2015 Tour de France Route

[Brullnux]

The stage to Caruerets looks like a much easier, and I mean MUCH easier, version of Mortirolo-Aprica combo, although as I have stated twice already, much, much easier. However, it could catch Froome out if Quintana, Nibali and AC go attack-mode on the penultimate climb. The stage to Pra-Loup is also interesting, especially if Astana race it like they have done in the Giro. Stage 18 also, but elsehwhere it will be a Tour of attacks 3 or 4 kilometres out on the final climb, unless AG2R, with 3 high quality cards to play, race aggressively.

 

[SeriousSam]

Looking at it again, I mistook some of those stages for boring mass sprints when in fact they are uphill sprints. Uphills sprints are great. A useful of thumb is that if Kittel and Cavendish have a chance to win, the stage is utter ***.

 

[barmaher]

I am very disappointed by the course, but think that if the Big 4 are all on form we will see some good racing.

We have had decent routes before, and bad racing.

 

[barmaher]

Re:

Looking at it again, I mistook some of those stages for boring mass sprints when in fact they are uphill sprints. Uphills sprints are great. A useful of thumb is that if Kittel and Cavendish have a chance to win, the stage is utter ****.

Uphill sprints are great? If you like maybe 3 minutes of action, then yes, I agree. You must love the Vuelta.

 

[Miburo]

Route of '09 is still 10 times worse than this

 

[Ataraxus]

Change the profile colors from yellow(ish) to amaranth and most will mistake it for a Vuelta route

 

[Gigs_98]

Valverde could win 3 stages in the first week. Of course the two murs but also stage 6 if he is really giving all his best. As most people I am also not the biggest fan of time bonifications but in this case that could really pay out, because guys like valverde could get half a minute on guys like froome. I hardly believe that he can really win stage 6 because that one doesn't look very difficult but its possible.

 

[Miburo]

Valverde could win 3 stages in the first week. Of course the two murs but also stage 6 if he is really giving all his best. As most people I am also not the biggest fan of time bonifications but in this case that could really pay out, because guys like valverde could get half a minute on guys like froome. I hardly believe that he can really win stage 6 because that one doesn't look very difficult but its possible.

Piti can definitely win that stage, especially in his form of this year.

This might be his best chance to win the tour. Not meaning much though since it's still like 5%

But the parcours is perfect for him, also for contador it's really good.

 

[Netserk]

Rodez is another Sagan stage. Green will be easy for him.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

Rodez is another Sagan stage. Green will be easy for him.

Hopefuly his primary goal will be to help Alberto wherever he can (esp cobbles and crosswinds)

 

[SeriousSam]

Re:

Rodez is another Sagan stage. Green will be easy for him.

Not sure a third tier GC rider like Sagan is explosive enough to win there

 

[Pricey_sky]

I don't like it, there should be a longish iTT but we've gone over that before. Unless im mistaken there are only 4 'definate' sprint stages (2,5,7,21) this year which isn't enough for a GT in my opinion, Seems like they've also gone OTT with these little steep hill finishes too (3,6,8,13).

 

[Netserk]

The fewer Kittel stages the better. I'm not even sure he'll win stage 2 if it's windy.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

The fewer Kittel stages the better. I'm not even sure he'll win stage 2 if it's windy.

Yeah I agree I don't like the pan flat stages and I think teams like Etixx and Saxo will go mental if it's windy on stage 2, however there should be another 2/3 stages where at least it gives the sprinter (not Kittel) a 50/50 chance with a couple of hills in the final 20km's to make it interesting.

 

[Netserk]

Then stage 15 should count as a sprint stage as well.

 

[Rollthedice]

Valverde could win 3 stages in the first week. Of course the two murs but also stage 6 if he is really giving all his best. As most people I am also not the biggest fan of time bonifications but in this case that could really pay out, because guys like valverde could get half a minute on guys like froome. I hardly believe that he can really win stage 6 because that one doesn't look very difficult but its possible.

Piti can definitely win that stage, especially in his form of this year.

This might be his best chance to win the tour. Not meaning much though since it's still like 5%

But the parcours is perfect for him, also for contador it's really good.

Valverde will be the first Movistar rider in yellow. Not sure if Quintana will particularly like it.

 

[Netserk]

Valverde will lose too much in the ITT. Not to mention that he obviously will lose ~5 minutes on stage 2.

 

[SeriousSam]

Valverde winning the uphill sprints and wearing the maillot jaune will be one of the highlights of the Tour. Can't wait.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

Valverde will lose too much in the ITT. Not to mention that he obviously will lose ~5 minutes on stage 2.

Valverde has done amazing ITT sometimes, especially with hot weather. Valverde is thinking a little in Quintana, but he can wear the yellow jersey in the first week, he and Kiatkowski has lot of probabilities, Sagan as well, but he is going to lose some time in Huy.

 

[Miburo]

Life is good when you know kittel can potentially only win 4,5 stages.

Please cav beat him up.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Valverde winning the uphill sprints and wearing the maillot jaune will be one of the highlights of the Tour. Can't wait.

He will not win on Mur de Bretagne. And he will get a lot of competition on the Mur.

And he will lose too much time on the TT anyway, like Netserk said.

 

[Miburo]

Re: Re:

Valverde winning the uphill sprints and wearing the maillot jaune will be one of the highlights of the Tour. Can't wait.

He will not win on Mur de Bretagne. And he will get a lot of competition on the Mur.

And he will lose too much time on the TT anyway, like Netserk said.

The mur de bretagne is made for piti.

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Indeed, remember Valverde in yellow after winning in Plumelec in 2008? That's what we're looking at. Hell, if he doesn't completely bonk or crash on some early stage (cobbles for one) or lose time in the Prologue I can see him holding it from Huy until Beille or so with a shout towards getting it back with a Mende finish.

I actually see him as a serious contender as things stand. What are the time bonus rules like for this year?

 

[Velolover2]

If there is enough corners, Valverde could do well in the TT.

He can even win prologues/short TT's if they are technical enough. The man is a great bike handler. Hope that he will be in yellow.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Life is good when you know kittel can potentially only win 4,5 stages.

Please cav beat him up.

Kittel is perhaps the most worthless rider. He only has his top speed. He can't ride in the wind, survive even small hills, ride on cobbles. A wheelsucker like him shouldn't win any stages. At least Cavendish is a fighter.