2015 Tour de France Route

[Alpe d'Huez]

Not sure of the gradient, but that's a long way up. Of course a lot depends on the km's and climbs preceding it.

Love the first report, btw. The Mur de Huy, pavé, and TTT are definitely welcomed. I'd just like to see a really long ITT in the first week too.

 

[rghysens]

Not sure of the gradient, but that's a long way up.

From the top of my head: a bit less than 20km at a bit less than 8% (south side). The Madeleine is one of the most underestimated "regular" climbs of France. I think Michael Boogerd called it the hardest climb he ever did in the Tour.

 

[McLovin]

19.05 km with 8% actually. Some huge numbers for a climb below 2000m.

 

[icefire]

MTF at La Madeleine? Who's in charge of the route design? Guillén?

 

[Netserk]

Let's hope they will use it together with a MTF at Valmorel instead (in 2016).

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

MTF at La Madeleine? Who's in charge of the route design? Guillén?

Not a single rumor mentions Madeleine. That info would have leaked by now if they (had) plan(ed) to use it as an MTF.

 

[trevim]

From the top of my head: a bit less than 20km at a bit less than 8% (south side). The Madeleine is one of the most underestimated "regular" climbs of France. I think Michael Boogerd called it the hardest climb he ever did in the Tour.

2010 shows Madeleine doesn't need to be a MTF to be great. Put a downhill finish there.

 

[sir fly]

2010 shows Madeleine doesn't need to be a MTF to be great. Put a downhill finish there.

Very possible considering all the rumors regarding Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne hosting.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

ledauphine.com with the latest on the Alps stages:

http://www.ledauphine.com/actualite/2014/10/19/concerto-pour-alpes-majeures

no changes re: older rumors. No MTT.

high Alps:

Digne-les-Bains - Pra-Loup
Gap - St. Jean de Maurienne
"loop" in the Maurienne - finish on La Toussuire
Modane - Alpe d'Huez with Galibier (same as the stage Rolland won)

 

[OlavEH]

ledauphine.com with the latest on the Alps stages:

http://www.ledauphine.com/actualite/2014/10/19/concerto-pour-alpes-majeures

no changes re: older rumors. No MTT.

high Alps:

Digne-les-Bains - Pra-Loup
Gap - St. Jean de Maurienne
"loop" in the Maurienne - finish on La Toussuire
Modane - Alpe d'Huez with Galibier (same as the stage Rolland won)

Not a very exciting route. La Toussuire via Croix de Fer and Molland. A 110 km long stage to Alpe d'Huez. More or less re-use of the same stages used the last 5 yeards.

Btw, are we talking about a stage from Gap to La Toussuire or is this two separate stages?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Not a very exciting route. La Toussuire via Croix de Fer and Molland. A 110 km long stage to Alpe d'Huez. More or less re-use of the same stages used the last 5 yeards.

Btw, are we talking about a stage from Gap to La Toussuire or is this two separate stages?

Looks like two separate days to me. The (four) days Wednesday - Saturday are mentioned in the article, also.

The first two stages are definitely not a re-use of the same old TDF stages. 50% isn't "more or less." The second one is the rumored Col du Chaussy descent finish via the easy side of Glandon.

Also, Croix from the Glandon N side is very hard. Wiggins was on the verge of dropping there last time around. I don't mind if they make that one super short. It might surprise a few people.

I don't like the Alpe d'Huez stage though. After what happened the last time around I don't think too many GC guys will be eager to launch an early attack there.

 

[Netserk]

ledauphine.com with the latest on the Alps stages:

http://www.ledauphine.com/actualite/2014/10/19/concerto-pour-alpes-majeures

no changes re: older rumors. No MTT.

high Alps:

Digne-les-Bains - Pra-Loup
Gap - St. Jean de Maurienne
"loop" in the Maurienne - finish on La Toussuire
Modane - Alpe d'Huez with Galibier (same as the stage Rolland won)

Surely they won't use the tunnel this time?

 

[OlavEH]

Looks like two separate days to me. The (four) days Wednesday - Saturday are mentioned in the article, also.

The first two stages are definitely not a re-use of the same old TDF stages. 50% isn't "more or less." The second one is the rumored Col du Chaussy descent finish via the easy side of Glandon.

Also, Croix from the Glandon N side is very hard. Wiggins was on the verge of dropping there last time around. I don't mind if they make that one super short. It might surprise a few people.

I don't like the Alpe d'Huez stage though. After what happened the last time around I don't think too many GC guys will be eager to launch an early attack there.

I was thinking of the two last stages mentioned, to La Toussuire and Alpe d'Huez. The stage to La Toussuire can't be very long either, if they are starting from St Jean de Maurinne. IMO it will be very disappointing if both the last two MTF are only 100~kms.

 

[guncha]

Were is a long and flat ITT? If there is just 13km of ITT then the route is 2 out of 10 regardless how good the mountains are.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Surely they won't use the tunnel this time?

Yeah, I don't usually agree with the **** ASO attitude that permeates these boards, but that was beyond lame.

I was thinking of the two last stages mentioned, to La Toussuire and Alpe d'Huez. The stage to La Toussuire can't be very long either, if they are starting from St Jean de Maurinne. IMO it will be very disappointing if both the last two MTF are only 100~kms.

I'd like a super short La Toussuire stage, as it could do away with some of the diesel climbers, but two very short mountain stages back to back is overkill.

Galibier - Alpe is just good marketing for the masses. That's all it is. Remember the huge peloton on the way to Bourg last time around. And they didn't even soft-pedal Galibier then.

 

[OlavEH]

Yeah, I don't usually agree with the **** ASO attitude that permeates these boards, but that was beyond lame.



I'd like a super short La Toussuire stage, as it could do away with some of the diesel climbers, but two very short mountain stages back to back is overkill.

Galibier - Alpe is just good marketing for the masses. That's all it is. Remember the huge peloton on the way to Bourg last time around. And they didn't even soft-pedal Galibier then.

From the top of Lautaret, there is over 30 km of easy downhill to Bourg and the start of Alpe. I'm not a big fan either of using the Galibier-Alpe combo. Would rather like to see Glandon before Alpe. And Madeleine before Glandon would be even better. It's really strange that they haven't used the Madeleine-Glandon combo close to the end of a stage since 2001.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Were is a long and flat ITT? If there is just 13km of ITT then the route is 2 out of 10 regardless how good the mountains are.

heh, good point. Nothing rumored so far.

Paris could still be a possibility, assuming the talk of a sprint finish was mere speculation. Hard to believe that that kind of info didn't find its way to the press, though.


In other "news," Thomas from Velowire has finally come to terms with the Cauterets finish, even though it had been known for a long time.

No news either, but the finish will apparently be in the town itself this time. The final three kms at 3 percent or so, I guess.

 

[Tonton]

virenque said that the 1998 route was not for him at all and said galibier is a big ring climb all the way to the top,can't make gaps lol. too bad that he didn't reach saint jean de maurienne. would have been fun

If Virenque said so. The guy never lies

 

[veji11]

Were is a long and flat ITT? If there is just 13km of ITT then the route is 2 out of 10 regardless how good the mountains are.

I think we will get the ITT in brittany between Vannes and PLumelec at the end of the first week. Probably not completely flat but ASO seems to be going the opposite route from this year : have about 50ks of ITT as well, but instead of putting it all at the end, putting it all at the beginning.

 

[Red Rick]

Ok I'm now fully prepared for the ASO to completely **** up the alps somehow by using the same dumb, already overused climbs as finishes on stages so short I don't get to get enough sleep by watching it

 

[Bavarianrider]

I never understood the argument that the 1998 route was *that* favorable for Virenque.

And I feel that any home bias will be seen by shortening the TT length, not by adding extra climbs

Actually on paper it was tailor made for Ullrich. 115km TT, only one hard MF

 

[Poursuivant]

The TT needs to be flat, they seem to be rarer and rarer in GT's these days.

 

[Tonton]

Actually on paper it was tailor made for Ullrich. 115km TT, only one hard MF

Not so much when you look at it closely. The first ITT had a 3rd Cat climb in it. Also, ITT would give Virenque an edge over Pantani. More importantly, in '97, Ullrich showed that he was a below average descender. Once he realized it, too late, Virenque dropped him in the second or third to last stage. Too far from the finish, but I remember everyone taking notice. Conclusion: placing finishes at the bottom of a mountain was as good if not better than a MTF, denying Pantani, the better climber, a shot.

 

[Eshnar]

So you guys are saying the only individual TT rumoured is 13 kms long? This is the TDF thread right?
C'mon you cannot be serious.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

So you guys are saying the only individual TT rumoured is 13 kms long? This is the TDF thread right?
C'mon you cannot be serious.

Yep. I know it seems way off, but all rumors point to there only being one ITT. The glorified 13.7 km "prologue" and nothing else.

There are rock solid rumors of a TTT on day 9 - even acknowledged by Velowire now, which seems to be the only opportunity to have one, considering all the stage starts and finishes are pretty much known.