2023 Tour de France route rumors

[gavia88]

I just cannot understand how people here seem to be so indifferent about where that stage finishes. If it's pont d'espagne it's the first major gc battle of the Tour. If it's in Cautarets itself it's a breakaway stage with 0 gc implications. How is a forum complaining about literally anything not complaining about that? I mean yeah, the local authorities might not make the pont d'espagne finish possible, but the finish in Cautarets is a rubbish design nontheless.

I think you misunderstand the fact that Pont d'espagne or Cambasque don't differ so much. Yes a finish in Caurteret itself is different. But from there you can go to the right (Cambasque) or go to the left (Pont d'Espagne). The latter is slightly more difficult. But the biggest difference between Pont d'Espange and Cambasque is esthetical. They are not going to finish in Cauteret.

 

[gavia88]

latest news:

Un « mini-Liège-Bastogne-Liège » dans les Vosges au parcours du Tour de France 2023

Six cols en 133 kilomètres, dont l'enchaînement Petit Ballon et Platzerwasel pour finir : l'avant-dernière étape du Tour 2023, dans les Vosges, promet un feu d'artifice à la veille des Champs-Élysées.

www.lequipe.fr

I can't read the article but a member from leGrupetto says this:
"
Les 6 cols annoncés en 133 kilomètres : le Ballon d'Alsace, la Croix des Moinats, Grosse Pierre, la Schlucht, le Petit Ballon et le Platzerwasel avant le Markstein (source : l'Equipe + AFP)
https://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme-sur-rou ... 23/1361434

"


I'm wondering, those rumours about this ultra steep side of the Grand Ballon were fake in the end???? that's a pitty. Ballon d'Alsace,Hundsruck,Col du Haag (grand ballon), Grosse Pierre, la Schlucht, le Petit Ballon et le Platzerwasel would have been more interesting.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

latest news:

Un « mini-Liège-Bastogne-Liège » dans les Vosges au parcours du Tour de France 2023

Six cols en 133 kilomètres, dont l'enchaînement Petit Ballon et Platzerwasel pour finir : l'avant-dernière étape du Tour 2023, dans les Vosges, promet un feu d'artifice à la veille des Champs-Élysées.

www.lequipe.fr

I can't read the article but a member from leGrupetto says this:
"
Les 6 cols annoncés en 133 kilomètres : le Ballon d'Alsace, la Croix des Moinats, Grosse Pierre, la Schlucht, le Petit Ballon et le Platzerwasel avant le Markstein (source : l'Equipe + AFP)
https://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme-sur-rou ... 23/1361434

"


I'm wondering, those rumours about this ultra steep side of the Grand Ballon were fake in the end???? that's a pitty. Ballon d'Alsace,Hundsruck,Col du Haag (grand ballon), Grosse Pierre, la Schlucht, le Petit Ballon et le Platzerwasel would have been more interesting.

Still ain’t complaining about Petit Ballon and Platzerwasel, a great combo to cause final GC day carnage.

 

[Tonton]

We won't have to wait much longer, I'm going to rate it an 8, as always. Although I was born in Pinotland, my family is from the Jura department, some live in the Doubs. If ASO gives me another "Jura Stage" that follows a Roman road (i.e. the easiest way from point A to point B) I will unleash, not enough to get banned, but close.

Pays Basque: give me at least Arnosteguy close to a finish, something in that area, Burdincurutcheta the tough way...something...this is a gem of an area that ASO keeps ignoring.

 

[Sciatic]

I think you misunderstand the fact that Pont d'espagne or Cambasque don't differ so much. Yes a finish in Caurteret itself is different. But from there you can go to the right (Cambasque) or go to the left (Pont d'Espagne). The latter is slightly more difficult. But the biggest difference between Pont d'Espange and Cambasque is esthetical. They are not going to finish in Cauteret.

Yeah, that not to big a difference, the hardest 5km of climbing are 8.2 percent v. 7.7 percent gradient.

 

[houtdffan]

the Jura stage is the Grand Colombier MTF stage

 

[Andy schleck]

So much excitement and negativity. I am sure the route won't be perfect but I am sure it won't also be dreadful. It's been a long time since we've had a horrible route. I think the route looks like it always has looked which is relentless. No impossible weeks but a steady supply of tough stages which will challenge different riders. I am no different than anyone else, I have strong opinions- I like tough ITTs and I hate any TTT over 30K but overall, I am just excited to see the route and I trust it should be at least a decent route. The beauty of the Tour is that even a bad route is just a one off thing. It's not like your team building a new stadium that stinks which you're then stuck with for decades.

The routes have been better in the last years. I don't understand the hate. I don't want to comeback to the times where the tour started with 10 flat stages, and then 2 ITTs with 50 km, and just 5 mountain stages, and some of them very horrible stages. Last year the best route of the grand tours was the route of tour france. Giro and vuelta routes were not that great. And this year probably will be the same.

 

[pman]

I agree with Mr. Schleck. The Vuelta route last year was a farce. The Giro wasn't much better last year. The Tour has unique responsibilities with it's large TV audience, etc. It also has geographic challenges in terms of mountains that the other two grand tour nations don't have. More often than not, the Tour routes of recent years have been strong. I am excited for tomorrow.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Welcome to that one magical day of the year when all forumites are filled with equally high levels of happiness and love.

I think we're all familiar with the line; "You had me at Tourmalet."

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

latest news:

Un « mini-Liège-Bastogne-Liège » dans les Vosges au parcours du Tour de France 2023

Six cols en 133 kilomètres, dont l'enchaînement Petit Ballon et Platzerwasel pour finir : l'avant-dernière étape du Tour 2023, dans les Vosges, promet un feu d'artifice à la veille des Champs-Élysées.

www.lequipe.fr

I can't read the article but a member from leGrupetto says this:
"
Les 6 cols annoncés en 133 kilomètres : le Ballon d'Alsace, la Croix des Moinats, Grosse Pierre, la Schlucht, le Petit Ballon et le Platzerwasel avant le Markstein (source : l'Equipe + AFP)
https://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme-sur-rou ... 23/1361434

"


I'm wondering, those rumours about this ultra steep side of the Grand Ballon were fake in the end???? that's a pitty. Ballon d'Alsace,Hundsruck,Col du Haag (grand ballon), Grosse Pierre, la Schlucht, le Petit Ballon et le Platzerwasel would have been more interesting.

via forumer AG2R @ Le Gruppetto:

should be more or less correct.

Ballon d'Alsace should be 2nd category ...it's a really soft climb from the south.

Could be a Tour without stages with 4000 m + elevation gain. Though this year's Granon stage was only just over - only the AdH stage went well past that.

What matters more are the steep kms (especially in a low altitude GC stage). They're almost nonexistent in the Le Markstein stage until they hit Petit Ballon. Croix des Moinats has a few, I guess.

 

[tobydawq]

Welcome to that one magical day of the year when all forumites are filled with equally high levels of happiness and love.

I think we're all familiar with the line; "You had me at Tourmalet."

"You had me at La Planche des Belles Filles".

Just taste the name. So beautiful.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Why is the presentation on a Thursday at 11:30 btw. It‘s really annoying.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Why is the presentation on a Thursday at 11:30 btw. It‘s really annoying.

I know. And they always have to have the bad presentations on the weekends.

 

[Netserk]

Great to have stage 20 to Le Markstein over Petit Ballon and Platzerwasel in the end! It is such an obviously good finish in the Vosges that it has been proposed several times in the Race Design Thread. It would have been nice if the stage was harder and had included Grand Ballon as well, but it would likely not be the first change I'd make to the overall route.

 

[ice&fire]

Why is the presentation on a Thursday at 11:30 btw. It‘s really annoying.

Because I have a work meeting starting at that time, so it's going to be epic.
But seriously... most likely explanation is so they can have a big lunch just after they finish.

 

[sir fly]

via forumer AG2R @ Le Gruppetto:

should be more or less correct.

Ballon d'Alsace should be 2nd category ...it's a really soft climb from the south.

Could be a Tour without stages with 4000 m + elevation gain. Though this year's Granon stage was only just over - only the AdH stage went well past that.

What matters more are the steep kms (especially in a low altitude GC stage). They're almost nonexistent in the Le Markstein stage until they hit Petit Ballon. Croix des Moinats has a few, I guess.

A grand finale design.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

RTBF mentions Aubisque

Looks like stage 5 will go via Soulor North then (as there would be only one stage in the Hautes-Pyrénées department)

 

[tobydawq]

One thing I really don't like about the "official Tour presentation" is that they don't reveal the stage profiles apart from maybe a few hard mountain stages. I think that's really annoying because how are we supposed to know what a stage will look like if all we know is two names of cities and a number of kilometres?

As I see it, the real presentation is about the start of June where they get revealed.

 

[Gigs_98]

One thing I really don't like about the "official Tour presentation" is that they don't reveal the stage profiles apart from maybe a few hard mountain stages. I think that's really annoying because how are we supposed to know what a stage will look like if all we know is two names of cities and a number of kilometres?

As I see it, the real presentation is about the start of June where they get revealed.

Yeah, I agree. However they do usually release that collection of all stage profiles within one picture (no idea how to better describe it) although it's always a challange to find that anywhere too.

 

[DNP-Old]

Whoever came up with the stage to Le Markstein deserves a medal. I hate, no, I abhor final weekend ITTs and supercols. This is a stage where one can go on a raid and throw the whole race into madness. It's incredibly hard, but no ultramythical percentages, no real valleys and of good distance.

 

[tobydawq]

Yeah, I agree. However they do usually release that collection of all stage profiles within one picture (no idea how to better describe it) although it's always a challange to find that anywhere too.

Okay, I think I have to look for that. But that would probably still make it hard to assess the hardness of the climbs, especially on the not very big mountain stages.

 

[tobydawq]

Whoever came up with the stage to Le Markstein deserves a medal. I hate, no, I abhor final weekend ITTs and supercols. This is a stage where one can go on a raid and throw the whole race into madness. It's incredibly hard, but no ultramythical percentages, no real valleys and of good distance.

Yeah, I agree. It's quite surreal to see a stage like that happening in the Tour to be honest.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

La Flamme Rouge usually has the likely stage profiles up pretty fast. Usually enough info can be gleaned from this animation:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm9waGAoK-I

 

[Netserk]

It's incredibly hard

It's not.

 

[Red Rick]

Welcome to that one magical day of the year when all forumites are filled with equally high levels of happiness and love.

I think we're all familiar with the line; "You had me at Tourmalet."

Was it @SafeBet who called TdF route announcement the best day of
a CN year?