40th Route du Sud [2.1]

[Antoine_Blondin]

The 2016 route was announced today in Toulouse (642kms - 5 stages).

The route of the 40th edition Souvenir Francis Auriac (June 16 to June 19)

Stage 1 (June 16) : Saint-Pons-de-Thomières / Bessières (196km)

Stage 2 (June 17) : Saint-Pierre-de-Trivisy / Albi (92.4km)

Stage 3 (June 17) : Albi / Albi ITT (13.4km)

Stage 4 (June 18) : Saint-Gaudens / Val d'Azun - Couraduque (184.9km)

Stage 5 (June 19) : Gers Astarac Arros en Gascogne (8 laps in Clermont-Pouyguillès) (154.8km)

Our partner for mapping and profiling : ProCyclingMaps (https://twitter.com/ProCyclingMaps)

Teams

AG2R LA MONDIALE
ARMÉE DE TERRE
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA
COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CRÉDITS
DELKO MARSEILLE PROVENCE KTM
DIRECT-ÉNERGIE
EUSKADI BASQUE COUNTRY – MURIAS
FDJ
FORTUNEO – VITAL CONCEPT
GAZPROM-RUSVELO
HP-BTP AUBER 93
MOVISTAR TEAM
RADIO POPULAR BOAVISTA
SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
STÖLTING SERVICE GROUP
(and maybe one more to come)

Live brodcast
On Eurosport in 70 countries for the last 80kms of each stage

Great news as well, after the Dubaï Tour, the Route du Sud will be the first race to stream live images from onboard cameras thanks to Eurosport !

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[Libertine Seguros]

Nice route this year. Couraduque is a nice new MTF, the TT adds another element and the hilly final day circuit is a good change of pace for the race.

 

[BigMac]

5 stages, nice. Looking forward to it.

Also, nice to see you Antoine.

 

[Antoine_Blondin]

Thank you !
After a great 2015 edition, we had to design an appealing route to make the race progress. The Route du Sud discovered Balès or Payolle in the past, and now we are proud to held for the first time a procyling finish in the Col de Couraduque. A trial before the Tour de France in the future ?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Perfect race for Quintana to get the feel

 

[jaylew]

Looks like a good route. I do wish the field was a bit better as Nairo is likely to dominate, though PInot, with his newfound TT form could challenge if he participates.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Very nice route, I hope the field will be strong again

 

[Gigs_98]

I really like it. I still hope that Quintana will ride Suisse though

 

[rghysens]

I really like the route as a whole and stage 4 in particular. Very nice design. Maybe the final stage could have been hillier.

 

[trevim]

Looking forward to see what the young portuguese can do, specially Frederico Figueiredo and David Rodrigues. ´

Unless they have to slave away for August angel Rui Sousa

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If it's anything like last year, they'll be spared that until August

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re:

Looking forward to see what the young portuguese can do, specially Frederico Figueiredo and David Rodrigues. ´

Unless they have to slave away for August angel Rui Sousa

Heh...Joining an international forum like this really was an eye opener for me a few years ago in this regard. I still wondered why the heck old All-Terrain-Cândido never went to the TdF.

Love the fact that Antoine drops by every year to share the RdS route on PRR. Particularly interested in Bordéres as I'd like to see the TdF use the little diversity this area offers, all things considered. Hard to see past someone like Pinot. I figure it could be a shoe-in for Bala if he went though.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Wait, is Pinot going? I think its unlikely that he will race here considering he does Dauphine. Both Quintana and Valverde could possibly be at the start also, but I honestly think neither will. Its not every year you can get a Quintana v Contador on Balés.

 

[Antoine_Blondin]

Movistar manager Eusebio Unzué confirmed that the only race Quintana will start before the Tour is the Route du Sud (June 16-19) in the French Pyrénées — no Critérium du Dauphiné or Tour de Suisse.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/05/news/quintana-wont-race-until-route-du-sud-before-tour_406409#dBBkLkoY1pSpoJdR.99

 

[SeriousSam]

Those procyclingmaps are pretty

 

[Valv.Piti]

This race just got 3 times better. Hopefully someone close to Quintana's level will take part in the race like last year.

 

[Antoine_Blondin]

Re:

Those procyclingmaps are pretty

Thank you. ProCyclingMaps provides maps and profiles for various races this year, including Tour de l'Avenir, Tour de l'Ain, Czech Cycling Tour or Tour des Fjords

 

[Tonton]

Afaik, no Pinot.

 

[Brullnux]

Afaik, no Pinot.

Good, Suisse or Dauphine is where I want to see him

 

[Kwibus]

Suisse, dauphine... This stage race is a fine alternative for sure.
Great course.
Nice work Antoine.

 

[Forever The Best]

Stage 4 is a great design.Also an ITT,very nice.Also the final stage is great with Moncassin with less than 5 km to go.Very good work Antoine

 

[Sciocco]

This is soon, maybe sticky?

 

[Pantani_lives]

Re:

Hopefully someone close to Quintana's level will take part in the race like last year.

Yep, Alejandro Valverde.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Hopefully someone close to Quintana's level will take part in the race like last year.

Yep, Alejandro Valverde.

What, is he also participating? Not surprising since Contador did it last year as well, seems like a good way to get some speed in.
Ventoso is going, I'd imagine Dayer Quintana as well.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

This is soon, maybe sticky?

Not yet.

Also, Sud between Giro and Tour seemed like a bad idea last year and it still seems like a bad idea this year.