Opening TT of 2009 Tour de France

iainf72
iainf72 Posts: 15,784
edited December 2007 in Pro race
OMFG

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Tou ... 69486.html

Proper cool!
Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.

Comments

  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/New ... 69497.html

    Link's changed by the look of it. Like the idea of the downhill portion, though.
  • nick hanson
    nick hanson Posts: 1,655
    Can't see much use for a low pro on such a technical,testing course.
    Road bikes all round,anyone?
    so many cols,so little time!
  • drenkrom
    drenkrom Posts: 1,062
    That should be awesome! I agree the TT bikes might stay in the truck that day. Perfect turning lines and explosiveness on the climbs should be more important than aerodynamics. The only downside I see is my envy of the riders. I'd love to have an all-out blast around that circuit!
  • steephill
    steephill Posts: 151
    edited December 2007
    It looks like a technical TT and starts with a 7k, 200m (660 ft) climb before descending back to sea-level; I wonder if any riders pass on a TT bike.

    Some more details: Tour de France 2009 Monaco start announcment

    gd_depart_2009_carte01.gif
    www.steephill.tv bike travelogue
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    Lo-pros all round - at least for the contenders. The 200m climb is reasonably constant (apart from the first drag to Casino) to the high point @ 7.2 km - an average gradient of 1:26 - not that much of a climb. As regards the technicality - everything looks technical when you are hosing along it in 800+bhp of F1 racer, its probably not as much of a challenge at 35mph.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    Qatar and Japan have made applications to host the opening weekend

    Qatar & Japan? I'm sure the riders would love the overnight travelling between stages! I can't see those being taken seriously!
  • steephill
    steephill Posts: 151
    hammerite wrote:
    Qatar and Japan have made applications to host the opening weekend

    Qatar & Japan? I'm sure the riders would love the overnight travelling between stages! I can't see those being taken seriously!

    Quebec City wanted to hold the start or a stage this coming summer as part of their 400th anniversary. They were of course unsuccessful; a long commute for sure. Here's CBC report from almost 5 years ago:

    http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2003/01/ ... 30107.html
    www.steephill.tv bike travelogue
  • nick hanson
    nick hanson Posts: 1,655
    LangerDan wrote:
    As regards the technicality - everything looks technical when you are hosing along it in 800+bhp of F1 racer, its probably not as much of a challenge at 35mph.
    I've walked the circuit,& the 'sweeping bend' under the hotel is a fair old curve for the grand prix event.The hairpins that look tight on tv ARE tight,& will be so even at bike speeds.
    so many cols,so little time!

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