race from the first to the last lap A thrilling battle took place behind him between Daniele Cornolti (GasGas) and Yevsevii Kovalyov (Husqvarna) who got to the finish line in the same order Andrea Benvenuti strengthened his advantage in the standings over his main rival As the red lights blinked off Kovalyov took the lead of the operations but made a mistake in the sky section and was overtaken by Daniele Cornolti who moved to the front and tried to pull away Andrea Benvenuti cancelled the hesitation and started to chase the race leader It took several laps for the KTM rider before being able to overtake his rival and head to the victory Cornolti had to resist the attacks of Kovalyov who tried to overtake him till the end Andrea Benvenuti came home with the second victory of the season and strengthened his position in the standings | Copyright 2025 FIM Europe | Terms of use - Privacy statement | Officers were called to the scene of the crash near Gourdon around 11.45am on December 9. Officers were called to the crash, which involved a a blue Ford Focus and a black Kia Ceed, around 11.45am on Monday, December 9 around one mile south of Gourdon. Wilma Porter from Montrose, the driver of the Kia, was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment where she died on Thursday, December 19. Her family, issuing a statement via Police Scotland, said: “We would like to thank the emergency services, along with all the staff in A&E, ICU and HDU on their continued efforts throughout this difficult time. Sergeant Pete Henderson said: “Our thoughts are with Wilma’s family and friends and those affected by the crash at this difficult time. “Enquiries into the crash are ongoing and we ask anyone with information, who has yet to come forward, to contact us on 101, quoting incident 1110 of December 9, 2024.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" Some of the world’s top pilots are readying themselves for the next stop on the PWC calendar which begins 24 August in the French village of Gourdon The area is home turf for Ozone’s test teams and will be familiar to many French pilots Located just 20km from the Mediterranean Sea Gourdon offers consistent thermic conditions The main landing zone is approximately 5km away in the main valley pilots can easily transition east towards Courmette and then on to Vence though landing options become sparse in this direction pilots can head over the back to Gréolières and the impressive south face of the Cheiron convergence in the area will assist in returning to the front ridge making it possible to close impressive triangles Other top pilots taking part include Joachim Oberhauser Ferdinand Vogel and Seb Ospina as well as a host of other talented pilots eager to prove their skills Elli Egger and Keiko Hiraki are the favourites to reach the podium All event information, including detailed schedules, pilot rosters, and live tracking, will be available on the official event page. pwca.events Three people have been taken to hospital following a two-vehicle collision on the A92 one mile south of Gourdon The 79-year-old female driver of a black Kia Creed was taken to hospital in Aberdeen with serious injuries The diver and passenger of a blue Ford Focus were taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for treatment Emergency services were alerted to the crash at approximately 11.45am on Monday with two fire engines from Montrose and Stonehaven attending the scene firefighters used specialised cutting equipment to rescue one person from the wreckage along with a Special Operations Response Team (SORT) Paramedics assessed the three patients before transferring them to hospital Two individuals were transported to Ninewells Hospital while the third was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Their conditions remain unknown at this time The A92 was closed between Gourdon and Johnshaven for more than six hours Police appealed for witnesses to come forward in a Facebook post Sergeant Pete Henderson said: “We would urge anyone who may have information or dashcam footage which could help our investigation to come forward “Anyone who can help is asked to call 101 quoting reference 1110 of 9 December.” A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 11.40am to attend a road traffic collision on the A92 between Gourdon and Johnshaven “Three ambulances and one special operations response team (SORT) were dispatched to the scene and three patients were transported to hospital – two to Ninewells Hospital and one to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.” Transport operators also reported delays as a result of the incident Stagecoach advised that the Gourdon service X7 would no longer call at Inverbervie because of the crash Due to the ongoing road closure on the A92 unfortunately the road has been shut at Gourdon Rd End “This means our X7 service vehicles have no space to turn round X7 service will no longer be serving Inverbervie at this moment in time.” A woman has been taken to hospital after being struck by a vehicle on the A92 Police and paramedics were called to the A92 near Gourdon shortly before 6pm on Sunday Multiple police vehicles and ambulance crews were spotted along the east coast route between Johnshaven and Inverbervie The road was blocked to traffic as crews dealt with the incident The woman was taken to hospital for treatment A police spokesperson said: “At about 5.55pm on Sunday January 26 we were called to a report of a woman struck by a vehicle on the A92 at Gourdon “She was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.” Wallenberg Academy Fellow, prolongation grant 2020 One-third of the 30,000 or so proteins synthesized by the human body are membrane proteins and are responsible for communication between the inside and outside of the cell More than half of all medicines target membrane proteins who is a Wallenberg Academy Fellow at Lund University “All films are in fact a series of still images If we have enough images of different phases of a process It’s tricky working out the order in which to arrange them Gourdon’s research field – membrane protein structural biology – has undergone a major technology transition over just a few years When he was first chosen as a Wallenberg Academy Fellow in 2015 the dominant technology was X-ray crystallography This entails mixing proteins with chemicals that induce them to form crystals With a little luck a good shape is obtained and X-rays can be used to reveal the three-dimensional structure In recent years another technology – cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) – has increasingly taken over avoiding the challenging step of crystallization inferior resolution was obtained using this technique These days Gourdon relies almost exclusively on cryo-EM they have succeeded in imaging a human membrane protein Gourdon wants to start imaging the environment surrounding the proteins “The new technique enables us to determine the myriad structures in a fragment of membrane It’s an extraordinarily complex environment ions and lipids combining to control and regulate how the protein works I want to get closer to reality and find out how it works.” He is focusing on a certain family of proteins ATP are molecules that serve as a source of energy The protein family comprises ATP-driven membrane pumps that counteract the equalization of substances that otherwise occurs naturally between the inside and outside of the cell They make sure that the concentrations or pH of various substances differ inside the cell from those outside One of these pumps transports copper ions in human as well as bacterial cells Gourdon wants to find out whether it can be used to develop a new kind of antibiotic “In some bacterial infections the body tries to fight the intruder by increasing the concentration of copper and the bacterium protects itself by getting rid of the copper ions via a pump of this kind Blocking the pump could also inhibit the copper pumps in human cells The aim is to avoid this by designing a molecule specifically for the bacterial pumps “But even if the human pump were blocked for a short time since a bacterial infection can be dealt with in a week or two.” In-depth knowledge of protein forms can also be used in the development of other therapeutics Drugs often act by inhibiting a given protein and their efficacy depends partly on how strong the binding to the protein is If the “pocket” to which the drug attaches is completely filled Gourdon’s images can show whether the drug needs to be designed a little differently to create an even better fit “Modifications like this have been made before but it’s been done more in a kind of black box – molecular changes made at random and tested to see what works Knowledge of these structures may enable us to develop drugs more efficiently and rationally,” Gourdon says “Without my Wallenberg Academy Fellow grant it would have been difficult to make this technological transition It’s played a vital role in the results we’re now seeing.” Over the past few years his life as a researcher has changed quite considerably As a team leader he spends much less time in the lab than he used to But he is delighted that the team is now making more rapid progress “We’re carrying out more complex experiments and obtaining much more information as a basis for each scientific article than we used to In that sense the work is infinitely more enjoyable But competition in the field is growing constantly which can be stressful at times – a researcher always wants to be the first to make a discovery.” Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation has since its establishment in 1917 awarded over SEK 39 billion in grants In 2024 the yearly grants to excellent basic research and education in Sweden was in total almost SEK 2.4 billion [email protected] The collision, involving a blue Ford Focus and a black Kia Ceed, happened one mile south of Gourdon on Monday. The collision, involving a blue Ford Focus and a black Kia Ceed, happened one mile south of Gourdon at around 11.45am on Monday. A 79-year-old woman, who was driving the Kia, was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with serious injuries. The driver and a passenger from the Ford were also taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for treatment. The road was closed until around 6.10pm to allow for an investigation at the scene. Police Scotland is urging anyone with information regarding the crash to come forward. Sergeant Pete Henderson said: “We would urge anyone who may have information or dashcam footage which could help our investigation to come forward. “Anyone who can help is asked to call 101, quoting reference 1110 of December 9.” The 250th anniversary of the first documented crossing of the Antarctic circle is being marked with a new book that traces the continent's history via 100 artefacts from around the world By Alison Flood Herbert Ponting/Royal Geographical Society via Getty Images THE first documented crossing of the Antarctic circle was made on 17 January 1773 by James Cook on the HMS Resolution. Now, 250 years later, Jean de Pomereu and Daniella McCahey are marking its anniversary in Antarctica: A history in 100 objects a book that tells the story of the continent via 100 photos and artefacts from around the world The main image is an iconic photograph taken from a grotto in an iceberg in 1911 by Herbert Ponting (pictured below). Ponting was the first professional photographer to travel to Antarctica after being invited by Robert Falcon Scott to join his ill-fated expedition The ship is the Terra Nova and the men are geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor and meteorologist Charles Wright Pictured above are the South Pole Telescope and BICEP (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization) experiment at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station The telescope helped to capture the first image of a supermassive black hole in 2019 L: Vestfold Museums: R: United States Navy History and Heritage Command Leather goggles to protect against snow blindness made during Roald Amundsen’s 1910-1912 Antarctic expedition Pictured to the right of them are mittens knitted by Edith “Jackie” Ronne during an expedition in 1946-48 Ronne was one of the first two women to winter in Antarctica as part of a geographical expedition The  image above shows Ernest Gourdon and Paul Pléneau sharing a bottle of champagne in July 1904 This was intended to promote Mumm Cordon Rouge since the Mumm family was a sponsor of the trip A spacesuit tested in Antarctica in 2011 for possible use on Mars A humpback whale skeleton (pictured above) reconstructed by conservationist and film-maker Jacques Cousteau on King George Island in 1972-73 Pictured above is a New Zealand $5 note commemorating Edmund Hillary whose team was the first to reach the South Pole using overland vehicles Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images The 1602 Kunyu Wanguo Quantu map from China (pictured above) featuring a vast “Terra Australis” with the inscription “Few have reached these southern regions Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences a fish specimen collected in the Antarctic on 15 March 1899 (pictured above) In 2014, Ms Gourdon joined SNCF Logistics, comprising SNCF Group’s freight businesses Geodis, Ermewa, TFMM, and STVA, as head of management and human resources development. In June 2019, she was named Director of Human Resources at Fret SNCF, and on 1 September 2020, she became Director of Talent Management at Rail Logistics Europe as well. This site is in partial compliance 98,53% (with RGAA 4.1 standards) Archaeologists have long wondered exactly how the ancient Egyptians constructed the world's biggest pyramid they may have discovered the system used to haul massive stone blocks into place some 4,500 years ago "Thissystem is composed of a central ramp flanked by two staircases with numerous post holes," Yannis Gourdon co-director of the joint mission at Hatnub "Using a sled which carried a stone block and was attached with ropes to these wooden posts ancient Egyptians were able to pull up the alabaster blocks out of the quarry on very steep slopes of 20 percent or more." The ropes attached to the sled acted as a "force multiplier," making it easier to pull the sled up the ramp the other co-director of the Hatnub mission "This kind of system has never been discovered anywhere else," Gourdon said "The study of the tool marks and the presence of two [of] Khufu's inscriptions led us to the conclusion that this system dates back at least to Khufu's reign the builder of the Great Pyramid in Giza," he added "As this system dates back at least to Khufu's reign, that means that during the time of Khufu ancient Egyptians knew how to move huge blocks of stone using very steep slopes they could have used it for the construction [of] his pyramid," Gourdon said Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox While archaeologists generally agree that workers at this pyramid used a ramp system to move stone blocks up the pyramid how exactly this system worked has been a long-standing mystery Ancient Egyptians drew the Milky Way on coffins and tombs, linking them to sky goddess, study finds 'Propaganda' praising Ramesses II discovered on famous ancient Egyptian obelisk in Paris, Egyptologist claims Space photo of the week: Record-breaking James Webb telescope image captures 1,678 galaxy groups at once Win HappyPremiumSearch RayonorthsoundlocalnewsThree taken to hospital after A92 crashThree people were taken to hospital following a two-vehicle crash on the A92 on Monday morning. Three people have been taken to hospital following a two-vehicle crash on the A92 on Monday morning. Emergency services were called to the scene between Gourdon and Johnshaven at 11.40am. Three ambulances were sent to the collision including a Special Operations Response Team (SORT). Two people were transported to Ninewells Hospital and one was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The road was closed in both directions but has since reopened. A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 11.40 to attend a road traffic collision on the A92 between Gourdon and Johnshaven. "Three ambulances and one special operations response team (SORT) were dispatched to the scene and three patients were transported to hospital – two to Ninewells Hospital and one to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.” Hear all the latest news from the North East of Scotland on Northsound 1. Listen on FM, via our Rayo app, DAB, or smart speaker. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) A very clever compromise between a dry bag and a comfortable daypack the Gourdon is a versatile carry-all for all sorts of watery adventures Why choose between a waterproof dry bag and a backpack when you can have both kayakers and wild swimmers will love Alpkit’s Gourdon a fully waterproof stuff sack that also sports comfortable shoulder straps and well-placed waist and chest straps make it easy to distribute heavier loads.  The top rolls up tightly like a dry bag (see: Best dry bags) to create a waterproof seal – unroll it and there’s one large compartment that’ll hold a towel and a change of clothes plus a pouch compatible with a 1-1.5 litre hydration bladder Two external mesh pockets are big enough to hold water bottles and other essentials a nice extra for longer adventures on foot or by paddle.  A 20-litre version is also available We took the Alpkit Gourdon backpack on stand-up paddle boarding trips as well as slinging it on our backs when walking to favourite wild swimming spots and very much enjoyed the comfort of knowing that our kit was totally safe from the elements.  The only downsides we found on test are the fact that your back can get a bit sweaty against the plastic on hot summer days and that you need to pack the Gourdon carefully so there’s nothing digging into your back as you walk - compared to a regular backpack there's very little in the way of padding in the back panel.  if rain never puts you off adventuring it’s great to be able to grab a backpack that can take on the elements with you This might not be a quiver-of-one pack you can take everywhere but for the extremely reasonable price we reckon it’s well worth adding the Gourdon to your outdoor kit arsenal – we find ourselves reaching for it regularly because fortunately good products are more common than bad Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission but all of our reviews are fully independent We'd all agree that it can be pretty morale-sapping to grind your way to work through wind and rain whether it's a blustering headwind in summer complete with sudden heavy showers or driving rain and howling winds on a winter's morning But the sucker punch is delivered when you find your change of clothes and your pork pie wringing wet in the bottom of your bag and the Alpkit Gourdon 25 dry bag rucksack is certainly a good first line of defence against the elements from torches to tents and everything in between Their dry bags and rucksacks are some of their best known and sought after pieces of kit They're particularly popular because they're adaptable and can be used across a range of different sports and activities The first thing to point out about the Gourdon 25 is its simplicity There's one main 25 litre storage compartment with a buckle-fastened roll top and a narrow pocket that can accommodate a 1L hydration pack For a bag that's so simple it's surprisingly comfortable to wear and there's a thin waist strap and sternum strap that keep the bag securely in place when you're in full flow on the bike The vacant hydration pocket contains a removable padded section that gives the back panel some extra structure and makes it comfortable against your body This is something other bags of a similar design often lack and you find yourself being jabbed in the back by the contents of your bag The main compartment is big enough that you can easily fit in spare shoes Easily enough for the average commuter or day tripper The top of the bag pinches together and rolls shut before being fastened with a durable buckle; this can then be fastened to the bag with two toggles The single large compartment makes things easy – just throw everything in – but the lack of pockets can be a drawback if you want somewhere to store smaller valuables The version we tested contained a clear plastic window down the length of the bag This is optional and only included on two of the colourways available It's really handy if you've stuffed your bag full and can't remember if you've included your dry socks for the office It's not so god if your y-fronts or expensive valuables find themselves pressed up against the window for all to see.. You can find yourself spending extra time 'tactically packing' a water repellent and durable material used across a wide range of outdoor equipment and clothing giving great peace of mind that you're not going to arrive at the office with a soggy change of clothes but if you do happen to nick or tear it then Alpkit provide you with a few handy iron-on patches for repairs There are four colour options available: the Flo Yellow we've reviewed here Only the Flo Yellow and Chilli versions have the transparent window Daytime visibility is great with the Yellow and Chilli options but the Black and Kelp aren't great choices for standing out on the road There are no reflectives and nowhere to hang or strap a light although the Gourdon isn't a cycling-specific bag so maybe they can be forgiven for these omissions If that wasn't enough value for money then Alpkit will throw in free delivery That's pretty much the dictionary definition of value for money A do-it-all bag that offers excellent protection against the elements Make and model: AlpKit Gourdon 25 drybag rucksack How does that compare to your own feelings about it do-it-all bag that's designed for use in a number of outdoor pursuits and activities Alpkit say: "One large 25 litre compartment is all you need for all those bits and pieces for a wild camp away from the masses durable nylon fabric and the simple design means a rucksack weighing under 600 grams" Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product - Pouch for 1 l - 1.5 l hydration unit (450 mm long by 200 mm wide bladder) - Transparent window (Chilli and Flo Yellow only) it's constructed well enough that it can take a lot of daily use Seemed to perform well in the review period the padded straps and back panel are a nice touch Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose Tell us what you particularly liked about the product Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product Lack of visibility and place to attach a light Would you recommend the product to a friend I usually ride: KHS Flite 100 Singlespeed/Fixed I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99 Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist Oli has been a road.cc staffer since day one He's the creative and photography force behind the site You'll find him on his bike most days whether it's commuting He's got a penchant for a steel frame and has had 'fit mudguards' on his To Do list for nearly 8 years now The first was 20 litre but it split in the end as it wasn't quite big enough for my purposes in it's defence I really did kick the arse out of it on a daily basis for two years including mountain biking I bought a second stealthy in 25 litre and the extra 5 litres makes all the difference it's been used day in day out for the work ride walking and generally dumping anything in it Again this one is two years old and gets thrown about a lot - it's started showing small holes here and there so it will be replaced soon For the money they are very good commuting and outdoors bags as they remain genuinely water tight for a fairly long period of hard use The OverBoard is nearly three times the price... I just got a wide strip of 3M reflective to stick down the back of the bag Great bike for all sorts of activities - waterproof I did an adventure race with a conventional rucsac - 12 hours plus in pouring rain and it soaked up the water like a sponge Personally I'll stick to my Over-Board rucksack if I need this amount of capacity - it comes with reflective strips an external mesh pocket and bungee straps and no window to show off my kecks (yes I read the bit that said it was optional) http://www.over-board.co.uk/pro-sports-waterproof-backpack-20-litres.htm... Most of the time though I use a much smaller/cheaper pack (an Aldi special) with my clothes inside a dry-bag (a plastic bag works well too!) Although the Over-board is more than twice the price.. I'm a big fan of Alpkit's stuff (and I promise I've not registered just to post that!) - I've got the Stealthy Gourdon (as they call the black one) and it does exactly what it says on the tin It's a well-priced drybag with comfy straps The roll top and the 'gaping maw' style of packing does mean a faff if you're taking things in and out even if you do add some sort of packing system My yellow Gourdon 20 has been on bike commuting picnic-ing and general lugging duties for about 3 years It has thrutched up greasy limestone chimneys in the mountains been covered in mud so much that it's hard to tell its original colour and been out in rainstorms so heavy that I may as well have jumped into a lake I have also even ironed on some ebay reflective panels to my bag so it looks like a 'hump cover' highly recommend this for light to medium lugging Great minds - I did exactly the same to my black Gourdon 25 and the second one I've owned - getting about 1.5 years out of each one I've now replaced it with an Overboard 20L - which offers the same capacity (carries laptop but with better padding and more features (handy external mesh pocket & internal zip pocket) for not a lot more It also suits me better as it's shorter than the Gourdon which I found rubbed my lower back when full - I'm quite stocky had it a few years and it's a great all round bag and down the beach as well as carrying my togs to work The smaller one also has two pockets on each side and elastic cord to compress it if it isn't quite full My only criticism is the faff opening and closing and I'd have liked external base reinforcement and a carry strap Carrying kit while training and commuting just got a lot more comfortable An impressive bag for bikepacking and more – stable with just some slightly odd design details road.cc's audience Report an advert on road.cc Privacy policy Subscribe All material © Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. Tel 01225 588855. © 2008–present unless otherwise stated. Terms and conditions of use so that's an achievement that won't be missed by us but we know we've got three more games to keep building on that." Is the Queensland boss the right man to lead Australia forward And will Joe Schmidt be tempted to stick around for Rugby World Cup 2027 La Rochelle have announced a pre-Christmas bombshell – the retirement of ex-French national team back-rower Kevin Gourdon at just the of 31. A statement from the Top 14 club outlined that the forward learned this week that he is suffering from a heart problem just weeks before his 32nd birthday “The 31-year-old French international back row Kevin Gourdon learned this week that a heart problem is forcing him to put an immediate end to his sports career,” read the la Rochelle statement Kevin played 221 matches in the Rochelle jersey and was selected 19 times for France He had just extended his engagement for two more seasons with the club.” window.scriptsToInit.push('BrightCoveEmbeddedScrollVideo.init("6286924462001");'); La Rochelle president Vincent Merling said: “Kevin make him an emblematic player of the culture and of the identity of La Rochelle “He is now forced to abruptly end his career and quite logically prioritise his health. He will be sorely missed as we continue to write the history of the ‘Yellow and Black’ to which he has already contributed so extensively Kevin and his family can be assured of the full support of La Rochelle.” Wallabies legend David Campese has overtaken All Blacks great Doug Howlett to take the right wing spot in a fan-voted all-time XV. #RugbyPassHallofFame https://t.co/cffirnQPV1 — RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 22, 2021 Gourdon added: “This is brutal and sad news this is something you just don’t have control over I can’t do anything to make the situation any different the fight to stay in Top 14 and then a few years later the final stages “I also had the pride to play with the XV of France. It’s a lot of memories, of emotions, but I have to look to a new part of my life, maybe a little sooner than I expected, but which I am sure will be just as fulfilling.” Gourdon will speak directly to La Rochelle supporters at Stade Marcel Deflandre before the start of the December 27 Top 14 match versus Lyon Join free and tell us what you really think Is the Queensland boss the right man to lead Australia forward Northampton Saints found a way of beating the fabled Jacques Nienaber blitz and inflicting another 'horrific' Champions Cup loss on the Leinster giants Warren Gatland forged a sense of togetherness in his 2013 Lions but faced personal 'vitriol' after leaving out a legend I think it is going to be a close and intriguing series between the Lions and the Wallabies I think Schmidt and co will pick James O’Connor That in a nutshell is why we ABs fans are not mad about Jordie at 12 but just tucks and trucks in the black jumper Kinda frustrating knowing what else he's capable of You are Mr Bitter Maximus Would be cool to see Love in the 10 for the ABs I remember the moment clearly staring at my empty wallet It had vanished into the digital void after I mistakenly clicked on a convincing phishing link I tried everything contacted my wallet provider Everyone told me the same thing: “Once it’s gone it’s gone.”  I was on the verge of giving up when I came across a thread mentioning NanoAethosCoinRecovery It sounded too good to be true like every other so called “recovery service” but something about the way people described their professionalism gave me a sliver of hope and traced the stolen coins through layers of obfuscation and mixing NanoAethosCoinRecovery didn’t just recover my Bitcoin they restored my faith in justice in the crypto world but I also know who to turn to if things go south again Whatsapp: +1 (570) 229-9724 Telegram:https://t.me/NanoAethos Email:  (NanoAethosCoinRecovery@engineer.com) I was able to recover all of my money from this fraudulent binary options company after losing over $300,000 to binary options in this fake investment platform Now that is something I can agree with My apologies A hard read this time Nick but as always backed by observations One of the big problems in coaching Australia seems to be speaking nicely but carry a big stick I think Les will do the nicely bit and add some variation to play but the Wallabies can easily slip back into old habits unless they are held to account Schmidt has a reputation that anyone in rugby could appreciate Not sure the current players will give Les that understanding when tough decisions need to be taken I suspect he will be a bit like Ewen McKenzie The saving grace will be that the ARU are not the soft and useless bunch Ewen had to deal with Les will also have the support of Qld and the hatred of NSW and since NSW seem to heading in their standard direction of failure BTW he needs to dramatically improve Qld D and not just Ryan Not shutting the Drua down early by utilising an umbrella(?) D and letting them run is always a recipe for disaster Wasn’t the 3 option a 50/50 hard for a breakout season 10 to go all the way and claim the title for his team Let them/him build over the next few seasons Noting the scrum too after you said that JGP did have a bit of a quite game for his standards Can Les give the Wallabies the Kiss of Life?',1);"> The very predictable and inevitable let’s bag Less Kiss article from the hasbeen Welsh analyst trying to get his other mate and employer the failed pommie Lancaster a job in Australia so that the hasbeen welshman can score some employment off him Try and spend more time trying to help your own country instead of constantly undermining them by supporting your former employer NZ rugby Yeap nip them in the bud that’s just one guys opinion which I’m sure would have been more widely known if true (points by quarter) that they just need to run these guys into the ground and cross their fingers they get through Is that how they started off winning Champs do you know This is the same line up they’ve gone with in previous games right Surely because he doesn’t have the same cohesion Sam and Jordie seemed to have a good combo going though I doubt it would have looked any different than when Jordie was on the park myself To think that the best in Europe will not be able to keep up with Aus because Aus play in SRP This is the B & I Lions we are talking about playing against Aus the #8 team on the rankings I suppose upsets do happen but how can anyone see anything less than a 3-0 to the Lions No national team made up of SRP players will be able to match the Lions on a rugby field imho If they were playing basketball maybe but not rugby They didn’t seem to have any trouble accruing points in the second half GD Almost 50 new homes will be built in Gourdon despite a life-long villager’s one-man battle against the plans Fotheringham Homes will create the sprawl on land off Brae Road Developers say the stunning sea views will be a bonus when trying to sell the “much-needed” properties The new Gourdon housing development will include 34 detached Twelve of the new builds will be affordable and delivered in partnership with Osprey Housing Five of the affordable units will be fully wheelchair accessible and will have wet rooms installed Homes will range from one to four-bedrooms in size As part of the recently approved masterplan space will be allocated next to the development for a future extension of the cemetery However the proposal didn’t sit well with one life-long Gourdon resident William Heath wrote to the local authority opposing to the plan which he claimed would “totally obliterate” the village’s open sea view He said building on the site would have a “hugely detrimental effect” on the appearance of the quiet community And Mr Heath also argued that the design of the new homes was “totally alien” and would not fit in with surrounding houses But three fellow residents gave the proposal their full support Kathy Lynch said the new homes would be “good for the village as a whole” and would help to support businesses in the community and places further afield such as Inverbervie While Jonathan Gardner stated Gourdon would “only be improved by the addition of more homes” The proposal recently went before the Kincardine and Mearns area committee Councillor George Carr said there was “no reason” to refuse the plan and noted that affordable homes were “a need” in the area He said: “It’s a sensitive area that takes in scenic views “Anything that is developed there has to be done sensitively and I think that has been achieved.” Committee members went on to unanimously approve the application In Michael Woods’ debut race with new squad Israel Start-up Nation the Canadian took fourth place on Friday’s opening summit finish of the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var Bauke Mollema earned the day’s flowers and the race lead Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var 2021 – Stage 1: Route: https://t.co/KWpMaLJYaI pic.twitter.com/0EsIbvMyVB — La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) February 19, 2021 A breakaway comprised of Pro Team and Continental Team riders tore loose early in the day to roll up a 6:00 lead and Tom Wirtgen of Dutch outfit Bingoal-Wallonie Bruxelles was first over the line in the two intermediate sprints ?#TDHV2021 Inside the 100km to go mark a group of five riders has several minutes advantage over the peloton ?@GettySport pic.twitter.com/Auc6imQFMQ — Astana – Premier Tech (@AstanaPremTech) February 19, 2021 The escapees kept their lead on the first passage of the Gourdon Otto Vergaerde of Alpecin-Fenix tipping over in the lead but the peloton swept up all before the second passage where Woods’ teammate Krists Neilands scooped up the maximum KOM points The final climb of Gourdon saw B&B Hotels’ Quentin Pacher surge ahead of the reduced peloton Geraint Thomas led the chasing pack before Groupama-FDJ grabbed the reins going into the final 3 km with Greg van Avermaet doing his new AG2R-Citroën squad proud with second place Groupama-FDJ packed the top-10 with four riders including Thibaut Pinot in ninth Woods and Pinot were part of a 24-strong group that finished 3 seconds in arrears of Mollema “It was a good day… just difficult to know where your legs are going to be at…got a bit boxed in on the sprint unfortunately.” ”I’m happy with my legs and I think tomorrow will be better for me!” Great effort by @rusty_woods to take 4th place in the opening stage of Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var. #YallaISN____________?? #Tour0683 pic.twitter.com/abOMXkntwJ — Israel Start-Up Nation / Israel Cycling Academy (@TeamIsraelSUN) February 19, 2021 Hugo Houle came in 101st and Antoine Duchesne finished 116th Saturday’s second stage isn’t quite as taxing as Friday’s Get the digital edition of Canadian Cycling Magazine Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Gourdon could be in for a population boom with councilors paving the way for almost 50 new homes to be built The scheme could be good news for anyone who has ever dreamed of retiring to a property on the Mearns coast Local builder Fotheringham Homes wants to create 49 houses on a site just off Brae Road which would offer spectacular views out to sea Developers are “keen” to progress with their housing proposal for the coastal village south of Stonehaven the 50 new homes will make a noticeable difference to the community Members of Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee have now backed the initial plans to be followed soon with more detailed proposals The Gourdon site in question lies between the business park and cemetery One condition is it would have to leave enough space for a potential extension to the cemetery Meanwhile the design of potential homes should respect Gourdon’s “distinctive” character and coastal setting Another open area would be created in the heart of the development which would have enviable views of the North Sea It is also proposed that the site will have footpath connections to the existing play park and football pitches as well as links to Inverbervie and nearby coastal paths It comes after a recent Which survey named nearby Stonehaven as one of Scotland’s best seaside destinations However, the town is also believed to be home to some of the country’s most expensive seaside properties according to a recent study by the Bank of Scotland Developers held two public consultations last year and they also met with Gourdon Community Council and the local primary school the masterplan was amended to include a landscape maze a community education garden could also be formed that may be handed over to use by the school Daniel Harrington from agents THE Architecture and Planning told the committee that public feedback was “really positive” towards the development He also said that the masterplan was designed to deliver a range of properties to meet the “needs and demands” of purchasers in the local area Mr Harrington also revealed that 12 of the new units would be affordable He added: “There is a significant demand for these properties.” Meanwhile, Fotheringham Homes director Michael Fotheringham revealed the development would have a mix of two He explained that the decision to build so many of the highly sought-after single-storey homes was based on the firm’s development at Johnshaven Mr Fotheringham said: “We are finding that the bungalow market is huge and it frees up a lot of bigger homes from people downsizing.” He also told members that people are willing to move to the area from outside Aberdeenshire as bungalows are “in such short supply” “People are at a life stage where kids have moved away from home so it creates a different market for us,” Mr Fotheringham stated The committee went on to unanimously approve the Gourdon masterplan Fotheringham Homes’s planning application is now expected to come before members in the “very near future” You can watch the committee discussion here ShareSaveLifestyleTravelYour Guide to Exploring French Riviera Back-Country from Cannes to GrasseByRooksana Hossenally Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Rooksana Hossenally is a Paris-based writer covering luxury travel.Follow AuthorJul 23 04:50am EDTShareSaveThis article is more than 9 years old.When one speaks of the French Riviera images of glitzy Cannes and star-studded Saint-Tropez spring to mind when actually there’s a lot more to the region Less than an hour’s drive from Cannes through the glorious  Provençal countryside lie myriad picture-perfect hilltop villages that served as retreats for some of the world’s greats from Man Ray Elisabeth Taylor and Pablo Picasso to Scott Fitzgerald To explore this lesser known stretch of the Riviera I set off on a three-day road trip that takes me from Cannes to Pablo Picasso’s Mougins passing through Marc Chagall’s Saint-Paul de Vence and to the off-the-beaten-track villages of Biot My travel partner and I board a train in Paris to reach the sunny shores of glamour-infused Cannes just four hours later A 10-minute walk away from the drab train station neighbourhood we suddenly catch sight of the glittering azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea at the end of a non-descript backstreet Arriving on the famed designer boutique clad Croisette the promenade that lines the bay from Cannes Film Festival hub the Palais des Festivals and stretches across the bay it teems with sun-seekers in flashy sunglasses and the beach is dotted with private clubs belonging to iconic hotels on the strip like the Majestic and the Martinez After a quick seafood salad on Cannes' main beach we zip through the countryside to the pre-Roman village of Mougins also known as Picasso's home for the last 12 years of his life is a small photography museum showcasing photographs of the artist in his day-to-day Provençal life all taken by his good friend and world renowned photographer André Villers The museum also hosts temporary contemporary photography exhibitions And while Mougins is now the territory for affluent holiday makers come from around the world for a taste of the laid-back Provençal life the streets around the Photography Museum are lined with artist studios and galleries as well as a handful of museums Mougins is accessed through several old stone gates and is a tumble of winding cobbled streets that flow onto well planted squares adorned by contemporary sculptures the village also boasts 40 restaurants promising local gastronomic experiences like at La Place de Mougins and L’Amandier We make our way to our hotel situated at the very top of  the village where its gates open rather ceremoniously slowly revealing magnificent views of the surrounding rolling hills in the distance A long driveway winds through neatly trimmed lawns planted with olive trees and leads to reception in the main mas (a typical local stone house) Although just a short drive from the bustle of Cannes the five-star Relais & Châteaux Mas Candille hotel is a small understated affair that is perfect for winding down With 45 rooms spread across its wonderfully lush four hectares of fragrant landscaped gardens accommodations range from more traditional Provençal style rooms close to the summer Pergola restaurant and pool that comes with wonderful views to more contemporary and spacious lodgings in the Villa Candille lower down a large terrace from which we could enjoy the fiery southern sunset Leaving my companion to lounge about in his fluffy white bathrobe I head to the pocket-sized  but highly exclusive Shiseido spa – one of only two in the country and 12 in the world After enjoying the pretty outdoor area complete with an open gym I am whisked away to one of the cabins for a facial I know I am in good hands – and spend the next hour and a half my mind rocking between short spurts of sleep until it surrenders to a complete dream state Later on I emerge feeling refreshed and ready to explore the rest of the hotel by which I mean the Michelin starred Candille restaurant led by chef David Chauvac we make our way to the main salmon pink hued mas which comes with a candle-lit terrace lined with tables dressed in crisp white table cloths looking out to the verdant countryside Guests can also opt to dine inside the restaurant wrapped by a bay window Guided by the very passionate Maître d’Hôtel who doubles up as the restaurant sommelier we indulge in a menu of typical Provençal fare drenched in plenty of Mediterranean spirit Starting with the lobster pastilla and courgette carpaccio we follow with the roasted Palleville pigeon seasoned with maple syrup scented salt and mushroom tart and finish with the selection of cheeses and a vanilla A wonderfully laid-back gourmet experience that’s fully deserving of its star Le Candille comes highly recommended while in the area Bewitched in Saint-Paul de Vence and Le Mas de Pierre Hotel we wake up early the next morning to cloudless blue skies and that renowned light du midi that has drawn a multitude of artists and writers to Provence over the centuries After breakfast of fruit and honey drenched pain perdu alongside more of those glorious views we pack up and set off east to explore the surrounding villages officially some of the country’s most beautiful low-key Biot and the bewitching Saint Paul de Vence Prised by writers and artists since the forties as well as celebrities the medieval hilltop fortified village of Saint Paul was the place to see and be seen spent the last 30 years of his life here while Picasso Miro and many others were often seen at the Colombe d’Or inn at the village entrance on the Place du Village where locals play boules The place to revel in Saint Paul’s unique arty bohemian atmosphere it was opened in the twenties by owner Paul Roux who accepted to be paid for meals with artworks la Colombe d’Or still stands as a restaurant with a quaint courtyard and a handful of rooms as well an impressive collection of works amassed over the years numerous artists still live and work within Saint Paul's stone interiors Don’t miss the Folon Chapel in the heart of the village which was completely restored by Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon in his signature heavenly pastel landscapes and mosaics Another highlight is the nearby (20 minutes’ walk away from the Colombe d’Or) Fondation Maeght Established by Aimé and Marguerite Maeght in homage to their deceased son it showcases one of the most impressive private Modern Art collections in the world Georges Braque and Alberto Giacometti are displayed in the Art Deco main building as well as in several courtyards After exploring the village and its art heritage make a pit stop for lunch or dinner at the upmarket Le Tilleul restaurant which serves revisited French-Mediterranean fare in contemporary smooth white Mediterranean interiors or on the outdoor terrace (make sure to book prior) The hotels within the village walls tend to be fairly rustic and overpriced so opt for five-star Le Mas de Pierre just 10 minutes’ drive away from the village this beautiful little hideaway is comprised of several bastides (also local stone houses) scattered across splendid Provençal gardens of fruit trees and lavender For a more luxe experience opt to stay at the Bastide des Fleurs a separate wing of six rooms and pool lined with smart white cabanas This wing also has a a dedicated butler on hand The outdoor restaurant is a regional highlight that might not have Michelin star credentials but that has a refreshingly laid back ambiance and top-notch fare It's the perfect place to come for whole turbot caught that morning while looking out to the rolling hills some of which are planted with vineyards open to visitors for tastings Off-the-beaten-track in hauntingly atmospheric Gourdon village As we only have a long weekend to explore the area this time continuing our loop westwards toward perfume country Grasse Just before arriving in the small town we stop at the tiny village of Opio a tranquil picturesque hilltop pocket before veering off north at Chateauneuf to the atmospheric it is flagged by its impressive twelfth-century castle built on a rock that overhangs the Vallée du Loup (wolf’s valley) the village is reached via a road that snakes all the way to the top of the mountain travellers are rewarded by 360° panoramic views The stone village has several shops along the main street selling homemade delicacies like olive oil and mustard but also in keeping with nearby Grasse’s perfume tradition many offer locally made perfumes and soaps An absolute must: stop for lunch at La Taverne Provençale close to the charming little church at the end of the main village street and the dazzling verdant plains that stretch all the way to the sea Grasse’s saving grace: the dazzling Bastide Saint Antoine Hotel we pass through Grasse – and alas we find the town a little underwhelming compared to the rest of the region so we settle for a quick stop at one of the many perfume factories (Galimard Molinard and Fragonard are the main three with world-renowned Fragonard in the lead) for a soulless tour Our spirits however are lifted as soon as we turn off a busy main road in lower Grasse and arrive at an unsuspecting idyllic pocket among five hectares of centuries-old olive groves and bougainvillea We pull into the much talked-about Bastide Saint Antoine’s white gravel driveway adorned with willow trees blowing in the breeze – an Aston Martin Porsche and Bentley belonging to guests are parked here taken over by local Michelin starred chef Jacques Chibois and his wife in 1996 While Mr Chibois oversees things in the kitchen Mrs Chibois is the meticulous eye behind the soothing sparkling interiors we feel relaxed instantly upon crossing the threshold The boutique hotel has nine rooms and seven suites located in the main building white and in a simple contemporary style has plenty of cachet punctuated by original features like arched ceilings and a fireplace looking out to the garden lawns and olive groves the sun-drenched Mandelieu Valley beyond and the gleaming turquoise blue of the Mediterranean on the horizon I knew it was going to be very difficult to leave when the time came The hotel is a perfect picture of Provence everywhere we look especially out in the gardens that are alive with birdlife and dotted by romantic water basins and a small swimming pool It’s hard to imagine that just five minutes’ drive away is busy Grasse While the entire boutique hotel is extremely pleasant the highlight is the very chic restaurant laid out with tables in the garden under a romantic pergola of creepers the restaurant teems with locals who travelled especially as well as hotel guests We sit down to sample the chef’s uplifting and refined Mediterranean style eight-course menu infused with truffle throughout We start with langoustines with an orange pulp and olive oil and basil emulsion followed by Saint Pierre white fish on a bed of fennel with a lemon coulis then the roasted Saint Jacques with févettes followed by whole truffle wrapped in Matignon artichoke with truffle paste caviar and the roasted lamb with baby artichokes and potatoes doused in a Rosemary flower jus olive oil and vanilla seed olive oil ice cream and finally a lemon croustillant with mandarin sorbet An absolute delight of perfectly sized portions that are perfectly timed we leave the table knowing that Chibois’ cuisine will be hard to match and not just because the food is incredible It’s like my sole purpose in life is making others happy – that’s what I love dedicating myself to,” he tells me a cheerful glint in his smiling eyes The chef is very much hands on – as well as working until late that evening he is also in the kitchen early the next morning rustling up our eggs Benedict The personable chef is unarguably a wizard in the kitchen and the Bastide Saint Antoine is renowned throughout the region but the chef's values haven’t been marred by his establishment’s success He still insists on maintaining extremely high standards as well as making use of locally sourced seasonal and organic produce “Working with local farmers and associations is central to my work here – working with people and products in an authentic natural way is what brings meaning to everything I do; otherwise what would be left?” Two fishermen who went missing in the North Sea for 48 hours could have spared their family the “traumatic experience” of thinking they were dead had they been better prepared and his grandson David Irvine launched a major search after they failed to return home from a trip in their fishing boat However, last night Mr Reid said he took “umbrage” at some of the findings of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)’s report. He insisted he and his grandson had checked the forecast before setting out and had been told the thick fog was due to clear He said: “I object to them saying I can’t read a compass I’ve been fishing between Inverbervie and Gourdon 50-odd years Mr Reid added that he only discovered the compass was faulty when it was too late It was discovered later it wasn’t working and it went into reverse I have read a compass for 50 years odd years and I’ve not gotten lost,” he said After two days scouring the water in thick fog rescuers called off the search for the 16ft creeler which Mr Reid had operated for more than 10 years the grandfather and grandson from Inverbervie were eventually spotted by the crew of a passing trawler marine experts ruled that they were “extremely fortunate” to have been found and that Mr Reid’s “poor safety practices” had caused an “unnecessary” search The MAIB said its probe into the incident found that he did not have the “competence” necessary to navigate his vessel Had the skipper taken his VHF radio to sea with him the alarm could have been raised soon after he became lost,” the report into the incident stated The eight-month long investigation also criticised Mr Reid’s grandson for heading out onto the water with no safety training The report also stated that the compass on board had not been installed Mr Reid added that the ordeal had not put him off fishing “one bit” He now takes two functioning compasses and a tin of chocolate biscuits with him – just in case The MAIB ruled that he always take a radio out with him a Personal Location Beacon and a life jacket It also said he must attend a navigation training course ensure that he has all the necessary safety equipment on board and make sure that all his crew are trained At UKC/UKH we are all experienced internet users and as such we understand why some people want to use Ad Block to remove annoying and distracting advertising that proliferates on some web sites We don't feel that UKC/UKH should be considered as such a site We have developed a site that has subtle and appropriate advertising; we don't use pop-ups we don't force you to read adverts before you can see content and we don't use third party ad servers dishing up totally inappropriate advertising We have worked incredibly hard over the years to make sure that we keep a good balance between advertising and editorial content Please could you consider disabling Adblock when visiting UKC/UKH Gourdon was designed to make carrying things easy one large 30 litre roll top dry bag compartment you can fill with enough essentials for most adventures an integrated waist and chest clip along with a sit pad and hydration bladder pocket Gourdon is a functional rucksack you can take on any wet adventure You’ve tailored the rest of your kit spent that extra dosh on some titanium cookware so why not remove the sit pad to turn Gourdon into a lightweight rucksack this large walking day pack is a cut above the average We liked the look of it so much that we've road tested it with two different reviewers; Rob Greenwood and Toby Archer.. A seaside pub has come to the rescue of its local community by turning into a pop-up Post Office was facing the loss of a vital village service after the local Post Office suddenly shut almost a year ago But Jonney Gardner of the Harbour Bar has stepped in to offer the premises as a once-a-week pop-up And former soldier Jonney says the early days of the new arrangement have proved an instant success Jonney and partner Malin Tangnaes took over the pub five years ago He spent almost 15 years in the Queen’s Royal Hussars before leaving the Army in Germany in 2004 but then wanted to come back to the UK,” said Jonney Despite having no connections to the north east coast or Scotland “I had my list of everything I wanted in a pub and the Harbour Bar ticked all the boxes,” said Jonney “We’ve tried to be active participants in the community and the community have been very accepting of us.” Jonney says it was an easy decision to try to help keep a Post Office in the village “Both the MSP and councillor approached us independently to see if we could do something,” he added Jonney talked with Hugh and Jane McNicol who operate the branch in Inverbervie And they now come to the Harbour every Friday from 9.30am to 11.30am to deliver Post Office services said: “Many rural pubs are having to think out of the box “When we lost the village shop we realised the community would be lacking something “We came to an agreement and so far it has worked really well “In fact we ended up with five or six customers sitting around having a coffee and a chat and even though we can’t serve Post Office customers a drink first thing it’s turned into a nice coffee morning vibe “The generation who make most use of the Post Office would have been worried what they were going to do if they didn’t drive “And many of the older residents aren’t big on social media so hopefully word will get out about it it’s nice to see it being a bit of a social event for some “We all need to do little things that will help each other,” said Jonney West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Andrew Bowie said: “It was a hammer blow to the community when the previous facility at the village shop closed “The Harbour Bar is already a much-loved village asset and bringing the Post Office into the pub is another way to ensure it remains relevant and accessible to the whole community “This is a fantastic example of residents working together to save a crucial service for future generations.” The UK has seen hundreds of local Post Office branches shut in recent years They were closing at the rate of two a week It comes on top of bank closures which have left some towns without a high street branch.   Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments The majority of Halloween Fortnite skins have now been released in the Item Shop Here’s a look at rarest Halloween skins based on their last appearance in the shop Halloween is less than a week away and the Fortnitemares is expected to go live on Tuesday, 29th October in the v11.10 Fortnite update. In the v11.01 update, Epic added a handful of new skins, most of which have already been made available in the Fortnite Item Shop Three skins and back blings are available in the Final Reckoning pack whilst Epic have released Delirium and Hallowhead have also rotated in the shop in the past couple of weeks The list of the rarest Halloween skins based on their last item shop appearance now looks completely different Ghoul Trooper still hasn’t rotated back in the shop and was last available to purchase 698 days ago Two new styles for the skin were added in the v11.01 update one of which will be for “OG” owners This all but confirms that Ghoul Trooper will rotate back in the shop is one of the few Halloween-themed skins that hasn’t been rotated back into the shop Epic provided owners with a new skin style in the v11.01 update there are no other Halloween skins that are rare enough to add to the list With both Ghoul Trooper and Brainiac expected to rotated into the Fortnite Item Shop within the next week none of the Halloween Fortnite skins will be considered rare Here is everything you need to know about the 2024 Epic Games Store free games list for Christmas Here's everything you need to know about the Fortnite 2024 Christmas Winterfest event including the start date Epic Games is releasing the final update of 2024 We have our first Fortnite update of Chapter 6 today Here are the patch notes for today's new Fortnite update (v33.00 / 1.000.159 / 4.48) which introduces chapter 6,.. Players are wondering if the Fortnite servers are down for the today (November 30th / 1st December 2024) Written By: The Planet D France Karen from Urban Pax shares her guide to most charming medieval villages in France that are close to Nice on the French Riviera.  The sun shines almost daily on the Cote d’Azur over chic beaches and a cool lifestyle. And people do come here from all over the world to be a part of the French Riviera vibe not far from the glamour and glitz of the Riviera enchanting French medieval villages are a welcome contrast These small medieval villages in France are nestled on the hilltops of the French Riviera Most travelers visit the famous manicured village of Eze and its chic hotel as well as the artsy medieval village of Saint Paul de Vence both of these old villages in France provoke oohs and aahs on everyone’s lips and with good reason But lesser known villages in the Alpes Maritimes region are definitely worth the detour for their authenticity and charm Join us as we discover 4 lovely french medieval villages in hidden corners of the South of France A good portion of the road that leads up to this medieval village is steep and full of sharp twists and turns But the spectacular views of the valley below filled with olive trees and various shades of blue on the horizon largely makes up for it the cobblestone streets lead to secret archways and peaceful squares It’s easy to imagine what life was like a few centuries ago Take a closer look at the houses dating from the 15th to 18th century that line the narrow streets and alleys but all are nonetheless full of details and character This massive fortification built in the 1930s was meant to protect France’s borders from invaders The bunkers go down several meters within the rock and for history buffs can be visited for a fee There is a path not far from the fort that leads to a wide and steep stairway From here start climbing up until you reach the garden Great views of the village rooftops on the way up The garden itself is filled with exceptionally maintained fruit trees A small donation may be requested by the volunteers who care for the garden but the entrance is free The ruins tell the story of a king who in the late 1600s destroyed the 10th-century castle as punishment for those who were against him Catch your breath and enjoy the impressive panoramic view of this medieval village there are several paths that lead to other incredible viewpoints as well as other villages nearby Spring and fall are the perfect seasons for memorable moments in this unique medieval village but be warned that most shops will be closed Sainte Agnes is located to the east of the French Riviera right above Menton the last town before the Italian border You can almost hear the crickets and smell the rosemary plants Getting to this circular hilltop village is a slow ride The suspense builds up little by little around every turn through some luxurious green vegetation It’s a functioning day to day little village and residents are happy to see visitors it also seriously lives up to its medieval reputation Read the small panels at the old village entrance that explain different landmarks a long rectangular concrete basin where women back in the days this daily chore was also the best times to talk about life together (Might as well make the best of it right?) We got happily lost meandering through the village’s medieval architecture to the very narrow sloped streets and stairs that lead to secret corners it receives more than average sunlight year round and has numerous sundials scattered around the village Around 1960 the first sundials were created by famous artists such as Jean Cocteau more contemporary artists from the region like Ben and Sosno Try to find the various sundials as you walk around and explore Coaraze Picking up a small map at the tourism office will make it easier These colors are intensified by the sunlight adding a mix of curiosity and poetry to our walk Just in front of the villages stands a small and simple 17th-century chapel The Spanish artist Ponce de Leon painted 2 frescoes depicting biblical scenes on the interior walls This is why in the early 1960’s it was renamed the Blue Chapel For those who are fit and prefer a good hike after strolling the village a special path close to the Blue Chapel leads up to the ruins of Rocca Sparviera it takes roughly 2-4 hours to complete depending on your pace Queen Jeanne after living through a painful family tragedy put a curse on Rocca Sparviera her curse forced the 350 residents to urgently abandon their homes for other hamlets the ruins are the only proof left of this phantom village The hike itself lead us to incredible viewpoints all the way up to the ruins Another explanation as to why the residents fled is that due to a drought But most people prefer to believe in the legend Proper shoes are required for a few tricky areas The beautiful French village of Coaraze is 40km from the village of Sainte Agnes (see above) and 30km from Nice Tourrettes sur Loup is a picture postcard medieval village with flowers hanging from windows and residents who smile when they say hello the medieval setting played with our imagination and transported us to another era We accepted the invitation to wander and got lost within the narrow cobblestone streets imagining how the lords and peasants in the middle ages lived It’s possible to spend several hours in this charming medieval town exploring the main street and side alleys but it’s so poetic that size doesn’t count here It all intertwines forming a labyrinth of beauty around every stone For over a century residents have cultivated violets and to this day people everywhere refer to this medieval village as the village of violets (Cité des Violettes) The small museum dedicated to this flower explains its history and in March they celebrate the violet at the flower festival Queue up for some violet ice cream or buy some crystalized violet candy to take back home as an original gift Stroll through tiny art galleries and admire the handmade crafts sold in small shops Enjoy a delicious meal in one of the village’s typical restaurants or like us stop in a small snack shop for a more local taste This french medieval village is a gem to explore alone or with family and friends Lose yourself in the peaceful and soothing views that stretch beyond the ramparts over wooded hills towards the mediterranean sea Gel a glimpse of the green countryside and the valley below where fig trees grow naturally everywhere Tourrettes Sur Loup is located about 40km from Nice There is a car park in front of the church and the village entrance is on the far right This small medieval village rises up from a rocky mountain and remains suspended on its edge as if by magic it’s labeled one of the most beautiful villages in France and people call it the Eagle’s Nest because of the spectacular view Getting to Gourdon involves maneuvering some tight twists and turns but the tradeoff is an amazing green and rocky view of the valley below You know you’re almost there when you see clusters of houses sandwiched together that touch the sky The fortified ramparts and the 9-14th-century castle served their purpose through WWII They were strategically built during times of conflict to protect and alert in case of invaders the medieval village of Gourdon was almost forgotten Who would have thought that years later it would attract so many people Gourdon’s reputation of being the perfect ideal of what a French village should look like everything is in the right place and its beauty never ages But the real reason people come here is the incredible view Admire the panorama from the best spot in the village: Place Victoria (named after Queen Victoria who stayed here in the 1800’s) Paraglide your way through blue skies and be a part of the view or just take a very short walk to the end of the main street After passing the quaint restaurants and small shops we went up to the stone barrier and just breathed it all in The low stone wall prevents admirers from falling into the Valley of Wolves Sweeping views across the valley below and into the Cote d’Azur horizon That’s a big stretch and the key reason so many people flock here year round Spend a couple of hours walking the immaculate streets which gently slope up and admire the beautifully restored facades full or charm There are under 500 residents who live here year round Many families who have homes here come on weekends or during the summer to get away from the city We arrived early morning to find some peace and quiet and well arranged flowered windows just take your time and get your eyes and camera ready The beautiful French village of Gourdon is 20 km from Tourrettes Sur Loup (see above) and 40 km from Nice There is a car park at the foot of the village then walk up 5 minutes to the village entrance Click to save the link As our curiosity grows, it pushes us to explore further. Each new angle reveals beauty as well as contradictions and proves that the Cote d”Azur is a multi-faceted gem Charming medieval villages are just one facet that’s another story for another day single mamma of teens sharing travels and life We explore the world through our own planning and create quality time together Read more on here travel blog – Urban Pax Blog Follow on Social – Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly Book Your Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner. We have used them for years and have found that they have the best flight deals Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor. Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO Learn a Language: We recommend and love both Rosetta Stone and Babbel Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it Book Your Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? Then we recommend Get Your Guide. Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling The Best Two-Day Beaujolais Itinerary: Wine, Villages, and Unforgettable Views The Ultimate D-Day Beaches Itinerary In Normandy Where To Stay In Paris – Best Neighborhoods To Suit Your Travel Style Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a655de34145a785738c366ec1dcb4784" );document.getElementById("bb6e812255").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment Beautiful photographs and a really great article on such wonderful places Thanks for sharing we especially love Gourdon so it’s nice to see some more photos I’m so glad you appreciate the photos 🙂 But the other villages are really worth a visit as each has its own particular charm Make sure you get to them on your next trip Thank you so much Simon for the kind words Hopefully you can come back and revisit 🙂 You have written a wonderful post very helpful and interesting thank you for sharing with us I am yet to explore France in a deeper way I’ve only been to Eze out of all these villages I see there’s still a lot more to explore in the Cote d’Azur for me then 🙂 Thank you for the inspiration Karen Thank you for sharing your views about Medieval Villages in France You’re truly blessed to travel the world as you please as a blogging “side hustle millionaire,” and make this your full-time career About Dave and Deb Contact Us Privacy Policy Work With Us Press and Media Best Travel Tips How to Save Money for Travel The Ultimate Travel Packing List Travel Safety Tips How to Travel on a Budget