The Tuscany start in 2024 could be an opportunity to go back to Corsica. It's a shorter ferry journey from Livorno or Piombino that from anywhere in mainland France. You could even break the journey and have a stage in Isola d'Elba.
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The Tour de France has visited Italy a number of times but never started there. Thanks to an estimated €10 million fee raised by the Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Piemonte regions, the 2024 Grand Boucle will include three stages in Italy and the start of stage 4 in Pinerolo before the race heads into France via the Alps.
Hmm, Vosgues to be at the end like in 2020? Or would they actually do a solid snake through France with Pyrenees - Massiv Central - Vosges - Alps?not so much news so far. Some speculations about the hardest side of the Grand Ballon making his appearence in '23 or '24
https://france3-regions.francetvinf...devenir-un-col-du-tour-de-france-2583848.html
I'll take PB/Platzer combi any day over a Super Planche finish, but it's really meh for a final mountain blockHmm, Vosgues to be at the end like in 2020? Or would they actually do a solid snake through France with Pyrenees - Massiv Central - Vosges - Alps?
In either case, I just wish they would do a monstrous mountain stage in the Vosges for once, as in +5000m elevation. Not these medium mountain stages or the typical nothing-> PdBF stage.
I really liked what they did with the women's Tour this year on stage 7, the Petit Ballon, Platzerwasel Combi is great.
That is certainly possible. A modified version of a previous design of mine:Hmm, Vosgues to be at the end like in 2020? Or would they actually do a solid snake through France with Pyrenees - Massiv Central - Vosges - Alps?
In either case, I just wish they would do a monstrous mountain stage in the Vosges for once, as in +5000m elevation. Not these medium mountain stages or the typical nothing-> PdBF stage.
I really liked what they did with the women's Tour this year on stage 7, the Petit Ballon, Platzerwasel Combi is great.
That is certainly possible. A modified version of a previous design of mine:
Lure > Le Markstein
215.0 km, +5505 m. Bike ride in Mélisey, Bourgogne-Franche-Comtéridewithgps.com
You can have Oderen > Croix > Chevrères > PdBF the day before.
What took them so long?Hmm, Vosgues to be at the end like in 2020? Or would they actually do a solid snake through France with Pyrenees - Massiv Central - Vosges - Alps?
In either case, I just wish they would do a monstrous mountain stage in the Vosges for once, as in +5000m elevation. Not these medium mountain stages or the typical nothing-> PdBF stage.
I really liked what they did with the women's Tour this year on stage 7, the Petit Ballon, Platzerwasel Combi is great.
They could also do Torino > Gap without any climbs after Montgenèvre.
I can't remember what stages were rumoured in Italy, but Larche is another doable early pass.
EDIT:
Not at all a prediction but more a wish list. For the 2023 Tour- do the Pyrenees early, the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before the rest day. Then do a 20 K individual time trial around Toulouse. Throw in another 20 K time trial a week later. Two ITTs, none of which fall at the end of the race, in-between the two major mountain chains. Plus I really want an excuse to see a Toulouse stage that isn't a sprint. Make it happen Christian Prudhomm.
Haha. Well I'd love two 30 K ITTs but I know that won't happen. Heck, let's do 2 40 K ITTs. I am sure the Remco fans would have something to say about that. Or, it'd be nice to do a Toulouse finish at the end of a very hilly/mountain stage. I imagine you could create a liege bastogne liege style stage that finishes in Toulouse. Unless I am missing something, the last few finishes there have all been sprints which seem like a waste given it's in a hilly range.2 20km ITTs?
Better to eat rat poison than be subjected to that
Haha. Well I'd love two 30 K ITTs but I know that won't happen. Heck, let's do 2 40 K ITTs. I am sure the Remco fans would have something to say about that. Or, it'd be nice to do a Toulouse finish at the end of a very hilly/mountain stage. I imagine you could create a liege bastogne liege style stage that finishes in Toulouse. Unless I am missing something, the last few finishes there have all been sprints which seem like a waste given it's in a hilly range.
I'd prefer 2 55km ITTs like was the norm 20 years ago. Hell, I'd prefer a 75km ITT on the first weekend, with a 50 km ITT at the end of the race
Last year's Tour has two 30km TT's so it's not unrealistic. If anything the amount of ITT has gone up over the last few years, compared to 2015 or 2017 for example. Something like 2013 would be nice, a flat 30km ITT and a hilly/rolling 30km one in the last week.Haha. Well I'd love two 30 K ITTs but I know that won't happen. Heck, let's do 2 40 K ITTs. I am sure the Remco fans would have something to say about that. Or, it'd be nice to do a Toulouse finish at the end of a very hilly/mountain stage. I imagine you could create a liege bastogne liege style stage that finishes in Toulouse. Unless I am missing something, the last few finishes there have all been sprints which seem like a waste given it's in a hilly range.
Cyclings balance has changed. You almost never see the climber vs TTer split anymore. Dumoulin had the 2015 Vuelta and 2017 Giro, and maybe you can argue Contadors 2015 Giro was like that as well.Last year's Tour has two 30km TT's so it's not unrealistic. If anything the amount of ITT has gone up over the last few years, compared to 2015 or 2017 for example. Something like 2013 would be nice, a flat 30km ITT and a hilly/rolling 30km one in the last week.
In my opinion I think every TDF should have 100km of ITT as was the norm until 15 years ago. Just have well designed mountain stages to balance it out like the 2007 TDF
Which is why there should be more ITT. An early 40 km TT would create gaps, but wouldn't decide the race between the best.Cyclings balance has changed. You almost never see the climber vs TTer split anymore. Dumoulin had the 2015 Vuelta and 2017 Giro, and maybe you can argue Contadors 2015 Giro was like that as well.
Maybe the fact that the Tour TT was stage 20 skews the results heavily, and maybe if it's a nice pan flat TT Thomas actually puts decent time into Vingegaard. But then Thomas wasn't evern competitve in the mountains anyway.
More TT would've basically added nothing to the previous 7 GTs or so, most would get less competitive rather than more.Which is why there should be more ITT. An early 40 km TT would create gaps, but wouldn't decide the race between the best.
If you think they only add gaps in the final GC, sure.More TT would've basically added nothing to the previous 7 GTs or so, most would get less competitive rather than more.
Where does it add to the racing? The only clear case is the 2020 Tour.If you think they only add gaps in the final GC, sure.
Armstrong never took any time on Ullrich in an early long flat ITT in the Tour.But there is just as big a chance that it would just settle the race then and there. Like it always happened in the Tour in the Induráin and Armstrong eras as well as in 2012.