Etape 2010? Rumour only!! Not any more..

Bit early I know, but the rumours are starting in earnest on the 2010 TdF route. From Steephill TV,
September 15 update: Paddy Sweeney of Velo Peloton Vacances cyclisme has in sent some new 2010 Tour de France route scoop: "Stage finish on Col d’Aubisque on 21st July after crossing Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Soulor. Tour crossed same mountains on 21st July 1910. The week will look something like this."
17 July: Rodez - Carcassonne
18 July: Carcassonne - Plateau de Beille
19 July: Foix - Bagnéres de Luchon-Super Bagnéres
20 July: Rest day
21 July: Bagnéres de Luchon - Col de Aubisque
22 July: Pau - La Pierre St Martin
23 July: Pau - Bordeaux
24 July: Bordeaux ITT
25 July: Paris

He's going for the 21st July stage to be the Etape and it would look something like http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=82995 a bit short at 141km but....
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Comments

  • That would be one hell of a route.
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    oh yes, that would be one hell of a route. I love it! How often do the rumours turn out to be accurate?
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Very short?
  • pedylan
    pedylan Posts: 768
    Isn't an alpine route overdue?
    Where the neon madmen climb
  • Kléber wrote:
    Very short?
    ,

    yes - but Peyresourde Aspin Tourmalet Soulor Aubisque? Okay, Soulor-Aubisque is effectively the same climb, but even so, I make that 2xHC 2xCat 1; long enough!
    _________________________
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  • Yorkman
    Yorkman Posts: 290
    Kléber wrote:
    Very short?
    ,

    yes - but Peyresourde Aspin Tourmalet Soulor Aubisque? Okay, Soulor-Aubisque is effectively the same climb, but even so, I make that 2xHC 2xCat 1; long enough!

    Indeed, that is absolutely brutal, especially in the heat.
  • it would be a sensational route!
    i'd have to re-think my training schedule mind you!!
    Music and Bikes and Alligators
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  • TheStone
    TheStone Posts: 2,291
    Was hoping it might be the Alps this year. Don't know why, but I seem to prefer the climbs.

    Not sure on next year. Anywhere to pre-register? Cyclomundo don't have anything up yet.
    exercise.png
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    I didn't say it was easy :lol:

    It's a good vertical gain and some nice roads. But it is short, more 5/6 hours than 8/9.

    As for the Pyrenees, note two things. First, the Tour's first visit to the high mountains was in 1910 and took the Tourmalet and Aubisque. So this route would be the 100th anniversary, it's fitting. Also, it's much easier to close the roads in the Pyrenees, the Alpine routes are much more likely to involve closing a major road between France and Italy for some time.
  • BRT estimates a time of 9:35 which is usually pretty accurate for me at least,(I did 9:03 this year) so it looks long enough.
    It would also make the Etape posibly on the 12th or 19th, which would mean being able to do the Marmotte as well.
    I've never ridden the Pyrenees so would be very happy with that.
    There's a recce here

    http://www.steephill.tv/galleries/2005/soulor-aubisque/ looks awesome.
  • looks awesome.

    Rode Soulor/Aubisque 2 days after last years Etape (Tourmalet). Is awesome.

    BRING

    IT

    ON!

    Problem is, how the hell can I obtain that many brownie points between now & then?

    (and how can I lose 3 stone, of course)
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    yeaaaahh Clive - you in again next year?

    Lots of time to get brownie points (and lose 3 stone). Wasn't your wife starting to get interested in cycling. Could she sign up for it too? It's a beautiful part of the world - perhaps you could take her along and turn it into a bit of a holiday (if she doesn't fancy riding it).

    The excitement is already starting 8)
  • There was an article in the Depeche which is a newspaper covering the Midi Pyrenees that possibly puts a different slant on the article above.

    http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2009/09/18/675603-Le-Tour-de-France-2010-fera-etape-a-Revel-et-Luchon.html
    www.peak-times.com

    Independent or supported cycling holidays in the French Pyrenees
  • Cycling Weekly are reporting that a return to the Alpe is likely as it hasn't been absent from two consecutive years for a long time.
    http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/398367/tourmalet-time-trial-set-for-2010-tour-de-france-route.html
    Like the bit about the 1910 stage, perhaps that would suit those of you who think 140 k would be too short :)
  • surely it must be the morzine / Avoriaz stage!! - I hope so as my parents place in les gets will be very handy !!!
  • The following link claims to have scooped the Etape stage from ASO - starting in Pau to a finish on the Col du Tourmalet. Presumably if the rumours are true of a time trial up the Tourmalet from Bagnerres de Bigorres a couple of days earlier, then this stage will climb the Tourmalet from the other side (Bareges) rather than Campan/La Mongie. 2008 Etape was from Campan side.

    http://paris.thover.com/story.php?ID=190&l=en&t=Tour+de+France+2010%3A+first+rumours+about+the+stages
    Time VRS Pro-Team 08 – weekend steed
    Condor Moda - commute
    Scott something or other - manky old MTB
  • Interesting route, but as I mentioned in my previous post, I think the climb of the Tourmalet would be from the other side (ie Bareges), given the 2008 Etape was from the Campan side, and the rumoured time trial of the 2010 TdF is also from the Campan side. It would probably need to finish at La Mongie (ie a small descent after cresting the Tourmalet) to accomodate the Etape as there is no room at the summit.
    Time VRS Pro-Team 08 – weekend steed
    Condor Moda - commute
    Scott something or other - manky old MTB
  • Ok that makes sense, how about this one then :)
    http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=86051
    It is quite hard to get a decent length, not only for us but for the pros!!
    Unless the Etape goes into Spain of course........
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    Liked the look of the first, 140km route, better than those two I'm afraid. Would they have Pau as a start villiage only 2 years after it was last there? wouldn't they want to share that kind of honour around a bit?

    Only 12 more days and we'll find out the truth!
  • Is the Etape route officially announced immediately after the Tour route or is just by then you'll be able to work it out with reasonable certainty?
  • sedliak
    sedliak Posts: 13
    Here you go, just been announced in Paris:

    Pau Col du Tourmalet - 174 km



    Km 57,5 - Col de Maris-Blanque - 9,5 km de montée à 7,5 %


    Km 118,5 - Col du Soulor par Ferrières - 22 km de montée à 4,9 %


    Km 174 - Col du Tourmalet par Barèges - 19 km de montée à 7,4 %
  • clanton
    clanton Posts: 1,289
    Date?
  • sedliak
    sedliak Posts: 13
    Didn't catch the date. It was all in French, so i did my best... Nothing on the etape website yet either.
  • July 18th. Details already on letapedutour.com
    Gutted I cannot make this one after being beaten up by this year's event.
    If I can feel the pain in my arse, I mustn't be hurting my legs enough.
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    July 18th. Details already on letapedutour.com
    Gutted I cannot make this one after being beaten up by this year's event.

    what happened to you in last years? did you make it?

    I'm not sure about doing it next year - marmotte is tempting me more I think.
  • Etape is one the 18th July...

    Pau - Tormalet

    http://www.bikestyletours.com/tour-de-f ... 2010/etape
  • This year Etape: Crashed the day before the ride on the way back to Hotel after registration. Banged self up a fair bit (Thigh bruised from knee to hip, Right arm without skin below elbow), bike ok but bent bars and no brake hood on left shifter. Got swept about 200metres short of St Esteve though! Main issue was not eating enough during the race and eating too much for the years before it! Had a blast though and will compete again.

    Cannot ride this year as school does not break up till the week after the Etape, and anyway, I am escorting our Rugby team on a round the world tour from that week for 26 days so ability to spend time away from home is not really there. Think 2010 will be a year of UK sportives! That is apart from going to camp May bank Holiday weekend in Bedoin and attempting the Cingles de Ventoux as an attempted excorcism! Already working my way through various DVD box sets while churning the rollers.

    BTW - very quick and rough Bikehike route for this year: www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=23296 Total climb comes out at 5200M!!! Ouch.
    If I can feel the pain in my arse, I mustn't be hurting my legs enough.