Tour de France 2023: The Route

blazing_saddles

It’s on Thursday. Live coverage from 10-30am.
Other than the Grand Depart being in Bilbao, not a lot has leaked from ASO HQ.
It’s logical to surmise that the Pyrenees will be tackled much earlier than usual, so probably not the toughest of challenges. Which perhaps lends weight to the rumour of a long awaited return to the Puy de Dome.

blazing_saddles

A full list of the rumours and confirmations.

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/profiles-route-tour-de-france-2023-full-list-of-rumours-col-de-la-loze-tourmalet-puy-mary-grand-colombier-2-itts-and-more

Dorset_Boy

Locals sound pretty certain about the Col de la Loze from the Meribel side.

DeVlaeminck

Sounds like the Puy de Dome will be closed to fans - I assume that includes on foot as it's pretty easy to walk to the top.

It's a lovely part of the world and great cycling - tempting to plan a trip.

Dorset_Boy

DeVlaeminck said:

Sounds like the Puy de Dome will be closed to fans - I assume that includes on foot as it's pretty easy to walk to the top.

It's a lovely part of the world and great cycling - tempting to plan a trip.

It'll be interesting to see how the logistics work on the Puy de Dome given the narrowness of the road, and there not being much parking at the top. Presumably motor bike support for mechanicals, no team cars, and then the riders might descend in the funicular having met a soigneur at the top.

i think it is suited to an ITT, starting outside the cathedral in Clermont.

As you say though, it's an area worth visiting with some decent cycling.

blazing_saddles

Some interesting speculation here:

https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/cyclisme/carte-tour-de-france-2023-decouvrez-le-parcours-probable-de-la-110e-edition-1666172393

Of particular interest is what potentially happens after the Alps:

After the Alps, the Tour de France will head east before reaching the capital. Two stages are planned in Franche-Comté and in the Jura. The 19th stage could start from Moirans-en-Montagne for a finish in Poligny or Saint-Claude. If the city of arrival is not certain, the main hotel in the sector, in Poligny, is full for the night of July 20 to 21.

The penultimate stage should start from Belfort and an arrival at Markstein via the Grand Ballon is strongly anticipated. A nice look at the Tour de France women: the penultimate stage ended last year in this mountain resort in the Haut-Rhin, at 1,183 meters above sea level.

blazing_saddles

This is supposed to be the final mountain stage in the Vosges, although we will know for sure in a few hours.

Dorset_Boy

Puy de Dome is in, as is Col de la Loze.

blazing_saddles

It’s another big TDF production that ultimately is delivering very little information beyond start and finishing towns, plus the main climbs.

At least the women’s presentation included profiles.

Dorset_Boy

Annemasse to Morzine for the Etape, will include the Ramaz and Joux Plane. 152 kms and 4,100 m elevation
https://img.aso.fr/epreuvedemasse/img-etapedutour-jpg/edt23-profil-etape-14-25oct-jpg/1108/0:31,1502:1032-1000-0-70/63535

blazing_saddles

The Vosges stage isn't as tough as predicted. No Grand Ballon so it's unlikely that it will effect the GC. Done and dusted by 17, given there's no ITT.
Talking of which, on 22kms against the clock and much of that is uphill.

rick_chasey

Is it 6 flat stages in a row?

Dorset_Boy

rick_chasey said:

Is it 6 flat stages in a row?

I don't think so, as the 2/3 stages in the Massif Central certainly aren't flat.

blazing_saddles

One thing I have noticed is how short most of the mountain stages are: 4 are under 152kms.
The longest stage is only 208kms.
Not very grand.

gweeds

blazing_saddles said:

One thing I have noticed is how short most of the mountain stages are: 4 are under 152kms.
The longest stage is only 208kms.
Not very grand.

Maybe a reaction to some of the more interesting mountain stages not being as long as those in previous years. Makes for more exciting and less attritional racing (or so goes the theory).

Only 1 mountain stage for the women is censored . They deserve much better than they're getting.

Pross

gweeds said:

blazing_saddles said:

One thing I have noticed is how short most of the mountain stages are: 4 are under 152kms.
The longest stage is only 208kms.
Not very grand.

Maybe a reaction to some of the more interesting mountain stages not being as long as those in previous years. Makes for more exciting and less attritional racing (or so goes the theory).

Only 1 mountain stage for the women is censored . They deserve much better than they're getting.

I think the successful formula has tended to be a short day before or after a longer one though.

As for the women's race, I suspect that is a reaction to this year's race where the first set of mountains basically killed the GC race.

blazing_saddles

rick_chasey said:

Is it 6 flat stages in a row?

I am more concerned by the fact that 3 of the last 4 stages are flat and therefore pretty much irrelevant.
Not sure what the thinking was there unless they actually want the race to end in an anti climax.

blazing_saddles

Pross said:

gweeds said:

blazing_saddles said:

One thing I have noticed is how short most of the mountain stages are: 4 are under 152kms.
The longest stage is only 208kms.
Not very grand.

Maybe a reaction to some of the more interesting mountain stages not being as long as those in previous years. Makes for more exciting and less attritional racing (or so goes the theory).

Only 1 mountain stage for the women is censored . They deserve much better than they're getting.

I think the successful formula has tended to be a short day before or after a longer one though.

As for the women's race, I suspect that is a reaction to this year's race where the first set of mountains basically killed the GC race.

It's crazy that both races have the identical number of ITT kilometres.
As for the women's race, it's just delaying the inevitable.
I doubt there will be more than a small handful left at the top of the Aspin and AvV will ride away early on the Tourmalet and gain minutes over the field.
If she wants even more time, then there's always the TT to wrap things up.

davidof

blazing_saddles said:

I doubt there will be more than a small handful left at the top of the Aspin and AvA will ride away early on the Tourmalet and gain minutes over the field.
If she wants even more time, then there's always the TT to wrap things up.

AvA ? A Dutch rider I guess.

webboo

davidof said:

blazing_saddles said:

I doubt there will be more than a small handful left at the top of the Aspin and AvA will ride away early on the Tourmalet and gain minutes over the field.
If she wants even more time, then there's always the TT to wrap things up.

AvA ? A Dutch rider I guess.

You don’t watch or take note of womens cycling I guess.

orraloon

Ok, I bite. I assumed a mistype for Annemiek vV. Or is it?

blazing_saddles

orraloon said:

Ok, I bite. I assumed a mistype for Annemiek vV. Or is it?

It is.
Just a typo.
AvA looks like an insurance company.

thegreatdivide

Ah the lovely Haute-Savoie. Stage 15 will be boss. A week in the old haunt is most definitely on the cards for us.

The Domancy to Saint Gervais section is superb.

ddraver

Is that stage going up the "gorge of eternal peril" from Ugine do you reckon?


The factory at the bottom there desperately needs new photos 😁

davidof

blazing_saddles said:

orraloon said:

Ok, I bite. I assumed a mistype for Annemiek vV. Or is it?

It is.
Just a typo.
AvA looks like an insurance company.

ok, I thought you maybe had a top tip for us.

AvV will be 40 next year. The Chris Horner of women's cycling.

thegreatdivide

ddraver said:

Is that stage going up the "gorge of eternal peril" from Ugine do you reckon?


The factory at the bottom there desperately needs new photos 😁

Ha! It’s not very bonnie that’s for sure.

I reckon it’s going to go up the road from Saint-Ferréol on the way to the Croix Fry. It might miss that and go up the l’Epine, but that’s categorised and it’s not shown on the stage profile.

Hands down the best climb in that wee area is the Col de l'Arpettaz from Ugine, with its 30+ switchbacks, but I reckon it’s never been included because the descent down the other side to the Flumet road is just way too technical. A shame.

RichN95.

blazing_saddles said:

orraloon said:

Ok, I bite. I assumed a mistype for Annemiek vV. Or is it?

It is.
Just a typo.
AvA looks like an insurance company.

Not a good one, though. You should have mentioned this little known Spanish rider instead

Pross

Looks a very odd route on a map, very much focussed across the middle of the country after those initial few days in the southwest.

wakemalcolm

Pross said:

Looks a very odd route on a map, very much focussed across the middle of the country after those initial few days in the southwest.

More like a 'Fleche de France' than a tour.

blazing_saddles

RichN95. said:

blazing_saddles said:

orraloon said:

Ok, I bite. I assumed a mistype for Annemiek vV. Or is it?

It is.
Just a typo.
AvA looks like an insurance company.

Not a good one, though. You should have mentioned this little known Spanish rider instead

I thought the ASO played a top trump by including a segment showing the Tourmalet being climbed by Évita Muzic and a team mate.



Andrew Lloyd Webber should sign her up with a sponsorship deal.

andyrac

I think the women's peloton has a problem that most riders, and therefore most races suit the 'all rounder'. Anything outside that, tends to favour a small number of riders - and as we saw this year, it only took one stage for it to be settled.

They've binned off another mountain stage, but brought in a ITT. Until other races set harder courses, we're not going to see properly challenging routes for the TdFF.