Tour 2013 Route

durhamwasp

Strongly rumoured that the 100th edition will involve the Ventoux and a double ascent of the Alpe! Sounds fantastic, wonder how it will suit Wiggo.

andyp

Loads of info in this thread;

viewtopic.php?f=40002&t=12867623

Richmond Racer

Wiggo's said that he's taking 5 weeks off and then he's back onto the training. Ventoux and 2 ascents of the Alpe - pah. Erm...yeah..pah!

Is is wrong to be getting excited with 9 months to go?

rick_chasey

Richmond Racer wrote:

Is is wrong to be getting excited with 9 months to go?

Absolutely not.

blazing_saddles

Today's dubious rumour:

inkyfingers

That looks like a fun route. Doubt it's that accurate though.

Richmond Racer

If it is accurate..all media already writing in their 2013 diaries...'Do NOT go on the lash on 8th Jul...'

knedlicky

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Today's dubious rumour:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A3phCYoCAAAMoLT.png:large

“Today’s dubious rumour” doesn’t fully match Velowire’s rumoured route, which today is still about the same as it was on 11 Sept (see two-thirds down on viewtopic.php?f=40002&t=12867623&start=60),
except it now has stage 9 much more into the Pyrenees (Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre)

One major difference between “Today’s dubious rumour” and Velowire’s idea is where Ventoux will fit in, near the start or near the finish of the Tour. The Le Dauphiné Libéré newspaper is reporting where it thinks the Tour will go based on Velowire’s suspicions.

There was also a media report today that the Col de Sarenne above Alpe d’Huez was being resurfaced, thus reinforcing the idea that the Alpe would be climbed twice - after the first ascent, the riders going over the Sarenne down to Lac du Chambon, then back to Bourg and up the Alpe again.
Not that there's much other choice of route for this to happen.

esspeebee

Finishing on a 15km ITT looks fairly dubious to me.

FJS

knedlicky wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Today's dubious rumour:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A3phCYoCAAAMoLT.png:large

“Today’s dubious rumour” doesn’t fully match Velowire’s rumoured route, which today is still about the same as it was on 11 Sept (see two-thirds down on viewtopic.php?f=40002&t=12867623&start=60),
except it now has stage 9 much more into the Pyrenees (Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre)

One major difference between “Today’s dubious rumour” and Velowire’s idea is where Ventoux will fit in, near the start or near the finish of the Tour. The Le Dauphiné Libéré newspaper is reporting where it thinks the Tour will go based on Velowire’s suspicions.

There was also a media report today that the Col de Sarenne above Alpe d’Huez was being resurfaced, thus reinforcing the idea that the Alpe would be climbed twice - after the first ascent, the riders going over the Sarenne down to Lac du Chambon, then back to Bourg and up the Alpe again.
Not that there's much other choice of route for this to happen.

Velowire is normally very reliable, but i do find this a strange route, particularly missing out Bordeaux when it seems the route visits all the other 1903 TdF cities. Doesn't make sense. The different predictions are way more all over the place than normally at this stage.
http://www.velowire.com/article/657/en/ ... ties-.html

inkyfingers

esspeebee wrote:

Finishing on a 15km ITT looks fairly dubious to me.

Made for a pretty memorable finish in '89

The problem is that a final stage TT only really works as a spectacle if the GC is close as it was in 1989 or as it was in this years Giro. At least with a sprint you a guaranteed a genuine battle for the win.

Cavendish wouldn't be happy.

specialgueststar

I'm pretty sure there is a Toulouse start and finish near by - so the Montpellier to Perpignan transfer seems odd

avoidingmyphd

knedlicky wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Today's dubious rumour:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A3phCYoCAAAMoLT.png:large

“Today’s dubious rumour” doesn’t fully match Velowire’s rumoured route, which today is still about the same as it was on 11 Sept (see two-thirds down on viewtopic.php?f=40002&t=12867623&start=60),
except it now has stage 9 much more into the Pyrenees (Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre)

One major difference between “Today’s dubious rumour” and Velowire’s idea is where Ventoux will fit in, near the start or near the finish of the Tour. The Le Dauphiné Libéré newspaper is reporting where it thinks the Tour will go based on Velowire’s suspicions.

There was also a media report today that the Col de Sarenne above Alpe d’Huez was being resurfaced, thus reinforcing the idea that the Alpe would be climbed twice - after the first ascent, the riders going over the Sarenne down to Lac du Chambon, then back to Bourg and up the Alpe again.
Not that there's much other choice of route for this to happen.

Other way round. Velowire's route got a big alpine update this week in response to the 2 articles in the dauphine.
There's not really any point trusting any attempts other than velowire at figuring the route out in advance. He's on the money every year, and his system (of what/who to trust and when) is way better than any one else's (basically just browsing the internet and collating the rumours you like).

blazing_saddles

OK, wrong Tour and a bit late with this, but....
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2013-gi ... in-brescia

However, I posted that because of the news just in.
Last Saturday stage will finish at the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, officially confirmed!

disgruntledgoat

Double ascent of the Alpe would fit in with the rumours of the last couple of years that the Col De Sarenne will be used. Although Bjarne will probably have it called off on the day.

greasedscotsman

OK, I know what stage plaine, montagne, ITT and TTT are, but what is an accidentee? Is this the kinda stage Frank Schleck and Denis Menchov will be dreading?

Richmond Racer

greasedscotsman wrote:

OK, I know what stage plaine, montagne, ITT and TTT are, but what is an accidentee? Is this the kinda stage Frank Schleck and Denis Menchov will be dreading?

Chute! stages...alternatively 'hilly'

Daz555

Surely they wouldn't end the 100th Tour with a bloody ITT?

TMR

They should do something different for the last stage. An individual 300m sprint or a short hill climb or something.

greasedscotsman

The Mad Rapper wrote:

They should do something different for the last stage. An individual 300m sprint or a short hill climb or something.

It's gotta finish on the Champs Elysees thought, hasn't it?

dodgy

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Today's dubious rumour:

I really hope stage 19 is as detailed there, we'll be staying in a chalet at the foot of the Col de Joux Plane, and I bet if they really are going from Grand Bornand to Morzine-Avoriaz, they'll go via Joux Plane then up Joux Verte to Avoriaz.

A stage featuring Joux Plane is long overdue, and it featured in the Dauphine this year. Here's hoping!

avoidingmyphd

The penultimate stage ITT (velowire, dauphine libere) will be great. Semnoz/Cret de Chatillon is a serious climb.

MrT

ITT up Ventoux...showcase it for all its worth and sort the men from the boys....love it

theknowledge

Would they have a TT on Bastille Day? Can't have the guaranteed french rider in a break can you?

frenchfighter

Full profiles etc is now up on Steephill.tv

blazing_saddles

Perhaps this is the simplest option. All on the same page,
just select and click to enlarge:

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/no ... p?id=62457

Seems Cav has posted his letter to Santa early this year.
About 9 possible stages within his scope.
Clearly intermediate has a totally different meaning in France, to that in Italy.

For all the hype, another Wiggins friendly course, too.

Expectation settings to minimum and hope for the odd surprise, I think.

Richmond Racer

Stages 2 & 3 in Corsica could present more opportunities for shenanigans than the usual early days in Northern France...

goonz

Pretty lumpy second half...

mike6

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Perhaps this is the simplest option. All on the same page,
just select and click to enlarge:

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/no ... p?id=62457

Seems Cav has posted his letter to Santa early this year.
About 9 possible stages within his scope.
Clearly intermediate has a totally different meaning in France, to that in Italy.

For all the hype, another Wiggins friendly course, too.

Expectation settings to minimum and hope for the odd surprise, I think.

Only 62k of ITT , 15 on the last day,so not sure how its Wiggins friendly. Seems fairly well balanced to me. Something for every style of rider if they make the most of there opportunities.
Just hope the weather improves, its been a cold wet spring here in the Haute Garonne and I would hate it to end up like the Giro. Bloody climate change.

DeadCalm

Ooh, thanks. I've been waiting for these.

It's not particularly Wiggins friendly but the suggestion was that it would be totally not suited to him. That's clearly not the case. An in-form Wiggins would certainly be competitive on this course.

I like the route. It has the potential to give us an exciting race.

Daz555

The more Wiggo friendly the better - will wind up the Froome v Wiggo nonsense to an even greater frenzy!