98th Tour de France presentation

[auscyclefan94]

64 TT kilometers seems like more than enough.

The Giro rarely has more.

Different riders, different country, different race!

Closer race...

 

[stefrees]

64 TT kilometers seems like more than enough.

The Giro rarely has more.

I agree, too much tt makes for less aggressive racing IMO.

And for all those moaning about no gc shake up till stage 14, often it's the riders in the tour who don't race, any ramp in the giro produces attacks

 

[Ferminal]

Stage 4 finishes atop Mur de Bretagne.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I don't understand, there are 64 km of TT, that's enough for my standard.
4 MTF are good too (well the gradient of some mountains isn't that high, but that's always been the case for TdF).
The bad thing is of course 10 stages of snoozefest, very bad indeed.
PS: by the way Cadel is not going to win a GT!

We'll see. Cap Frehel looks like a good stage.

 

[simoni]

I wonder from what side they will climb the Galibier? Usually climbing the Galibier has been pretty uneventful when it has occured in the Tour. It is not steep enough. But it could be that they will climb it from another direction this time...

Usually the galibier is quite a way from the end of the stage but there have been times (e.g. 1993, 1998) where the climb from the north has seen some action.

i think that stage is incredibly difficult coming so late in the race and there will be bodies everywhere. There a doubt over whether it will split the favourites as there will be an element of defensive riding and the alpe coming after will be in their minds.

And another thing - anyone who calls that side of the Galibier "easy" clearly hasn't ridden it! Its a very long climb and the last few kms from the Lauteret onwards would be tough at any altitude let alone up to 2600m!

 

[Ferminal]

Stage 6 a hill 3km out, reportedly 7%.

 

[Moondance]

Different riders, different country, different race!

Sure...

And BTW, I don't support this route because it's pro-Gesink (even if it is). I have always supported 'climbers' Tours. I have in the past advocated no TT kms at all in the Tour except for a prologue.

 

[Roland Rat]

I am fuming!!!!!!


2. TTT's close races up. FACT

No they don't. Dominant teams feeding on The Hog's Hot Sauce (Tm) who can slay everyone in a TTT and then ride on the front day after day, mountain after flat after mountain, do.

 

[Moondance]

We'll see. Cap Frehel looks like a good stage.

It does.

It certainly wont be a cakewalk for Cav in week 1.

 

[Woody22]

Andy must be smiling. Next to no ITT which he is terrible at and probably no Contador. Yawn fest. Just give him the yellow now and bring on a real race like the Giro! Evans may as well ride the Giro agian next year.. the route couldn't be worse for him.

 

[thehog]

The Hog's Hot Sauce (Tm)

I like it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Having no itt km's in a GT is absolutely absurd statement on your behalf Moondance.

 

[Moondance]

Having no itt km's in a GT is absolutely absurd statement on your behalf Moondance.

I've thought that way for years. Its TTs that strangle the life out of races, not the lack thereof.

 

[Moondance]

BTW, Lisieux AND Lourdes.

Its a Catholic Tour de France alright.

 

[Lanark]

Not that bad at all. Sure, it's can't compete with the Giro, but this looks like the best Tour in years. 4 mountain top finishes, all on tough HC mountains. Some other interesting stages (Super Besse, Mur de Bretagne and a couple of others), only a small TTT. The only problem I have is that it takes a long time before they reach the first real mountains (stage 12).

 

[Aguirre]

i repeat is the worst parcours I can remember, it's just singlemind parcours.

1. the ITT km is a joke, they want there Andy to be good (there are 2 hills)

2. Mountain stages are short (except Luz)

3. Everything is done to have 30 minutes fun in last mountain stages

4. Medium-mountain does not decide anything

5. Pau-Lourdes is a joke


it doesn't motivate Time trialist, not classic mens, it's done just for: Andy, Gesink, Purito

Organizers want to see a close battle in between contador and andy and the second winning

 

[Moondance]

I'm digging the Galibier stage finish. I might see if I can get to that one.

 

[Jan the Man]

64 TT kilometers seems like more than enough.

The Giro rarely has more.

The route is unbalanced; by that I don't necessarily mean too few ITT km i mean it's just horribly unbalanced as per ususal.

Personally, I don't mind if there is only one long TT, but that one should be long and flat one to suit the TTs rather than up and down middle hilly TT which suit GC men more.

I would rather have had two shorter TTs if anything i.e. a hilly one of 25km and a pancake flat one of 35km.

I think it is better to have some mountain stages throughout the three weeks rather than backloading it. Yes I can see that it is good that there is two or three very hard stages as a culmination but all 5 of the tough stages come in the last 9 days of racing. The first 11 other than the stage to Saint Flour are a let down.

As for the massif central, they could be used much more effectively. They are a horrible mountain range in mid summer.

The Giro may well have fewer TT kms but it generally has a lot of interesting and hilly/classic type stages in the first week. There is genearlly at least one mountain stage in the first week and they look for new places/finishes to go.

The Giro offers an opportunity and caters for all types of riders.

The tour are happy that it is a massive event, even if that precludes it from riding some of the more historic climbs of the Tour (Puy de Dome).

The Tour clearly remains the most prestigious cycling race, but it is no longer the toughest the most exciting or the most balanced. That accolade rests firmly with the Giro.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Andy must be smiling. Next to no ITT which he is terrible at and probably no Contador. Yawn fest. Just give him the yellow now and bring on a real race like the Giro! Evans may as well ride the Giro agian next year.. the route couldn't be worse for him.

I don't no what to think. I will need to see the giro route to make an asessment.

BTW, Lisieux AND Lourdes.

Its a Catholic Tour de France alright.

I am catholic and it certainly isn't!

 

[stefrees]

I don't no what to think. I will need to see the giro route to make an asessment.


I am catholic and it certainly isn't!

Are you cadels personal advisor these days then

 

[Ferminal]

3. Everything is done to have 30 minutes fun in last mountain stages

4. Medium-mountain does not decide anything

5. Pau-Lourdes is a joke

As for the massif central, they could be used much more effectively. They are a horrible mountain range in mid summer.

The Tour clearly remains the most prestigious cycling race, but it is no longer the toughest the most exciting or the most balanced. That accolade rests firmly with the Giro.

Agreed with the above.

 

[Jan the Man]

I don't no what to think. I will need to see the giro route to make an asessment.


I am catholic and it certainly isn't!

I don't think we need to wait and see.

I am not an Evans fan but the respect I have for him after the way he wore the rainbow jersey has gone up enormously. I am unconvinced whether he has enough ever to win a GT however this Tour is a joke for him and riders of his type.

He is better off riding the Giro which even though is likely to be a tougher parcours is likely to offer him and riders of his type more opportunity at stage wins.

 

[Moondance]

I am catholic and it certainly isn't!

So its a Protestant Tour de France?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I could not see Cadel!

 

[auscyclefan94]

points system changed dramatically.

20 points for winning intermediate sprints.