Tour de France 2013 - Race Chat

LeicesterLad

OK, so it's only 18 days away and i'm starting to get excited.

This shall now be the Tour related chat thread, eg. Team news, Rosters, Rider chat, Route discussion, Doping allegations, Pictures, Links to some good pre-race articles, previews etc. basically anything and everything Tour related.

Fire away.

LeicesterLad

Not heard anybody else moan about it - but this is Tony Martin on the Alpe d'Huez descent (at the Dauphine) which will also be used at the Tour.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/martin-criticises-alpe-dhuez-descent

Will Prudhomme care?

slim_boy_fat

Excitement defo building for me. Should be at the road side for the first time ever for stages 10 & 11.

LeicesterLad

Slim Boy Fat wrote:

Excitement defo building for me. Should be at the road side for the first time ever for stages 10 & 11.

Excellent - I should be in Corsica for the start all being well! First Visit to the Tour!

davidof

There is resurfacing work going on at the moment on the Sarenne, started right after the DL, so maybe the surface will be rideable. Environmentalists are campaigning against the work.

I know what Martin means though, a lot of the secondary cols have very marginal road surfaces. One thing I hate are the drainage grills with the openings aligned the same way as the wheels. There is one on a cyclepath near me.

BTW for French readers to give you an idea of the Battle of the Sarenne (in brief, the col passes by a nature reserve with rare birds and plants and the worry is the hundreds of thousands of spectators and helicopters will cause havoc).

ous avons gagné une bataille : les travaux seront nettement moins importants que prévus. Le 7 juin 2013, le Président de la Communauté de Communes de l’Oisans a ainsi déclaré : « lorsque le projet de faire passer le Tour de France au col de Sarenne avait été imaginé, on avait, c'est vrai, envisagé de faire des travaux importants. (...) ces travaux ont bien été abandonnés. » Il nous faut encore gagner la seconde bataille : le Tour de France ne doit pas passer au Col de Sarenne !

Le samedi 8 juin 2013, le Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré est passé par le Col de Sarenne. Contrairement à ce que certains veulent nous faire croire, ce « test » n’est pas révélateur de l’impact environnemental que pourrait avoir le Tour de France sur le site.

Le Tour de France et le Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré n’ont pas la même portée médiatique ; et les quelques spectateurs du Dauphiné ne peuvent être comparés à la foule du Tour de France. Lors des précédents « Tour de France », la Préfecture de Police a déjà recensé un million de spectateurs entre Bourg d’Oisans et l’Alpe d’Huez. Sur le Dauphiné Libéré, le 8 juin 2013, sur cette même portion de 14 km, le nombre de spectateurs était cent à mille fois inférieur ! Les deux courses ne sont pas comparables.

Entre octobre 2012 et juin 2013, les discours « officiels » ont changé. Le 7 juin 2013, dans le Dauphiné Libéré, le Président de la Communauté de Communes de l’Oisans déclarait : « on pense que l’on n’aura pas forcément une forte affluence sur ce secteur ». De son côté, dans le Journal de l’Environnement, le Directeur du Tour de France a déclaré : « Il faudrait être fou pour se poster au col de Sarenne (...), ça n’a aucun intérêt. Il n’y aura pas spécialement de spectateurs ».

Revenons sur les déclarations faites lors de la conférence de presse du 26 octobre 2012 (avant que 11600 personnes affirment leur opposition au passage du Tour de France au Col de Sarenne). A cette époque, le directeur de l’Office du Tourisme expliquait qu’il voulait faire de l’Alpe d’Huez, la « capitale mondiale du vélo », et insistait sur les retombées économiques de l’événement : « On en parlait ce midi avec des gens de France 3, si on calcule que chaque personne consomme 10 euros… 10 euros, c’est quoi ? Deux cocas, un journal : l’Equipe, par exemple. » Si « on a un million de personnes, ça fait 10 millions de retombées économiques. » Il ajoutait qu’ils essaieront de faire le maximum pour placer tous les spectateurs. Spectateurs qui, même si les coureurs grimpent deux fois l’Alpe d’Huez, « ne seront peut-être pas deux fois plus nombreux» qu’en 2010. En effet, ce serait difficile d’avoir deux fois plus de monde « parce que, à un moment, on n’arrive plus à les mettre… sur trois, quatre, cinq rangs. » Le directeur de l’Office du Tourisme nous faisait entendre que la capacité d’accueil de l’Alpe d’Huez serait accrue, puisque ces spectateurs en excès, ils « pourr[ont] les mettre sur la montée » de Sarenne (dans une Zone Naturelle d’Intérêt Ecologique Faunistique et Floristique – ZNIEFF - de type 1 couplée à une Zone d’Arrêté Préfectoral de Protection de Biotope).
Lors de cette conférence de presse, le maire de l’Alpe d’Huez a déclaré, en présence du Directeur du Tour de France : « Il y aura certainement beaucoup de monde vers le col [de Sarenne] ».

Pour cette étape de tous les records (qui fait déjà l’objet de publicité sur des radios nationales : « les 2 ascensions de l’Alpe d’Huez »…), les responsables locaux attendent 2 millions de spectateurs entre le Bourg d'Oisans (710m) et le Col de Sarenne (1999m). 2 000 000 de spectateurs sur 21 km ; c'est ce qui est annoncé ! Qui peut raisonnablement dire « qu'il n'y aura pas spécialement de monde au col de Sarenne », alors que le col est le sommet de l'ascension, et que le franchissement de ce col si singulier sera une grande première dans l'histoire du Tour de France ? Rappelons que les trois derniers kilomètres du Col de Sarenne sont raides (il y a des passages à 10%) ; et qu'une grande partie du spectacle aura lieu ; une grande partie du spectacle aura lieu dans ce secteur. C'est pour cela qu'en octobre dernier, le maire de l'Alpe d'Huez a déclaré : « il y aura certainement beaucoup de monde vers le col [de Sarenne] ».

Sur le plan faunistique, la prospection de la ZNIEFF de type 1 des pentes de Sarenne est jugée insuffisante par des spécialistes. Toutefois, malgré ce déficit de connaissances, des animaux fragiles et emblématiques (tétras lyre, lagopèdes et aigles royaux) sont déjà répertoriés dans l’inventaire de la ZNIEFF (zone dont les extrémités sont à moins de 750 mètres de la route pastorale). Un couple d’aigles royaux vit à proximité du Col de Sarenne, et la période d’envol des aiglons coïncide avec le passage du Tour de France (et de ses hélicoptères). La faune de Sarenne est remarquablement riche : dans les alentours, d’après le Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin, on dénombre 100 espèces animales protégées !

Afin de préserver au mieux cet environnement si exceptionnel, la Préfecture et le Président de la Communauté de Communes de l’Oisans ont été respectueusement informés, par l’Association de Protection des Animaux Sauvages (association 100% indépendante, reconnue d’utilité publique, affiliée au Bureau Européen de l’Environnement), que si l’accès à la zone humide protégée de Sarenne n’est pas interdit au public du Tour de France, il sera donné une suite juridique à cette affaire. Ainsi, l’Arrêté Préfectoral de Protection de Biotope du Marais de Sarenne certifie « qu’il y a lieu de réglementer les activités sur [le] périmètre de [la zone] afin d’assurer la préservation et la tranquillité de certains biotopes nécessaires à l’alimentation, la reproduction, au repos et à la survie de plusieurs espèces animales protégées ». L’article 7.3 atteste que « toute manifestation sportive ou éducative est interdite, sauf autorisation du Préfet après avis d'une personnalité scientifique qualifiée dans le domaine des tourbières ».

La petite route pastorale de Sarenne doit être préservée, et ne doit faire l’objet d’aucune spéculation médiatique. N’oublions pas qu’un parcours alternatif existe. Il ne faut surtout pas que ce premier passage du Tour de France au Col de Sarenne « offre beaucoup de possibilités pour le futur » (comme l’a déclaré le maire de l’Alpe d’Huez). Le Tour de France ne doit pas passer à Sarenne, ni par le versant d’Huez ni par le versant du Ferrand, ni cette année ni dans le futur. Remettons le Tour de France à sa place, la nature n’est pas un stade !

Richmond Racer

davidof wrote:

There is resurfacing work going on at the moment on the Sarenne, started right after the DL, so maybe the surface will be rideable. Environmentalists are campaigning against the work.

I know what Martin means though, a lot of the secondary cols have very nasty road surfaces. One thing I hate are the drainage grills with the openings aligned the same way as the wheels. There is one on a cyclepath near me.

When a group of us were in Valloire last month, a few went over to ride up the Alpe and the Sarenne.

davido, has there been a bit of a landslide near the valley road? My mates said there was a problem.

davidof

Which part of the valley? There are lots of landslides in the spring, some pretty big. The road to Bourg d'Oisans from Grenoble (which the tour is not taking) is being detoured (again) around the ruines de Sechilienne.

Richmond Racer

davidof wrote:

Which part of the valley? There are lots of landslides in the spring, some pretty big. The road to Bourg d'Oisans from Grenoble (which the tour is not taking) is being detoured (again) around the ruines de Sechilienne.

Dont know off top of my head - I'll try and find out

inkyfingers

I've been in a bit of a malaise recently, since the classics i've been struggling to find much enthusiasm for bike racing, what with the disappointing Giro and the lack of TV coverage of the Dauphine and the TdS. However I am excited about the Tour, even when the GC race isn't great, the Tour is still the Tour, with all the fun, gossip, and futile breakaways that go with it.

I'm really hoping for an open race, I wish him no ill personally, but would quite like to see Froome lose a bit of time early in the race, 3 or 4 minutes minutes would do, so that other guys are brought into the GC race and Sky would have to take risks and go on the offensive. I don't mind who wins really, would just be nice to see the GC battle go all the way to the Alps, rather than being decided after the first TT and the Aix 3 Domaine stage.

Vive Le Tour!

seanorawe

This is worse that being seven and your older brother telling you its nearly Christmas! Cant wait for the tour this year. Froome is looking really good, contador is busting to rain on his parade and cav and sagan are getting ready for battle. BRING. IT. ON!

BR 1979

Love Contador on the Bike. Bit of an arse off it, IMO:

"The one in 2010 remains mine," Contador added. "Even if it is no longer in the record books"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... tador.html

thomthom

BR 1979 wrote:

Love Contador on the Bike. Bit of an ars* off it, IMO:

"The one in 2010 remains mine," Contador added. "Even if it is no longer in the record books"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... tador.html

Would be a pretty bad move to say it wasn't his as he hasn't admitted doping yet.

DeadCalm

inkyfingers wrote:

I've been in a bit of a malaise recently, since the classics i've been struggling to find much enthusiasm for bike racing, what with the disappointing Giro and the lack of TV coverage of the Dauphine and the TdS. However I am excited about the Tour, even when the GC race isn't great, the Tour is still the Tour, with all the fun, gossip, and futile breakaways that go with it.

I'm really hoping for an open race, I wish him no ill personally, but would quite like to see Froome lose a bit of time early in the race, 3 or 4 minutes minutes would do, so that other guys are brought into the GC race and Sky would have to take risks and go on the offensive. I don't mind who wins really, would just be nice to see the GC battle go all the way to the Alps, rather than being decided after the first TT and the Aix 3 Domaine stage.

Vive Le Tour!

I agree with pretty much all of this.I can generally find plenty in the Tour to enjoy even if the GC battle isn't great which is probably going to be the case this year. Just conceivably however, we're going to have an absolute classic edition and we should know as early as stage 2 or 3. The other teams need to put Sky under pressure on these early lumpy stages. If they do and manage to get Sky on the back foot, we may just see a decent race. If they wait for the high mountains to try and attack Froome will win the GC comfortably with Porte probably also on the podium.

inkyfingers

Indeed, you only have to look at the Giro to see that being a big favourite means nothing once the race starts.

The difference between the Giro and the Tour is that if you take out Froome you are left with quite a few riders of more even ability (Contador, J Rod, Valverde, Evans etc), rather than what we had in the Giro, where by losing Wiggins and Hesjedal it almost left Nibali as the de facto winner.

epc06

I was eagerly anticipating a froome/wiggo showdown, with bertie, andy thrown in.
Looks like a one horse race now sadly, unless froome comes a cropper somehow...then there would be a race on

disgruntledgoat

LeicesterLad wrote:

Not heard anybody else moan about it - but this is Tony Martin on the Alpe d'Huez descent (at the Dauphine) which will also be used at the Tour.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/martin-criticises-alpe-dhuez-descent

Will Prudhomme care?

That descent has always been awful. It was my first alpine descent too!

epc06

I wonder if Nibali secretly fancies his chances, and wishes he was now in the race...?

dsoutar

davidof wrote:

...started right after the DL...

Old habits die hard, eh !

The only thing I'd really like to see is a decent French contender, at least for a podium so that the French get more excited. Always helps with the atmosphere (not that it needs it that much tbh). If my memory serves me correctly, is Virenque the last Frenchman to podium ?

smithy21

disgruntledgoat wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

Not heard anybody else moan about it - but this is Tony Martin on the Alpe d'Huez descent (at the Dauphine) which will also be used at the Tour.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/martin-criticises-alpe-dhuez-descent

Will Prudhomme care?

That descent has always been awful. It was my first alpine descent too!

Rode it on Friday and didnt think it was too bad. Not as gravelly as I expected it to be but probably had a bit of a clean up ahead of the Dauphine stage the following day.

Admittedly I wouldnt fancy it at the speed these guys are doing it at.

LeicesterLad

dsoutar wrote:

davidof wrote:

...started right after the DL...

Old habits die hard, eh !

The only thing I'd really like to see is a decent French contender, at least for a podium so that the French get more excited. Always helps with the atmosphere (not that it needs it that much tbh). If my memory serves me correctly, is Virenque the last Frenchman to podium ?

Would love to see some good French action in the form of Pinot, Romain Bardet. Anybody know if Elisonde is riding? Some good French riders coming through now and their future is looking pretty bright - give it 3 years and I think we may get a French winner.

LeicesterLad

Official programme is out today.

Buy it ever year, never watch the DVD, barely unfold the map and the magasine is so far in advance that they only interview the usual suspects because nobody actually knows who's riding it.

I'll still buy it though.

goonz

LeicesterLad wrote:

Official programme is out today.

Buy it ever year, never watch the DVD, barely unfold the map and the magasine is so far in advance that they only interview the usual suspects because nobody actually knows who's riding it.

I'll still buy it though.

Yep just bought it myself. Hardly even finished reading the mag last year or the book, was there a dvd with it??? Oh well i'll try harder this year.

LeicesterLad

goonz wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

Official programme is out today.

Buy it ever year, never watch the DVD, barely unfold the map and the magasine is so far in advance that they only interview the usual suspects because nobody actually knows who's riding it.

I'll still buy it though.

Yep just bought it myself. Hardly even finished reading the mag last year or the book, was there a dvd with it??? Oh well i'll try harder this year.

There is usually an hour long highlights DVD from the year before. Forgot about the little book - never read any of them either.

inkyfingers

Wife buys it for my birthday every year, I rarely do anything other than stick the map on my office wall.

oneof1982

LeicesterLad wrote:

Official programme is out today.

Buy it ever year, never watch the DVD, barely unfold the map and the magasine is so far in advance that they only interview the usual suspects because nobody actually knows who's riding it.

I'll still buy it though.

Always get it. Always use the map when we are travelling through France! Usually in the wrong place for seeing much, but can't beat afternoons in a bar watching on French telly. We're off to the Marmotte and then Cingles du Mont-Ventoux then back home, but will hop back over to Paris for the final day.

If you haven't seen it at all, it is well worth catching a stage or 2. The final day in Paris (evening this year) is easily doable. Plenty of reasonably prices accomm in Paris, and easy to get there from midlands or south of England.

Richmond Racer

Just a warning for anyone thinking of taking the ferry over to St Malo on the 9th for the finish of St 10 - all booked out already

greasedscotsman

LeicesterLad wrote:

Official programme is out today.

Today? Bought one weeks ago!

oneof1982

greasedscotsman wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

Official programme is out today.

Today? Bought one weeks ago!

Damn. I wish it was pocket money day. Will have to wait til saturday...

LeicesterLad

greasedscotsman wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

Official programme is out today.

Today? Bought one weeks ago!

Oh. I just skimmed cycling news and saw one of the stories was 'Programme Out Now' and assumed it was today. Oh well.

Do we get any freebies from WH Smiths this year? I'm still using the wiggle bottle and the gels and drinks were pretty tasty.

greasedscotsman

LeicesterLad wrote:

Do we get any freebies from WH Smiths this year? I'm still using the wiggle bottle and the gels and drinks were pretty tasty.

Don't think so. Pretty sure I saw them in Smiths over the weekend and couldn't see anything attached.

LeicesterLad

greasedscotsman wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

Do we get any freebies from WH Smiths this year? I'm still using the wiggle bottle and the gels and drinks were pretty tasty.

Don't think so. Pretty sure I saw them in Smiths over the weekend and couldn't see anything attached.

it was a collect from behind the counter jobby last time. I asked the girl at the till and she didn't have a clue what i was on about so she asked a manager who eventually gave me my freebies.