By Kristin Young | August 03 who has operated a small shop hidden within a courtyard on North Canon Drive in Beverly Hills has opened a flagship retail location on the same block The 1,000-square-foot sidewalk-facing shop located at 440 N “The reason I did it is that we are experiencing growth on our website and the retail store wasn’t living up to where we are on the site,” Sisteron tells JCK “So I wanted to find a beautiful space The space features 17-foot-high ceilings—very rare in Beverly Hills Sisteron commissioned interior designer Breegan Jane to help with the decor “I went very old-school,” says Sisteron “I didn’t like the cookie-cutter formal decor of some other jewelry stores in Beverly Hills I feel like buying jewelry should be a thrilling fairy-tale-like adventure The store features colors Sisteron uses in all of her branding specifically pale gray (a nod to the hand-strung pearls she created early in her career) and chartreuse (her favorite color) The designer commissioned the chinoiserie wall coverings that are adorned with images of flowers The same pattern can be found inside cardboard boxes Pale gray panels frame mirrors throughout the store As for collections that can be found within the space Sisteron says they’re a mix of pieces that are currently found on the website specifically signature styles such as the Lovelock necklace and emerald who moved to California some 20 years ago to attend the GIA started her brand soon after she became a GIA diamond grader Opening the flagship location is one of the highlights of her career “The store took twice as long as I’d hoped because of the pandemic,” Sisteron explains “But the end result is gorgeous and has even exceeded the renderings inside her flagship location in Beverly Hills (all photos courtesy of Anne Sisteron) By Rob Bates May 05 By Annie Davidson Watson May 05 By Brittany Siminitz May 05 By Karen Dybis May 05 2025 © RX USA. Use of this website is subject to terms of use. he was an investor in numerous private equity investments in a number of venture capital Sisteron has SaaS-cloud software and consumer internet-consumer domain expertise He has helped build $1 billion businesses in both verticals and has operational experience at a leading European retailer Sisteron attended the University of Law (Lyon) where he received a JD and LLM and received an LLM from New York University School of Law Return to The Money Book index Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time were tormented ones for Napoleon Bonaparte He had been back on French soil for four nights after fleeing incarceration on the island of Elba His march north towards Paris was gaining momentum But that day would make or break his ambitions of reaching the capital and reclaiming the throne everything hinged on the welcome he received in Sisteron As he awaited the return of the messenger sent ahead of him this small town — current population about 8000 — held the course of French history in its palm a small provincial town about an hour and a half north-east of Marseille from driving past its fissured Rocher de la Baume rock formation at speed on the autoroute connecting the Mediterranean coast with Grenoble But for one all-important day over 200 years ago My lesson in this chapter in the Napoleonic era is coming via a recorded narrative that booms out in English across the bastion of Sisteron’s tiered medieval citadel that Henri IV called the most powerful fortress in his kingdom I had already gleaned the headline facts about Napoleon’s march inside a small museum at the entrance but the voices of the audio commentary are bringing the tension of those hours to life As he fed wood into the fireplace in the Chateau de Malijai a noble house 20 kilometres from Sisteron where he sheltered for the evening while the Dauphine (a historical alpine region of south-east France) was on his side then time moves forward without the Hundred Days – as the tumultuous period between his arrival in the capital on March 20 and the restoration of Louis XVIII to the throne on July 8 is known – nor defeat at the hands of British and Prussian forces at the Battle of Waterloo (or ABBA’s career-kickstarting Eurovision song) built into a rocky outcrop high above the Durance River the views that sweep through the valley seem endless the houses of the historic centre huddle close as if in muted I imagine bewildered townsfolk scurrying down andrones arrest the usurper as he crossed the Pont de la Baume the only bridge across the Durance River for miles Unlike the historical figures of my imagination the citadel had been stripped of all ammunition he reached the entrance to the town to be met by the mayor A crowd gathered outside the local inn where he had a meal the worry of the previous night evaporating as he looked forward to the next stop I find it fitting that Sisteron is the halfway point on the Route Napoleon an epic 325-kilometre French road trip that retraces the triumphant path Napoleon carved out from the Cote d’Azur to the French Alps before arriving in Paris on March 20 a coastal resort sandwiched between glittery Cannes and the superyacht hub of Antibes The scattering of fisherman and pottery warehouses that greeted him as he landed on the beach on March 1 has long been replaced by chic beach clubs and yacht broker’s offices although the ceramic tradition of Golfe-Juan and its inland neighbourhood Vallauris endures happens to be feted as its most famous resident as it was in the town’s ceramic studios that Pablo Picasso honed his clayworking skills an irresistibly photogenic hilltop village in the hills behind Cannes apparently mistaking the sound of olives crushing under the weight of millstones for gunfire a town whose reputation for perfume was well-established even by the time he marched by This first length of the route is classic Cote d’Azur fine dining restaurants and magazine-worthy vistas Although that’s no complaint – as it also means I’m able to stand surrounded by Picasso’s immersive Guerre et la Paix mural inside a 12th-century chapel at the Musee National Picasso “La Guerre et la Paix” in Vallauris and take a quick tour of the Fragonard perfumery in Grasse – I do find it hard to grasp the magnitude of Napoleon’s march up to this point The sense of adventure really kicks in as the sprawl of Grasse fades into the distance behind me as the Route Napoleon is administratively known The built-up landscape of the coast gives way to the sparsely habited hinterland and I negotiate the first of many hairpin bends that weave through limestone arches with little more than a low stone wall separating the single-lane road from a dizzying vertical drop flat stretches across garrigue-scattered plateaus and cinematic alpine scenery has made the road trip a classic motorbike journey in either direction and I see those with two wheels navigate the turns with much more grace than me in my under-powered Nissan Qashqai but when I meet a pack of gleaming vintage Italian touring cars I can’t help but feel this is a trip I should be undertaking in a similarly memorable vehicle Napoleon’s transport of choice was four-legged and a Route Napoleon a Cheval (Route Napoleon by horse) is marked out from Grasse to the outskirts of Grenoble Between Grasse and Sisteron the trail follows the GR406 the Grande Randonnee long-distance walking itinerary that retraces the Emperor’s exact footsteps While the tarmac road might not take me past the precise spots where Napoleon hastily hoisted bivouac refuges for the evening (when he wasn’t offered a bed in a noble’s house) it does weave through all his touch points: Castellane at the edge of the dramatic Gorges du Verdon Europe’s answer to the Grand Canyon; Barreme an unassuming village whose sleepiness belies a rich tradition in lavender production and a wealth of ammonites cast for eternity in the dusty terrain; and Digne-les-Bains the modern-day administrative capital of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department Fields of lavender around Ventavon Village in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Napoleon only stopped for a couple hours in Digne-les-Bains but the spa town definitely warrants a longer stay I spend two hours alone at the Maison Alexandra David-Neel where artefacts such as a Tibetan rosary necklace fashioned out of human bones are fascinating mementoes from the trailblazing travels of Alexandra David-Neel the pioneering 20th-century French adventurer and feminist who made Digne-les-Bains her home The length of the Route Napoleon can easily be covered in one day But to do so is to barely scratch the surface of this historic trail I push on for 45 minutes more to reach Sisteron the town feels like the logical place to break up the journey I take a quick detour past Chateau de Malijai now the town hall in the village of the same name My eyes shut almost as soon as my head hits the pillow in my stylish boutique hotel room just metres up the cobbled road from where he ate I like to think Napoleon would have slept better the following night in Gap where he received a hero’s welcome on his arrival Only two days remained between him and Grenoble – that distance converts to 100 kilometres of glorious mountain vistas along gently curving roads that leave the dry plains of Provence well and truly in the past Napoleon entered Grenoble on March 7 on the shoulders of its inhabitants I was a prince,” he would reflect in his political memoirs about the day I can’t say that the end of my adventure is feted with such grandeur as I look forward to spending time in the lively city that has sprung up between three imposing mountain ranges (the ​​Belledonne I realise that another one is about to begin The writer travelled as a guest of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur Tourism FlyEmirates operates a daily service between Dubai and Nice and can be booked as a connecting flight from Sydney or Melbourne (emirates.com). Pick up a hire car at Nice Cote d’Azur airport. Golfe-Juan, and the start of the Route Napoleon, is a 30-minute drive away (route-napoleon.com) StayIn the heart of historic Sisteron, Le Patio de Sophie is a charming three-star boutique hotel in a converted town house with spacious rooms decorated to a rustic-chic theme. Rooms from €135 ($223). See lepatiodesophie-sisteron.com Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now this small town \\u2014 current population about 8000 \\u2014 held the course of French history in its palm My lesson in this chapter in the Napoleonic era is coming via a recorded narrative that booms out in English across the bastion of Sisteron\\u2019s tiered medieval citadel that Henri IV I had already gleaned the headline facts about Napoleon\\u2019s march inside a small museum at the entrance then time moves forward without the Hundred Days \\u2013 as the tumultuous period between his arrival in the capital on March 20 and the restoration of Louis XVIII to the throne on July 8 is known \\u2013 nor defeat at the hands of British and Prussian forces at the Battle of Waterloo (or ABBA\\u2019s career-kickstarting Eurovision song) It\\u2019s as if I\\u2019ve pressed rewind on time the town\\u2019s maze-like covered passageways an epic 325-kilometre French road trip that retraces the triumphant path Napoleon carved out from the Cote d\\u2019Azur to the French Alps before arriving in Paris on March 20 The scattering of fisherman and pottery warehouses that greeted him as he landed on the beach on March 1 has long been replaced by chic beach clubs and yacht broker\\u2019s offices happens to be feted as its most famous resident as it was in the town\\u2019s ceramic studios that Pablo Picasso honed his clayworking skills This first length of the route is classic Cote d\\u2019Azur Although that\\u2019s no complaint \\u2013 as it also means I\\u2019m able to stand surrounded by Picasso\\u2019s immersive Guerre et la Paix mural inside a 12th-century chapel at the Musee National Picasso \\u201CLa Guerre et la Paix\\u201D in Vallauris and take a quick tour of the Fragonard perfumery in Grasse \\u2013 I do find it hard to grasp the magnitude of Napoleon\\u2019s march up to this point I can\\u2019t help but feel this is a trip I should be undertaking in a similarly memorable vehicle Napoleon\\u2019s transport of choice was four-legged and the Grande Randonnee long-distance walking itinerary that retraces the Emperor\\u2019s exact footsteps While the tarmac road might not take me past the precise spots where Napoleon hastily hoisted bivouac refuges for the evening (when he wasn\\u2019t offered a bed in a noble\\u2019s house) Europe\\u2019s answer to the Grand Canyon; Barreme I don\\u2019t struggle to sleep in Sisteron where he received a hero\\u2019s welcome on his arrival Only two days remained between him and Grenoble \\u2013 that distance converts to 100 kilometres of glorious mountain vistas along gently curving roads that leave the dry plains of Provence well and truly in the past I was a prince,\\u201D he would reflect in his political memoirs about the day I can\\u2019t say that the end of my adventure is feted with such grandeur as I look forward to spending time in the lively city that has sprung up between three imposing mountain ranges (the \\u200B\\u200BBelledonne The writer travelled as a guest of Provence-Alpes-Cote d\\u2019Azur Tourism FlyEmirates operates a daily service between Dubai and Nice and can be booked as a connecting flight from Sydney or Melbourne () Pick up a hire car at Nice Cote d\\u2019Azur airport Le Patio de Sophie is a charming three-star boutique hotel in a converted town house with spacious rooms decorated to a rustic-chic theme Luis Castilla is the winner from over 8,000 applicants for the #GreatestRides From the end of May to the beginning of August he will ride through Europe on a Harley-Davidson Street Glide and best of all he can ride the machine on Keep at the end of the tour his first ride started in Spain on May 28th and until May 30th he rode routes in the beautiful country that allowed him to see the wild poppy lavender fields for the first time The Provence landscape smells so beautiful that words fail to describe it a truly intoxicating experience that cannot be described He drove into the Verdon Gorge where they almost lost the Inspire 1 drone the ride goes through the canyon and the best corners of his life Today will be a day he will remember forever a wonderful canyon and a crew doing a fantastic job despite the odds This is what the #greatesRides is all about and it is just the beginning where we will discover the most beautiful routes until June 4th Follow me on my Harleysite social media channels too Essenzielle Cookies ermöglichen grundlegende Funktionen und sind für die einwandfreie Funktion der Website erforderlich. Statistik Cookies erfassen Informationen anonym. Diese Informationen helfen uns zu verstehen, wie unsere Besucher unsere Website nutzen. Marketing-Cookies werden von Drittanbietern oder Publishern verwendet, um personalisierte Werbung anzuzeigen. Sie tun dies, indem sie Besucher über Websites hinweg verfolgen. Inhalte von Videoplattformen und Social-Media-Plattformen werden standardmäßig blockiert. Wenn Cookies von externen Medien akzeptiert werden, bedarf der Zugriff auf diese Inhalte keiner manuellen Einwilligung mehr. The look dazzled on the red carpet, but it truly lit up the room when it was time for Coel to accept her Emmy. “[Michaela] has made such great strides while staying true to herself. She’s given a voice to many who may have been unheard, and she deserved a look that celebrated her,” says Akers. “I was ecstatic! I’m just so happy for Michaela. She deserves all of the good things coming her way.” Photographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferPhotographed by Kayla ReeferStyled by Zerina AkersHair by Coree MorenoMakeup by Bernicia BoatengNails by Rose Hackle we asked a legendary co-driver to guide us through this year's stages Photography by M-Sport, Toyota & Girardo & Co. Archive Words by With the base for this year’s Monte Carlo Rally moving to Gap (France) the route for the World Rally Championship’s season opener is almost entirely new There are no completely new stages at all; they’ve all been used at some point in the event’s long history taking different names and covering various distances over time With more than 40 years of experience on the Monte popular co-driver Denis Giraudet has seen it all on this rally from the glorious days of the concentration runs and 500-odd mile routes of the mid-1980s to the modern iteration of the event with its centralized service parks and sub-200 mile itineraries All that experience makes the affable Frenchman who will compete on the 2024 event as co-driver to Raphaël Astier in an Alpine A110 Rally RGT the perfect guide to this year’s Monte Carlo Rally route how has he been preparing for the navigational challenge posed by the event Giraudet talked DirtFish through which roads he is most looking forward to experiencing from the passenger’s seat on this year’s rally and what we should expect from the stages that are returning to the event after a long absence it’s very nice to drive a stage like Sisteron,” Giraudet begins “even if it is a shortened version of it.” a 13-mile test run in the dark and in front of packs of passionate French fans this stage ran from the village of Sisteron over the Col de Fontbelle – which is usually covered in snow and ice this time of year – and before ending after around 23 miles in the village of Thoard This year’s version is run in the opposite direction stopping before reaching Sisteron itself (hence dropping the famous stage name) Giraudet still expects the stage to provide a significant challenge The Sisteron stage played a key role in the outcome of the 2022 event and it was always really tough for the tire choice And it’s even tougher now as you have to do multiple stages together before you can change tires But you also actually have less of a chance of making a mistake as the tire choice is much more restricted (all crews have the same choice between four Pirelli tires for the rally) than years ago “One stage I’m really looking forward to is stage 10 the second one of Saturday,” says Giraudet the Les Nonières / Chichilianne stage hasn’t been present on a Monte itinerary since 1997 but the Frenchman’s experience of the road comes from a much more recent outing in the French Alps “It has been part of the Monte Carlo Historic Rally in recent years although it was in the opposite direction,” Giraudet confirms But what makes this particular piece of Tarmac so good Piero Liatti won the 1997 Monte; the last time the Les Nonières / Chichilianne stage was used “It’s really a beautiful road,” says the legendary co-driver it’s really going to be a driver’s dream for the first 10 kilometers it was just like Sweden Saturday’s fresh itinerary is sure to add intrigue and the potential for jeopardy to this year’s event as drivers make their first-ever passes of the day’s tricky alpine roads Another change in the itinerary compared with last year is the return of a full mid-day service on both Friday and Saturday It’s one change Giraudet certainly approves of He commented: “This year’s route is much more competitor friendly because at least you have a proper service each day at lunch time and for an event like Monte that’s very important.” The rally will conclude with a run of the famous Col de Turini stage although in a slightly truncated format this year with the cars set to finish the test before they reach the summit of the famous mountain pass – where hoards of fans are usually gathered to cheer on the WRC’s finest But it’s Sunday’s penultimate stage which has Giraudet the most excited; another classic stage making a welcome return With only a single appearance on the Monte (2015) since the turn of the century the Digne-les-Bains / Chaudon-Norante is again better known by its historic name Sébastien Ogier won the Col de Corobin stage in 2015 “and it’s also a beautiful one.” The 12-mile blast may be one of the rally’s shortest before hustling through a series of switch-backs to get up to the road’s summit and then descending rapidly back down the mountain to finish up in the village of Chaudon-Norante it’s got everything” Giraudet eloquently summarizes Let’s hope the same can be said of the rally itself come Sunday afternoon Sign up today and be the first to know about special offers Paris-Nice: Cousin wins stage 5 in Sisteron Paris-Nice: Stage 5 highlights - Video "It is a big tour with a lot of good riders here and I think with the shape is coming for the classics Now I am a little bit disappointed but I can be happy," Politt said after finishing the race On the 165km stage from Salon-de-Provence to Sisteron Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) and Julien El Fares (Delko Marseille Provence KTM) to form the breakaway Given a leash by the peloton for most of the day the racing went up a tempo on the circuit around Sisteron Politt gambled and launched a solo attack which only Cousin could follow as he explained "We know that the break can come to the finish there were three guys and I really wanted to go in the break today and I was the last guy to jump in the break," Politt explained "I felt really good for the whole stage and we was lucky we had a tailwind in the end I tried to attack before the last climb and already had a gap but the Direct Energie guy was coming." Cresting the Côte de la Marquise climb Cousin made contact with Politt and the duo then took the descent together with the German taking on the majority of the work Knowing that Cousin would have the faster legs should it come down to a two-up sprint for the stage win Politt unsuccessfully tried to go solo again "He didn't want to work with me and stayed always on the wheel it is better to take the second place then nothing.' With one kay to go I try to attack because I know he is fast and I tried to avoid the sprint second place I can be happy with this," Politt said While Politt was contemplating better tactics for the next time he finds himself in a similar scenario Cousin was basking in the glory of his biggest win to date explaining post-stage that he learned from previous losses to take the win The victory also ensuring Direct Energie has multiple WorldTour wins in a season for the first time since 2013 "When I saw that the victory was possible I worked hard to go after the Katusha rider and I played with his balls a little I'm so generous in my efforts all year and I was beaten in similar circumstances so many times before that I decided to manoeuvre differently for once and see if it worked There was no consolation for Politt as Cousin also moved into the lead of the mountains classification and made two visits to the podium Cousin explained his focus now is on helping Lilian Calmejane "make it into the top 10".  With Katusha-Alpecin teammate Ilnur Zakarin losing time on stage 1 Politt could try again in his bid for a win before turning his attention to the cobbled classics a clear indication that many of us are continuing to bake our way through “Pandemigeddon.“ I have tried to mix it up - pun thoroughly intended - by baking a variety of yeasted breads quite a few of which are dead-simple and are totally worth the rising time I was beyond fortunate to have been awarded a semester sabbatical from my teaching gig at Gilman School I sat in our breakfast nook and worked on Acts III and IV of an original Elizabethan-verse romance I was writing when my wife and I spent nearly two glorious weeks living in that very village Each day as we walked through the field outside our gîte and into Sisteron’s sleepy center we stopped into what immediately became our favorite boulangerie the appellation derived from the 12th-century hilltop fortress that looms fantastically over the village piled one atop another like doughy mattresses the Sisteronnais bought their traditional baguettes and batards but plainly most popular was this pillowy loaf golden and dimpled like focaccia but slightly spread with anchoïade before baking I watched as the locals queued in front of the plastic guarding the fougasse mattresses one by one holding their hands apart just so to indicate the size of the piece desired some patrons did not need any words to make the day’s purchase We played our parts and partook of plenty of fougasse à l’anchois while we lived in this idyllic village it was the first recipe that I attempted to replicate what you are going to find is not this bread The more traditional French fougasse is an artsy most often shaped like a leaf with dough slashed through prior to baking to create ‘veins’ becoming even crackery after just a few hours out of the oven at least the version baked at this boulangerie in Sisteron so with the ‘other’ fougasse dominating the web hits Le Fournil de la Citadelle exists on the internet I thought of writing the owners a pathetic par avion letter asking for the recette but knew that my French would not hold up plus the only name my wife and I remembered of the folks who worked there was Cacahuete the bakery’s cat: the French word for peanut some French-language recipes for fougasse à l’anchois are on the web though anyone who has tried to go Franco-to-Anglo online has encountered a decilitre of culinary idioms that do not directly translate a puffy loaf that worked both with or without the signature anchovy topping The list of ingredients is pretty straightforward though directly below I will note a few instances in which you can go off-script: APF is fine for this regional version of fougasse because you do not want it to have too close of a crumb; it needs to be airy and light A tablespoon of yeast may seem like a lot; you can definitely cut back to two teaspoons but even the full tablespoon does not make this bread taste too ‘yeasty’ plus you are guaranteed to have plenty of oomph in the proofs I often toss in a tablespoon of herbes de Provence; instead feel free to add chopped fresh rosemary or thyme Between ¼ and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder is nice and even a couple teaspoons of cheese powder or a handful of freshly grated Parmesan cannot be wrong I started letting my flour and yeast pseudo-autolyse essentially giving the flour’s enzymes a chance to do their dance before any party-killer salt is added a practice I use for the fougasse’s first proof Pour the water into the big bowl and whazz it around with dough hooks until all of the ingredients are incorporated The dough will be a shade on the shaggy side but nothing like the unworkable slime that some focaccias are in their early stages or a tea towel over the bowl and let the dough rest for twenty minutes the amount of which will depend on how you will top the unbaked loaf: if you are going to sprinkle the dough with sea salt or slather it with anchoïade prior to baking After another two minutes with your electric mixer Drizzle a light ring of olive oil around the bowl’s bottom and use a dough spatula to ‘roll’ the silky mass into a shiny ball Time for Proof #2: cover the bowl with that plate or tea towel and go watch two episodes of “Community” or one installment of “Ozark.” If you get sucked into anything longer than forty-five minutes you are going to come back to find the ‘after’ stage of a fourth grader’s science project Depending on the time of day and time of year probably even scraping the bottom of your covering a 9x13 high-sided cake pan - with cooking spray and a generously drizzling of olive oil The coating of olive oil on the dough will make it super-easy to slide out of the bowl and into the pan you do not have to be ginger (or Mary Ann) with this particular dough but be brave and depress it as needed until the mass fills the pan bearing the marks of your fingertips all over its dimpled top If it does not want to nest into the corners due to the olive oil no worries: it will do so during Proof #3 and the bake Now is the moment you can choose to be de rigueur Provençale: anchoïade or non I know what you are saying out loud: “You lost me at ‘anchovies’.” I totally understand Those of us near fifty grew up reviling our respective fathers whenever they suggested adding the salty little fishettes to our pizzas when in moderation and in the correct application - like a legit Caesar dressing - they are sublime 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon capers (drained and rinsed) In either a quality blender or a food processor put all of these ingredients in at once and pulse until only finely diced bits are visible slowly pour in enough olive oil until the mixture is a dip-like consistency Do not worry about the green-gray color: it looks much nicer after it bakes Gently spread a thin layer of the anchoïade across the dough’s surface with no concern for complete coverage; a few exposed spots of dough make for a more attractively mottled finished product Drape a tea towel over the pan and go watch one episode of Parks and Rec the dough will have crested a brownie pan’s walls and be ready to bake conservatively sprinkle coarse sea salt across the surface and pop the pan in the oven The bake will take between 20 and 30 minutes Turn the oven light on and watch for the top to turn golden brown so you want a bread that does not brown because all of that olive oil will wind up tasting bitter test the top with your fingertip for crispness let the loaf rest in the pan for ten minutes or so and then use a spatula to slide it out and onto a cutting board After another half-hour’s nap under that tea towel Slice it into half-inch wide strips and dip the puffy pieces into a peppery olive oil with a dash of balsamic vinegar the loaf will be little more than crumbs and sea salt flakes by the end of dinnertime and I will tell you Jamie Oliver’s ‘trick’ to make the most sinfully delicious chicken-fat croutons out of this fougasse this will be the table bread served as a gratis starter and though this is surely not Le Fournil de la Citadelle’s recipe until we move to Sisteron and can go to that beautiful little boulangerie every day Combine first four ingredients in a big mixing bowl (as well as any optional ingredients) Drizzle olive oil around dough ball and coat Slide dough into lightly sprayed and generously oiled 9” x 13” brownie or cake pan Put all ingredients except for the olive oil in a blender or food processor slowly pour in olive oil until mixture is a dip-like consistency It’s Spring 2021 and the first batch of “Domaine des Bergeries de Haute-Provence” wine has just been bottled A genuine feat for Eloïse Massot and Jean-Luc Monteil at the helm of this beautiful vineyard complete with two luxury self-catering gites nestling in the foothills of Lure mountain at the crossroads to Provence and the Southern Alps The man-and-wife team told us all about their magnificent project and the places that inspire them in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur We’d been mulling over the idea for a long time We were looking for the ideal place to bring it to life It had to be somewhere that would take global warming into account – where we could plant our vines at an altitude of at least 500 metres We literally fell in love with this cluster of 4 ramshackle old sheepfolds the first time we visited it We’ve found the perfect place!” The ancient Popes of Avignon were no fools – they absolutely loved wines from Les Mées the famous rock formations set facing our vineyard Jean-Luc is from Manosque and passionate about the wine world During his hospitality and sommelier studies he took part in a variety of competitions (he was two-times finalist in the Concours Ruinart French sommelier challenge) He also pioneered the first wine fairs held by the Carrefour group and worked for the prestigious Nicolas group in Paris so she was immersed in the wine world from a tender age Her family loves wine and would always crack open a bottle of the best at family reunions wine is synonymous with togetherness and sharing So it’s really no surprise that our shared passion united us around this amazing project She loves welcoming guests who come to stay at the vineyard We’re really very lucky to live in the Alpes de Haute-Provence area The natural environment here is preserved and protected which is a great plus for our wines and other local productions Life is good in the Alpes de Haute-Provence We love introducing our guests to these stunning landscapes – many for the very first time –  Sisteron: we love its majestic citadel – now a listed monument – little arched passageways typical of Provence and Rocher de la Baume rock with its characteristic vertical strips of limestone The site is reputed worldwide and geologists consider it a genuine curiosity It’s always a pleasure to stroll round Sisteron It’s a history-packed town located just 20 minutes from Domaine des Bergeries It’s nickname is the “Pearl of Haute-Provence” and it wears it well – Les Mées: this protected site is also a real geological curiosity The village of Les Mées owes its fame to its narrow rocks We actually call them the Penitents because of their evocative silhouette Legend tells that they are monks from Lure mountain petrified by Saint Donat during the Saracen invasions as a punishment for falling in love with the beautiful young Moorish women brought back by a local Lord from one of the crusades we never get tired of the view from our vineyard – The history-packed village of Lurs the former summer residence of the Bishops of Sisteron and now an official “Village of Character” It’s perched on a rocky outcrop and the views over the Southern Alps and Luberon are breathtaking We love exploring its steep little lanes and wandering around its stone houses clocktower and adorable little open-air theatre… This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The day started with Mads Pedersen fighting to get in the breakaway like a man possess believing his best chance at a stage win was to reach the inhuman ramps of Colle-sur-Loup ahead of the lightweight climbers but it took almost 70 kilometres for the real breakaway to establish which Pedersen bridged across to with on other rider to create a group of 10 the breakaway had no option but to forge on but not of Pedersen who continued to pace for Skjelmose when he was brought back The rest of the Lidl-Trek riders had been doing a fine job of looking after Skjelmose keeping him well positioned ahead of the expected explosive finale When the peloton hit the devious double digit gradient at Colle-sur-Loup it didn’t take long for the best climbers to break clear After covering the worst sections of the climb Matteo Jorgensen (Visma Lease-a-Bike) decided to spring his attack  There was no immediate response from the rest of the favourites until Skjelmose decided to jump across having rediscovered the kick he was missing in his first races of the season and shortly thereafter the trio were away with a widening gap able to save his legs a little more as he knew that the two Americans had more to gain from the attack due to their higher position on GC The Danish Champion launched his sprint from the back of the group instantly gapping his rivals before lifting his hands to the sky in victory Thanks to the significant time gap to the chasing group Skjelly skyrockets from 19th to 4th position in GC with everything to play for at the weekend A powerful sprint to the line from @skjelmose_ secures him a well-deserved #ParisNice stage win 💪🫶 HUGE congrats to Skjelly and the whole team after a huge effort together from start to finish today 👏 pic.twitter.com/OxzuZWHHZO — Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) March 8, 2024 FRANCE - MARCH 08: A general view of Mattias Skjelmose of Denmark and Team Lidl - Trek Matteo Jorgenson of The United States and Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Brandon Mcnulty of The United States and UAE Team Emirates sprint at finish line during the 82nd Paris - Nice 2024 Stage 6 a 198.2km stage from Sisteron to La Colle-sur-Loup / #UCIWT / on March 08 these kinds of days are quite special and you need a lot of luck but the Team worked perfectly for me and after when the Team works like this it minimizes all the luck you need When Matteo went I though that Remco or Primoz or one of the other guys higher up on the GC would close it but then I tried pull a little bit and they let me go Brandon then joined me and we were able to close to him I love to race in France especially this area I took an emotion win in Haut Var last year This is the first [victory] of the year for me and that’s always a special one There’s bigger miracles that have happened in cycling but I think the other guys are strong than me today it was a bit of a weird way to win because I played on being down on GC and them having such a big gap on me It’s not necessarily a nice way to win and those guys were stronger than me today I feel better than before I won Tour de Suisse last year and I think I am in a really good place right now We lost time in the TTT but then maybe I wouldn’t have got the stage win today because they wouldn’t have let me go I really don’t know what I can do in the next days I would be happy to move further in GC but also keep the position I’m now then we had the loss in the TTT and I refocused my target on stages I have a stage and still good placement in GC I think we can finish this stuff really great.” Ellen sets a powerful example by winning five months after giving birth to her son By Brittany Siminitz | July 25 a timeless and traditional jewel for graduation gifts and weddings and the perfect match to crisp summer whites But a laid-back summer vibe—doesn’t really seem like our pearl what evokes more frequent thoughts of summer than the sea But summer also brings to mind things like sun and sweat—none of which are beneficial to pearls a statement which in itself is no longer surprising given how consistently pearl has demonstrated its incredible versatility and supercool status That makes this limited-edition treasure from Anne Sisteron no less special With its coppery sunset hue and the addition of golden fringe it’s an “It” necklace if there ever was one and all the different colors they naturally come in,” Sisteron tells JCK “They tend to say classic with a capital C I wanted to create a more edgy piece—pearls for the girl who wants to stand out The golden fringe is cool and also happens to layer amazingly well with other gold chains.” the necklace takes on a casual cool that’s ideal for breezy summer fashions and impromptu get-togethers Yet it could just as easily nestle amid an autumn sweater the warmth of its golden pearls a beautiful match to the bold more subdued hues the next season promises to bring (Could we possibly be thinking of the fall already An invitation you just can’t refuse – when the buildings which belong to the heritage of the South of France welcome musical art and its audience open their doors so that music can ring out with even more grandeur Voir cette publication sur Instagram  Une publication partagée par Festival Nice Classic Live (@niceclassiclive) the cloister of Cimiez monastery in Nice hosts the Nice-Classic-Live Festival: a festival with a really eclectic outlook which delights its audience and where Vivaldi Philip Glass and Ligeti rub shoulders with jazz Associated with the Académie Internationale d’Eté in Nice the festival welcomes the elite of French musicians who have come to teach young artists from all over the world and perform in the superb setting of the monastery’s cloister overlooking the Baie des Anges: genuine live entertainment get ready to set off on a historic trip through the Provencal estates and villages with the Festival Gloriana You’re sure to be moved by the striking combination of Provencal architecture and famed artists parks and churches in the villages for almost a month in small musical ensembles and turn them into unique musical experience venues Une publication partagée par VBM Vanessa Benelli Mosell (@vanessabenellimosell.official) Une publication partagée par Nuits de la Citadelle (@nuitsdelacitadelle) music and theatre are all there in the citadel in Sisteron The festival proposes shows spread over the three key venues in the mecca of the Provencal heritage: Cloître Saint-Dominique the Théâtre de Verdure and Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Pommiers Sisteron’s citadel has always been closely linked to art and live entertainment Marcel Provence organized the third Alpine season there and presented the Cid the site has been a reference for the poets musicians and dancers who wish to perform there the Festival de Simiane-la-Rotonde (Early Music) takes place in its castle The concerts are given in the Rotonde with its Romanesque architecture the sublime room under a dome is the ideal place for the musicians’ talent to ring out Une publication partagée par Avignon et ses alentours ☀️🇫🇷 (@avignon.fr_) the Association des Soirées Musicales unveils its festival at the Abbaye de La Celle an emblematic monument of Provencal Romanesque art which is one of the jewels of the Var’s heritage even though more and more people attend it the festival has always managed to maintain an excellent programme every year you can enjoy dinners by starred chefs at L’Hostellerie de l’Abbaye Une publication partagée par @abbayesaintvictor_marseille By Brittany Siminitz | October 30 The world of men’s jewelry is getting so exciting in part because of a select group of young We won’t make you wait for the punchline: Timothée Chalamet wore a necklace as a belt so now everyone should wear a necklace as a belt a hefty chain necklace—one thick and chunky enough to be placed noticeably at the waist—may not be affordable And people who do spend the money might worry about losing the necklace One way around this is to secure a great fashion piece at a reasonable price and wear the heck out of the trend those who can cough up the cash for a notice-me chain in gold could enjoy the concept of bang-for-buck wear and this placement is an exciting demonstration of a chain’s versatility Monsieur Chalamet may be an inspiration in the realm of men’s jewelry but the star’s style is genderless—anyone can (and should?) wear this look Top: Makhaira 18k yellow gold chain ($14,000–$26,200, depending on length) and Jelly Bean compass pendant in 18k yellow gold with 1.74 ct. cabochon sapphire and 0.48 ct. t.w. diamonds ($2,200–$17,200); Tamsin Rasor Julian Alaphilippe collects his 16th yellow jersey after a quiet day in the saddle Many were expecting a ferocious battle for the breakaway at the start of stage 3 but the actual fight to feature at the front during the 198km trek between Nice and Sisteron concluded after the first kilometer Four riders jumped from the peloton and padded out their lead to four minutes before three of them decided to drop out of the group leaving only Jerome Cousin (Total Direct Energie) in the lead Julian Alaphilippe was enjoying his 15th day in the yellow jersey a record among this year’s Tour de France starters The whole Deceuninck – Quick-Step team rallied around the overall leader TGV of Clermont-Ferrand” Rémi Cavagna devoted all their energy working for Alaphilippe and maintaining a steady pace the catch was made 16 kilometers from Sisteron a stage finish for the first time at the Tour and one of the most picturesque in southern France whose imposing Citadelle resembled Tolkien’s Gondor – Men’s greatest realm at the end of the Third Age towers over the historic center Julian Alaphilippe and Bob Jungels took over the pace-making before Michael Mørkøv dropped off Sam Bennett in a perfect position with 150 meters to go That was the moment the Irish Champion opened his sprint pouncing clear thanks to a rapid acceleration only to be denied in the closing meters by Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) and the strong headwind on the finishing straight His runner-up place – best result at the Tour de France – helped the 29-year-old reduce the gap to the green jersey classification leader to a mere five points but the headwind was really strong and made it easy from somebody in the back to come off the wheels I think it’s a matter of luck and hope that I’ll have some reasons to smile soon” Julian Alaphilippe safely concluded the stage and retained the yellow jersey which on Tuesday he will wear for the 16th time in his career on the roads taking to Orcières-Merlette Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images to know how many times a particular page is read We only use this information to improve the content of our website These cookies are only placed after you have given your consent Australian denies Sam Bennett as Sagan adds more points The sprint was into a strong headwind and Ewan took a risk by staying on the wheels until the final 100 metres the Australian kept his cool and then made his late surge to victory.  Giacomo Nizzolo (NTT Pro Cycling) was the best of the rest behind Ewan and Bennett with Hugo Hofstetter (Israel Start-Up Nation) fourth and Sagan was fifth Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) finished in the peloton and so kept the leader’s yellow jersey before Tuesday’s first mountain top finish to Orcières-Merlette After a quiet stage deep into the Provence countryside the overall contenders dodged around traffic furniture and fought to stay up front into the headwind of the final kilometres Luke Rowe dragged his Ineos Grenadiers team leader Egan Bernal to the front with three kilometres to go after a late crash had spooked some riders and taken Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) out of the sprint Team Sunweb seemd in charge of the sprint with a kilometre to go he hit the front too early and was passed by Bennett and then Ewan Sagan’s only consolation was taking the lead in the green points competition Ewan let out a scream of delight after crossing the line to win his fourth Tour de France stage after his three victories of 2019 His Lotto Soudal team was hit by COVID-19 cases amongst race staff before the start of the Tour and then lost John Degenkolb and Philippe Gilbert after the crashes of stage 1 “The last two days haven't been great for us obviously the first day we crashed and lost two guys so we're down to six already we all knew that if all went right then I could win the sprint Everyone did their job today and made up for the two guys we missed “The guys did a great job keeping me at the front In the last kilometre I was a bit too far forward so I dropped back a bit into the wheels That gave me time to rest the legs just a little before the last hit out.  “I found my way through the wheels - coming from behind is a bit of a risk - but I found my way along the barrier and I came with a lot of speed and it worked in the end,” Ewan said.  “The first ones were very special but it's the Tour de France and it's the biggest race in the world and it's the one that every rider wants to win at I'm so happy to get another win and prove that last year wasn't just a fluke I hope to come back in more years and keep winning.” but was happy to enjoy his second day this year in the leader’s yellow jersey and confident he can keep it on Tuesday I'm really happy to wear the yellow jersey we defended it today and we'll do it again tomorrow,” the GC leader said.  there's a big climb up to the finish but I hope we're going to do it We'll take it day by day and see what happens.” The riders signed on under a warm sun at the Nice soccer stadium and seemed eager to race on the 198km stage - the second longest of this year’s Tour de France.  However with the sprinters expected to dominate and the overall contenders allowed the first attack to go clear as soon as race director Christian Prudhomme dropped his race flag Oliver Naesen and Benoit Cosnefroy were there for AG2R La Mondiale to defend the polka-dot jersey as was their main challenger Anthony Perez (Cofidis) Jérôme Cousin (Total Direct Energie) was happy to go along for the ride The peloton let them go and Naesen soon dropped back on team orders as Cosnefroy and Perez prepared to battle for the points on the four categorised climbs It was Cosnefroy's third day on the attack at this year's Tour and he seemed tired with Perez beating him on the Col du Pilon after 55km and again on the Col de la Faye after 63km to become the virtual leader of the climber’s competition with Deceuninck-QuickStep tractor Tim Declercq doing a lot of the early work With heavy rain showers dampening everyone’s enthusiasm the break eased up as Cosnefroy and Perez looked at each other The speed dropped to close to 30km/h reminding everyone the Tour de France is a three-week race and not a one-day Classic Only Cousin wanted to race and jumped away alone with around 130km to go He was perhaps inspired by his Paris-Nice stage win in Sisteron in 2018 and so powered on Cousin pressed on the isolated but stunning roads of Provence finding satisfaction in his solo ride as he went towards Digne-Les-Bains along valley roads He was the first over the Col des Lèques after 117km with Cosnefroy re-emerging from the peloton and getting a lead out from teammate Nans Peters to take second However Perez kept his virtual KOM lead.  Sadly that lead and his race ended soon after when he crashed on the descent and then apparently was hit by his own Cofidis team car Perez was forced to abandon the Tour de France Cousin was first through the late intermediate sprint after 160km but 45 seconds behind him there was a real sprint for the other points Sagan got an excellent lead out from teammate Daniel Oss Nizzolo and then Alexander Kristoff behind him The final sprint would obviously shake up the points totals.  Cousin pushed on alone while behind the sprint teams and the GC teams formed near the front to protect their riders the speed finally rose and the race came alive The headwind slowed everyone and no team was able or willing to control the peloton The best tactic was clearly to come late and Ewan had the bravery bike skills and speed to do it better than anyone else Stephen FarrandSocial Links NavigationHead of NewsStephen is one of the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team having reported on professional cycling since 1994 He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022 before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters a hybrid jewelry e-commerce site and manufacturer based in Los Angeles was founded on the modern idea of harnessing the power of influence to forge fun and fruitful brand collaborations The company is the brainchild of marketing veteran Ivka Adam who says she noticed a tipping point in the influence game around 2014—celebrities and social media stars were suddenly eclipsing the brands they were representing she realized that “no one was offering influencers the opportunity to do their own jewelry.” founding creative ­director of Lucky magazine she put together a jewelry supply chain and introduced Iconery in 2015 with help from investors a staff ­headed by CEO Adam and stacked with designers and jewelry historians and top-to-bottom manufacturing capabilities the company is enviably nimble: Iconery partners with influencers (and the occasional brand such as Charles & Colvard) on cobranded collections and retails most of the jewelry it makes on its own well-trafficked site “The way I describe ourselves is a supply chain as a service,” says Adam a former eBay exec who began her ­career in business development at Ernst & Young “I love being able to help people build their own brands.” We started developing a collection with her I remember thinking how incredible my team is—she had inspirations that ranged four decades and included so many motifs and we were able to pull together a really cohesive collection Emili is the senior editor and social media lead at JCK—covering jewelry retail The 107th edition of the classic features a Grand Départ on the Riviera and eight mountain days on the 21-stage route Mon 24 Aug 2020 13.59 CESTLast modified on Mon 24 Aug 2020 14.44 CESTShareStage one Two loops north of Nice over a serious-looking climb with a finish on the Promenade des Anglais; with 38km between the last bit of uphill and the finish there is time for the peloton to regroup if it splits on the climb Will favour sprinters who can climb a bit such as the Italian Elia Viviani The toughest opening weekend stage in 40 years First category Cols de la Colmiane and Turini will show immediately if any favourites are off form and should cause a selection of maybe 50 riders; a final little climb 9km from the end is tailor-made for home hopefuls Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot Immensely scenic run north partly using the Route Napoléon through towns like Grasse and Digne les Bains but a mainly downhill final 80km means unless it’s full-on all the way this should be one for the pure sprinters such as the Aussie Caleb Ewan or Ireland’s Sam Bennett An unusually tough summit finish for this early in the Tour at a ski resort famed for a 1971 duel between Eddy Merckx and Luis Ocaña at the end of a long drag to 1,825m above sea level There will be a sort-out among the favourites or a strong finisher such as Rigoberto Urán This could be a day for Julian Alaphilippe Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesStage five this is another one earmarked for the sprinters climbing gradually in the final eight kilometres Might favour a “punchy” finisher such as the Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet or Milan-San Remo winner Wout van Aert The second tough summit finish in three days: a 12km ascent to the Col de la Lusette a brief downhill and an 8km drag to the finish a break will get here well before the main men sort each other out One for climbers with no aspirations overall such as the Frenchmen Pierre Rolland or Kenny Elissonde Brutally lumpy and baking-hot roads in the Massif Central and a meaty 14.5km climb in the middle The finale will see a classic battle between a break and the sprinters’ teams A day for a strong all-terrain rider such as the Belgian Tiesj Benoot or France’s Lilian Calmejane A classic Pyrenean stage: two first-category mountains and the super-category Port de Balès There should be a pattern to the racing now and a strong team such as Jumbo or Ineos should control the pace It’s a tricky downhill to the finish so while the overall contenders test each other the stage will suit a climber with descending skills such as the Slovenian Matej Mohoric The Port de Balès in the recent Route d’Occitanie Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesStage nine A break should succeed today: there will be an intense battle until it forms and it will get whittled down on the Col de Marie-Blanque 19 km from the finish and isn’t high up overall: if Ireland’s Daniel Martin or Uran are not in the top 20 they will target this one A transfer up the Atlantic coast for the flattest stage of the race Bound to be a sprint finish so one for the likes of Bennett or Ewan or Viviani but the question is whether the wind blows strongly off the sea in which case the race is likely to split and the outcome is anyone’s guess The only truly innocuous stage in the first 10 days and there should be a westerly so this will be rapid By now it will be obvious which sprinters are in the mix so there will be pressure on the second-stringers such as Nacer Bouhanni of France and Giacomo Nizzolo of Italy if they haven’t landed one yet Lumpy roads into the fiefdom of ex-president Chirac and tired legs will make this another day for a break while the select group of favourites wait for the Alps Wise money will go on a clever one-day specialist such as the young world champion Mads Pedersen or a strongman like Thomas De Gendt with seven climbs ending with the highest pass of the Massif Central It’s a day that should decide the polka-dot best-climber’s jersey while the finish will show who is looking good for the Alps Will favour a pure climber such as Mikel Landa or Nairo Quintana but anyone wanting to win has to show well here A second category climb after 68.5km will see off many of the sprinters while a couple of short late hills will favour an attack from the likes of France’s Benoît Cosnefroy The overall contenders will want to stay out of trouble as the Alps loom A super-category uphill finish on a super-steep climb in the southern Jura; this is where GC riders such as Egan Bernal or Primoz Roglic will have to show what they have left The concentrated climbing in the final 80km will make it difficult for a break to succeed so an overall contender such as Bernal might win here and with an 11km climb into the Vercors Massif and the winner will probably escape on the ascent 20km from the finish It’s the sort of stage that suits a climber who isn’t afraid to go solo such as the Dutchman Bauke Mollema if he isn’t in the overall mix 2,304m above sea level after 21.5km climbing The final pecking order should be all but settled here The initial sort-out will come on the super-category Col de la Madeleine and the finish has Bernal written all over it The Col de la Madeleine during the recent Dauphiné Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesStage 18 The last of eight Alpine stages: a saw-tooth profile with the partly gravel Plateau de Glières 32km from the finish None of the favourites can afford a bad day here but it doesn’t have the scary look of the day before a last chance for a rider like Romain Bardet or Warren Barguil to shine if he has had a poor three weeks The last day when a team that haven’t won a stage can break their duck; in recent years a handful of teams have dominated in the Tour so the pressure could be on half the field it’s likely to be a bunch sprint for whoever has survived the Alps Time was the Tour had up to 120km of time trials but that has been whittled down to create more exciting racing for television A steep uphill finish like this one should confirm what we’ve seen on the climbs in the past few days; France will be praying for a good Tour from Pinot whose home village of Melisey features early on today The final competitive stage should be a thrilling time trial Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty ImagesStage 21 Mantes-la-Jolie – Paris Champs Élysées 122km so expect the usual bunch sprint – last year won by Ewen – but with two provisos The first is how the race has weathered the Covid-19 storm – will riders and teams have dropped out along the way how the riders have coped with relatively little competition time in this condensed 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 Tom Randall recently returned from a trip to Sisteron​, France in search of some hard crack climbs following a tip-off from a friend. The "Wideboy" swapped offwidths for an 8b/+ finger crack named Présence (8b)- making an ascent of what is possibly France's hardest crack climb to date "On the first couple of days I was left with the impression that the route was very similar to the middle hard section of Cobra Crack but without the V9 crux undercut part it definitely made up for in its sustained nature It was hard from metre “one” to metre “twenty five” and only let up a tiny bit in the last eight metres." With old-school bolting resulting in dangerous fall potential Tom extended some quickdraws to make the line a bit safer: "What also added to the difficulty on this route was some very spicy bolting Both of the 3rd and 4th clips would result in deck out from 30 and 50ft if you fell off level with the bolt." Tom redpointed the route on an early morning attempt to avoid the heat I think it’s absolutely superb and fits in nicely at the 8b/+ (or 5.13d/5.14a) mark on a global scale My obsessive nature was of course mainly pleased that I’d managed to tick another one off the life time list." When asked whether Présence could be the hardest crack in France Tom has been attempting to vary the styles of routes he tries as much as possible by travelling around the UK to round off some unfinished business he has made the first ascent of The Art of Non-Conformity E7 6c - solo without pads - at High Crag on the North York Moors as well as completing a project at Ilam Rock, named Thrill of the Fight E7 6c A Devon roof project...watch this space.. More information on Tom's blog. Watch a video of Tom on Présence below: Tom is sponsored by: Casio G-Shock, Climb On, Five Ten, Rab and Wild Country Tom is also a part owner of The Climbing Station There was one key difference that separated family holidays to France in my childhood compared to holidays as a young teen: autoroutes The French autoroute network has existed in one form or another since the Second World War but several new sections added throughout the 1990s and early 2000s turned French travel from a meandering route through towns and cities into a rapid point-to-point trip on highly efficient motorways I made a point of avoiding autoroutes wherever possible and getting back to those nostalgic days of village cafés and ropey old Renault 4s parked by the roadside Here are five reasons it was the perfect decision – and why it’ll work for your next road trip It should come as no shock that, despite its French roots, my Peugeot 106 Rallye While it’s competent enough (with good stability and comfortable seats) and undoubtedly less hectic than its predecessors gearing of roughly 20mph per 1000rpm puts you at 4000rpm at the French motorway limit I don’t doubt the engine would take it even for hours on end (it’s still 3000rpm away from the red line) And now imagine your car wasn’t built in the 1990s but the 1950s or 1960s – perhaps with less adequate cooling Letting older components thrash away at high revs does no favours to them then why not head off the motorway altogether there’s probably some small-town garage only too willing to put you back on the road Spend any time on British motorways and the French autoroutes are like some ribbon of Tarmac from heaven well-maintained and largely free of traffic As predominantly toll roads however they can also get expensive typically costing more than £10 for every 100 miles If you really need to get somewhere in a hurry that’s a small price to pay and you can guarantee regular service stations and rest stops to take the sting out of long distances then avoiding them can save you a fortune you can then spend elsewhere Not all of my 2400-mile trip would’ve been on toll routes 2000 miles instead of the probably 500 miles I actually had to pay for that’d be another £150 in tolls right off the bat and sticking to smaller roads saved money there too since it’s more fuel-efficient at lower speeds Fuel at motorway service stations is also around 10 cents per litre more – so don’t be fooled into thinking that the more direct autoroute will be cheaper One of the key reasons for avoiding France’s motorway network was to experience some of its best roads in a car that begs to be thrown around a few corners Plug the route from Valence to Nice in the south of France into Google and it’ll put you on around 230 miles and four hours of autoroute notably avoiding large national parks like Les Baronnies and the Verdon Tick “avoid motorways” though and the preferred route a little shorter at 215 miles but two hours longer Sisteron and Entrevaux – the latter pair on the historic N85 If you pilot something with a bit of power and a good chassis you’ll have an absolute hoot on some of the twistiest and even if you prefer to amble than hustle than a straight shot down a multi-lane road While the twisties were perfect in my Peugeot the aforementioned towns had plenty to offer too and they’re something you’d miss entirely navigating place to place by only the fastest routes I was loosely aware of Sisteron for instance but while I had no specific plans to stop there it became a must-visit the instant it hoved into view The town is situated on a rocky ridge (called Rocher de la Baume) split by the Durance river and the detour was worth it just to witness the turquoise waters the town’s towering walls and its spectacular geological features Entrevaux was perfect for a coffee break later and when I then drove north again the next day I didn’t have to spend much time searching for somewhere to have lunch and absorb some of the region’s considerable history and scenery – things you simply wouldn’t get a chance to do by saving two hours via the autoroute A quickfire itinerary on my recent trip meant only once did I spend two nights on the trot in the same hotel and save for breaks to eat and gawp at scenery simply drive until I reached the next place to lay my head the journey itself became more important than where I was staying So why then would I bother rushing there when I could slow down a little and enjoy the bits in between – while still arriving early enough each evening to spend an hour or two exploring That’s the real appeal of a road trip of course If you simply need to get somewhere then a motorway is fine but if the journey itself is part of the experience – and as a Hagerty reader we’re guessing that’s probably the case – then make the most of it enjoy the drive – and do it all again the next day You stopped in Sisteron (nice place) but didn’t see the outstanding Citroen Museum there (Musee des Citroens)? One of the best outside Citroen’s own Conseravatoire “Discovered” Sisteron and the Museum while doing Route Napoleon I know it’s there for next time… heading to France this June for a road trip and can’t wait after reading this Have added Sisteron to the list 👍👍 back roads the majority of the way stirred up wonderful memories from 50 years ago until a couple years back Will we be able to read about the full trip places visited and more important how the Rallye was on smooth French tarmac Good article, and I endorse the general thrust but, for those considering touring in a classic in France who are unfamiliar with recent air quality regulation, beware the new Crit’Air regime! See https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/law-change-for-uk-drivers-in-french-cities/ for info on the rules fines and locations affected at the time the article was written My 1990 Porsche 911 is denied a Crit’Air sticker on the grounds that it’s too old so I now find myself banned from the central parts of Annecy Even if you can obtain a Crit’Air sticker you may find that the emissions rating given to your classic limits those places to which you may go and you may find that the permitted rating for any town operating the scheme can be changed at short notice France is becoming a less car-friendly country Good suggestion on Crit’Air Jamie – I mostly avoided places limited by it but it’s definitely worth knowing for anyone visiting bigger cities Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Show Search Search Query Submit Search Don't Miss Print Michel Daher was running a fast-growing potato chip company in Lebanon when he got caught up in the euphoria of the late-1990s Silicon Valley tech boom He bought shares in a block of tech companies that went public at the time and he sold some stock before online business models fizzled and the market tanked the hoopla around tech got Daher to meet with Yves Sisteron and Steven Deitz through a mutual connection Sisteron and Dietz were partners at the venture capital firm now known as Upfront Ventures and they needed cash for their second fund to invest in start-ups have continued to invest not only in subsequent Upfront Ventures funds but also in several other Southern California investment funds and start-ups Though their efforts haven’t been well publicized the Dahers have become among the biggest supporters of Los Angeles tech companies behind the scenes “They are fantastic because they bring both a global perspective and true operating experience because they are entrepreneurs themselves,” Mark Suster, managing partner at Upfront Ventures Some of Daher Capital’s three dozen investments include mobile games start-up Seriously bedsheet seller Parachute Home and online marketplace for clothing Tradesy Each of the companies is in the Los Angeles area Earlier holdings have made Daher Capital money It had investments through and alongside Upfront Ventures in area companies that went public or sold in deals valued at hundreds of millions of dollars Mark Daher said his family has taken a step back from directly investing in start-ups as they focus on increasing efficiency at Daher Foods The Lebanese company is known for Master potato chips Pops nuts and crackers and Sitos tortilla chips They’re distributed across 18 countries in the Middle East with Dahers owning the entire process from farming to processing to distribution The elder Daher started the company in the early 1990s He had returned to his hometown after working abroad saying that he wanted to bring jobs to the region stock market crash following the tech run-up around 2000 “He believed the ideas were not necessarily wrong,” Mark Daher said But getting meetings or agreeing to investment terms with Silicon Valley venture capitalists was difficult That’s about the time when the Los Angeles opportunity came up Daher’s bet that Los Angeles would become an important market for technology companies has proved right in recent years Rincon Venture Partners and Double M Capital have raised cash from the Dahers And regulatory filings show that Jim Andelman and Mark Mullen recently teamed up to launch Bonfire Ventures a new investment company that has Daher Capital’s backing “Daher Capital has been an incredible long term partner and co-investor with us in Los Angeles,” Double M’s Mullen said in an email Mark Daher says he and his father are known for moving fast when getting an offer to invest and for being accommodating toward entrepreneurs He credits his father's boldness for making their efforts work “I don’t know if a lot of family investment offices have the same risk appetite as we do,” said Mark Daher and usually people like him have a high appetite for risk-taking.” The younger Daher started learning how to develop software on his own as a child He said he bought a discussion board for coders for $5,000 during his teenage years and sold it for around $1 million a few years later to a media company He started to focus on Daher Capital and the venture capital portfolio in 2009 they’ve provided insights about setting up international operations They’ve learned the hard way to reject investment terms that seem too expensive and thus are unlikely to produce sizable returns They’ve taken their Los Angeles strategy to India in recent years Daher Capital invested with a couple of venture capital firms — Lightbox and Kalaari Capital — in hopes that the relationships lead to opportunities to invest directly in companies The elder Daher continues to invest in publicly traded companies across sectors such as tech Not being located in Los Angeles or India has been a limiting factor But it’s something that he has no immediate plans to address The hope is to cut through increased competition and return to normal investing flow in Los Angeles by this time next year and put our money where our mouth is," he said A girl at Dodger Stadium watches her hologram catch baseballs in a virtual glove (Vntana) Los Angeles start-up Vntana’s original plan was to allow those unable to attend a concert to instead watch life-size holograms perform in front of them Vntana had developed technology to record scenes stream the video and play it back in a way that resembles 3-D the people willing to pay would be advertisers looking for new ways to market That’s how a small booth ended up at the Lexus Club at Dodger Stadium Similar displays have appeared at Staples Center see their virtual self on the screen and move their arms to catch baseballs flung at their digital avatar Participants get an email with a video recapping their hologram experience More than 1,400 people have tried it this season more than double the number that participated in previous Lexus booths each of the last two years at Dodger Stadium The prior installations were a baseball swing analyzer and green-screen-based experience The hologram display also has drawn more interest than Lexus driving videos in virtual reality headsets it’s a fun but stagnant experience” for fans assistant general manager for Lexus’ Western area “we can send the experience back to them via email The company uses collected email addresses for marketing purposes if consumers provide permission “Hopefully we’ll be able to integrate this at many more venues and hopefully at the dealerships,” Davis said She suggested that the next technology challenge could be going from catching baseballs to feeling as if you’re driving a Lexus vehicle in different settings “The more you can personalize experience to what consumers are interested in the more relevant consumer data you can capture,” Davis said TechDay L.A. is expected to bring together 12,000 people at the Reef in downtown Los Angeles on Sept networking opportunities and demos of new start-up projects This weekly L.A. Tech report is going on hiatus. Until it resumes, please send any tips to ben.muessig@latimes.com paresh.dave@latimes.com Twitter: @peard33 South Korean court rejects Qualcomm's antitrust challenge Your face may become your iPhone password Roku, streaming TV box maker, files for an IPO An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of investor Michel Daher as Michael. Paresh Dave was a Los Angeles-based tech reporter for the Los Angeles Times from May 2013 to September 2017. He focused on business issues surrounding local tech companies, the digital media industry, e-sports and video games and occasionally cybersecurity. Dave previously covered the criminal courts system, national tragedies and sports business. He graduated from the University of Southern California and grew up in San Diego. Hollywood Inc. World & Nation Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information Photographer: Eric Piermont/AFP via Getty Images that meant shaking hands under a scorching sun in Sisteron a village in southern France with a population of about 7,200 to kick off a fiber-optic installation effort The site made an ideal backdrop for photos with its 12th-century citadel perched on a rocky cliff (Image credit: ASO)(Image credit: ASO)Stage 4: Sisteron - Orcières-Merlette  The race makes an assault in the Hautes-Alpes with 3,000 metres of climbing and the first summit finish Never before has an alpine summit finish appeared as early as the fourth day of the race there hasn’t been a finish climb this hard and this early in the Tour de France since 1979 when riders had to tackle the first category climb Superbagnères (later reclassified as hors categorie) in the Pyrenees for a time trial on the third day of the race.  The category 1 Orcières-Merlette was last featured in 1989 as a mountain time trial clash between Laurent Fignon and Greg LeMond The course gently rises to the sprint in Veynes for the first 51.5 kilometres then ascends the category 3 Col du Festre at 1,441 metres above sea level The category 4 Côte de Corps leads to the Côte de l’Aullagnier followed by Côte de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes a pair of category 2 inclines which then follow Le Drac river towards the 11km ascent at 5.9 per cent average gradient to Orcières-Merlette Le drac was part of French folklore as a dragon-like beast and the road to the summit finish at 1825m may draw similarities for the peloton The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox! Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999 and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team won every stage on Saturday at Rallye Monte-Carlo with its new GR YARIS Rally1 as Sébastien Ogier took back the overall lead with one day remaining During the day the crews faced a total of five stages located further west in the mountains around Digne-Les-Bains which hosted the mid-day tyre fitting zone It included two passes of a shortened version of the famous Sisteron stage (from Saint-Geniez to Thoard) and the most difficult conditions experienced on this year’s event with several kilometres covered in snow and ice The team’s drivers locked out the top three positions on each of the day’s first two stages which were won by Elfyn Evans and Ogier respectively with the latter moving into the joint rally lead Ogier then opened up a 5.4-second advantage by winning the tricky SS11 Evans meanwhile set a great pace over the most slippery section of the stage only to be caught out on the fast descent and go off the road With the help of spectators he was eventually able to rejoin and continue but lost around 20 minutes Ogier went on to extend his advantage in the repeat of the Sisteron stage after following his nearest rival’s selection of four soft tyres before the stage and producing a stage time that was 16.1s faster His lead stands at 21.1s with four stages remaining Kalle Rovanperä also became a stage winner in the GR YARIS Rally1 as he showed considerably improved confidence and speed after changes made to his car setup overnight He won both afternoon stages ahead of vastly more experienced competitors and gained five positions during the day to end it in fourth overall Takamoto Katsuta was running in fifth overall before he slid wide into a ditch on an icy corner in SS13 who had to abandon the Criterium du Dauphine two weeks ago after a heavy crash produced a strong acceleration in the final 150 metres of the climb after his teammate had set the pace for much of the upper section of the final climb Fellow Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was not far off in second place while Alaphilippe looked to be on terms but had to settle for fifth behind Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) and Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) after fading in the final metres The Frenchman missed out on bonus seconds but remains in yellow with Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) finishing 10th Yates remains second overall at four seconds but Roglic who helped himself to 10 bonus seconds for the win "We can see that I can race and every day I feel a little better I already got proof that I was ready for the start Now we need to continue the whole team with a good job "It's the news I have to accept," he said of Alaphilippe keeping yellow The 160.5km stage contained four minor climbs but the first-category ascent to Orcières-Merlette 7.1km long at a steady average gradient of 6.7 per cent) given the rarity of major summit finishes this early in the Tour the climb didn't produce anything spectacle like when Luis Ocana put eight minutes into Eddy Merckx here in 1971 as the general classification contenders largely looked to make sure they were present and correct in the first true test of the Tour Fifteen other riders were awarded the same time as Roglic at the line providing the first real clues as to who might challenge over the coming weeks the prospect of Richard Carapaz adding another option for Ineos Grenadiers took a knock as the Giro d'Italia champion lost 28 seconds along with the EF duo of Dani Martinez and Sergio Higuita although EF's third leader Rigoberto Uran did finish in the front group Enric Mas and Alejandro Valverde lost nine seconds and 21 seconds while Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) – another with fitness doubts after a Dauphine crash – also lost nine seconds Egan Bernal was solid enough in sixth place on an explosive climb that was always going to favour the likes of Roglic although there were cracks in Jumbo-Visma's multi-leader strategy as Tom Dumoulin Bonus seconds moved Pogacar and Martin into fourth and fifth overall while Bernal in sixth leads a group of 10 riders at 17 seconds from Roglic The Tour continues on Wednesday with a dangerous stage 5 and a tricky punchy finale into Privas while another summit finish awaits on Thursday at Mont Aigoual ahead of the mountainous weekend in the Pyrenees to finish the opening week a small breakaway formed almost as soon as Christian Prudhomme had waved the start flag from the sunroof of the race director's car There was a brief counter-attack that was swiftly snuffed out by Jumbo-Visma six riders went clear with a minimum of fuss despite the mountainous terrain on the menu Israel Start-Up Nation were keen on the escape putting Nils Politt up there with Krists Neilands and they were joined by Tiesj Benoot (Sunweb) Quentin Pacher (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) and Mathieu Burgaudeau (Total Direct Energie) Vuillermoz was the chief threat to Alaphilippe's yellow jersey and Deceuninck-QuickStep kept them on a short leash all day their lead never rising above the four-minute mark The first real piece of action came at the intermediate sprint in Veynes after 51.5km Politt led the break across but back in the bunch the green jersey contenders came to the fore with Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-QuickStep) taking the maximum remaining points after a strong lead-out The Irishman moved level on points with Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) but the green jersey would stay with the Slovak due to his superior position on GC It was soon time for the first climb of the day the category 3 Col du Festre (7.6km at 5.3 per cent) where Pacher attacked at the top to take the maximum two mountains classification points it was the descent where a more concerted attack was made who hung out for 15 largely downhill kilometres before being joined by his former companions ahead of the second climb of the day the category 4 Côte de Corps (2.2km at 6.3 per cent) Pacher was unthreatened for the sole KOM point while Deceuninck-QuickStep led the peloton - which had fractured briefly on the previous descent and left Pogacar with a short chase - over the top 2:30 in arrears and Pacher going clear before Benoot exchanged words with Vuillermoz once they were back together The road titled uphill ahead of the category 3 Côte de l'Aullagnier with just under 40km to go with Pacher once again taking maximum points The road continued as a false flat for 7km before a drop down towards the penultimate climb the category 3 Côte de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes (2.8km at 6.8 per cent) the breakaway dropped to five members as Tiesj Benoot misjudged a left-hand bend and crashed into and over a guardrail snapping his bike in two but fortunately still able to ride a new one Things had already intensified back there on the climb and false flat and QuickStep proceeded to tear downhill with the gap down to 1:45 with 25km to go Politt had been in front of Benoot on the descent and proceeded to once again carve out of an advantage before being caught and quickly dropped when they hit the Saint-Leger-les-Melezes it was Neilands who attacked near the top – not for the KOM points but as a bid for freedom and a shot at the stage win He carved out a lead of 25 seconds as Pacher and Vuillermoz gave chase Kasper Asgreen set a strong tempo on the approach to the final climb catching Pacher and Vuillermoz with just under 10km to go Neilands dangled out a couple of kilometres longer but was swallowed up just as the final climb began with 7.1km to go Jumbo-Visma looked to set the tempo on the lower slopes but Alaphilippe quickly ordered Dries Devenyns and Bob Jungels to the front Devenyns' turn did damage to Jumbo-Visma's numerical advantage before Jungels took it up with 5.5km to go The first attack came from Pierre Rolland (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) with 4.4km to go the Frenchman sensing the need to put pressure on a bunch that still contained some 50 riders Yates' teammate Mikel Nieve came to the front and snuffed out Rolland's attack with 3.9km to go Nieve continued to set the pace before Van Aert took over with 3.3km to go Alaphilippe tucked in behind Ineos' Michal Kwiatkowski and Jonathan Castroviejo It was a waiting game as Van Aert led all the way to 1.5km to go as Jumbo-Visma climbers like George Bennett and Robert Gesink fell away Kwiatkowski then found himself on the front before Sepp Kuss came forward to up the pace whose Ineos back-up rider Richard Carapaz was dropped Guillaume Martin then attacked with 500m to go with Roglic clawing his way across and Alaphilippe sitting in the wheel but Roglic opened up for the line and got a convincing gap as Pogacar and Alaphilippe also sprinted for the line Alaphilippe appeared to fade in the dying metres and was pipped by Martin and Quintana but there was nothing to disprove suspicions he might once again carry the maillot jaune deep into this race it was Roglic who delivered the most resounding statement of intent and after being surrounded by so much doubt ahead of the race although this was just the first encounter of many to come in the battle for yellow Patrick FletcherSocial Links NavigationPatrick is a freelance sports writer and editor He’s an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish) Patrick worked full-time at Cyclingnews for eight years between 2015 and 2023 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a registered trademark of Gamer Network Limited Lotto Soudal rider Caleb Ewan of Australia wins the stage France: Australian Caleb Ewan timed his effort to perfection to win the third stage of the Tour de France in a bunch sprint at the end of a 198-km hilly ride through the Alpine foothills on Monday Sam Bennett looked in control but the Irishman had probably underestimated the headwind and settled for second place as he watched Lotto-Soudal fastman Ewan whizz around him to snatch his fourth stage win on the Tour France's Julian Alaphilippe retained the overall leader's yellow jersey Tuesday's fourth stage is a 160.5-km effort from Sisteron to Orcieres-Merlette for the first summit finish of the race who trails Alaphilippe by four seconds overall An all-French breakaway featuring Anthony Perez polka dot jersey holder Benoit Cosnefroy and Jerome Cousin was kept on a tight leash by the bunch as rain began to fall with 150 kilometres left who won a Paris-Nice stage in Sisteron in 2018 tried his luck solo with Perez and Cosnefroy being swallowed up by the pack despite the leisurely pace Perez later abandoned with a rib fracture and a possible collapsed lung after crashing into his team's car Cofidis said the 29-year-old had been taken to hospital for further checks Cousin was reined in with 16 kms left by the peloton controlled by Alaphilippe's Deceuninck Quick Step as the sprinters' teams started to gear up for the bunch sprint one of top favourite Primoz Roglic's team mates crashed some six kms from the line but the Milan-Sanremo champion finished the stage