General News Thread

[Brullnux]

At first glance I thought the route for itzulia was pretty easy, but it's actually really good, with some great stages. The first stage has two muri in a row, the second stage allows for some attacks, a flat itt opens the race up a bit more (although, it should play into the hands of people like kwiatkowski), stage 5 is another well balanced stage, with a great opportunity for attacks, while the last stage is just eibar. Really good.

 

[fauniera]

Re:

The first stage has two muri in a row

 

[Netserk]

While its official stats have it as 6.5%, the last climb in stage two is 10%+ as well.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

The first stage has two muri in a row

Ok, didn't realise there was another way to get to Aia. I thought there were only three. Unless that is also the same one as the double aia stage? Either way, still pretty steep and enough to force a selection, if maybe not attacks.

 

[Valv.Piti]

The Tour de Suisse-route is kinda easy, definitely favours the time trialists with two relatively easy MTFs, a TTT and a 34 km ITT. Its a nice route tho, I like races that mixes it up a bit. Lots of classic stages for the likes of Sagan, GVA, Gaviria and Matthews and in general just a pretty well rounded route IMO.

I stumbled across the Catalunya stages and thats nothing new really. 2 sprinter stages, 2 MTFs, 2 hilly stages ending in a downhill and Barcelona in the end. I like the stage to Vielha, that could be quite good after the 2 MTFs. Its a very good route for Valverde and its hard to see him drop this one, especially with the team he has.
https://www.cyclingstage.com/volta-a-catalunya-2018/stage-7-route-cat-2018/

 

[Red Rick]

Oh brilliant, more TTTs.

Catalunya looks like no different from normal. It's getting repetitive

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Oh brilliant, more TTTs.

Catalunya looks like no different from normal. It's getting repetitive

I think they want to make their race more attractive by including a TTT since the Tour is and I don't really think you can blame them for that, its pretty understandable. Dauphine will probably do the same.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Oh brilliant, more TTTs.

Catalunya looks like no different from normal. It's getting repetitive

I think they want to make their race more attractive by including a TTT since the Tour is and I don't really think you can blame them for that, its pretty understandable. Dauphine will probably do the same.

I don't think Suisse can compete with the Dauphine in terms of having a TTT. The majority of top riders goes to the Dauphine, and with TTTs in both they will be split up minimally, so the majority will still go to the Dauphine.

Now they'll probably have a bad field and a bad race.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Oh brilliant, more TTTs.

Catalunya looks like no different from normal. It's getting repetitive

I think they want to make their race more attractive by including a TTT since the Tour is and I don't really think you can blame them for that, its pretty understandable. Dauphine will probably do the same.

I don't think Suisse can compete with the Dauphine in terms of having a TTT. The majority of top riders goes to the Dauphine, and with TTTs in both they will be split up minimally, so the majority will still go to the Dauphine.

Now they'll probably have a bad field and a bad race.

They might attract bigger riders than usually since they now occupy Dauphiné's calendar spot relative to the Tour.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

The Tour de Suisse-route is kinda easy, definitely favours the time trialists with two relatively easy MTFs, a TTT and a 34 km ITT. Its a nice route tho, I like races that mixes it up a bit. Lots of classic stages for the likes of Sagan, GVA, Gaviria and Matthews and in general just a pretty well rounded route IMO.

I stumbled across the Catalunya stages and thats nothing new really. 2 sprinter stages, 2 MTFs, 2 hilly stages ending in a downhill and Barcelona in the end. I like the stage to Vielha, that could be quite good after the 2 MTFs. Its a very good route for Valverde and its hard to see him drop this one, especially with the team he has.
https://www.cyclingstage.com/volta-a-catalunya-2018/stage-7-route-cat-2018/

Caruso for the win then?

 

[Nirvana]

The Tour de Suisse-route is kinda easy, definitely favours the time trialists with two relatively easy MTFs, a TTT and a 34 km ITT. Its a nice route tho, I like races that mixes it up a bit. Lots of classic stages for the likes of Sagan, GVA, Gaviria and Matthews and in general just a pretty well rounded route IMO.

I stumbled across the Catalunya stages and thats nothing new really. 2 sprinter stages, 2 MTFs, 2 hilly stages ending in a downhill and Barcelona in the end. I like the stage to Vielha, that could be quite good after the 2 MTFs. Its a very good route for Valverde and its hard to see him drop this one, especially with the team he has.
https://www.cyclingstage.com/volta-a-catalunya-2018/stage-7-route-cat-2018/

Caruso for the win then?

There is Porte that will ride Suisse instead of Duaphine this year.

 

[May0maniac]

The 2020 Tour de France will start in Nice.
http://www.europe1.fr/sport/cyclisme-le-tour-de-france-2020-partira-de-nice-3597188
Now we only need Zomegnan to design the first few stages, a col d'eze time trial on stage 1 and a traditional Nice-Nice stage on stage 2.
Just imagine the outcry when they'll announce that we'll get two sprint stages at the start...

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

The 2020 Tour de France will start in Nice.
http://www.europe1.fr/sport/cyclisme-le-tour-de-france-2020-partira-de-nice-3597188
Now we only need Zomegnan to design the first few stages, a col d'eze time trial on stage 1 and a traditional Nice-Nice stage on stage 2.
Just imagine the outcry when they'll announce that we'll get two sprint stages at the start...

Danish media already making a big deal about the fact that it's not going to Denmark.
If I was ASO - or at least one of the key members - and I had the choice between Nice, which is in fact a town in France, and any town in Denmark, which is in fact not anywhere near France, I know which one I'd pick.

 

[Netserk]

Re:

The 2020 Tour de France will start in Nice.
http://www.europe1.fr/sport/cyclisme-le-tour-de-france-2020-partira-de-nice-3597188
Now we only need Zomegnan to design the first few stages, a col d'eze time trial on stage 1 and a traditional Nice-Nice stage on stage 2.
Just imagine the outcry when they'll announce that we'll get two sprint stages at the start...

Madone, here we go! As an upgrade from Peille, and then no loop in the end, it'll top with 27.5 km to go _O_

 

[Koronin]

Wait the Tour de France is actually going to start in France? Amazing. I was beginning to wonder if one of these Grand Tours was actually going to try to fly everyone to the US to start and then I get two rest days to get everyone back to Europe.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I will echo was Mayomaniac wrote me: If the ASO starts the Tour de France with a sprint stage, they will receive not one, but two not so kind letters..... I don't know what to expect, I like Prudhomme as a person, but I don't believe he can come up with something great. Corzika 2013 all over again is my (very depressing) bet.

 

[Red Rick]

Absolutely positive it starts with either a prologue or a sprint stage.

 

[Netserk]

Re:

I will echo was Mayomaniac wrote me: If the ASO starts the Tour de France with a sprint stage, they will receive not one, but two not so kind letters..... I don't know what to expect, I like Prudhomme as a person, but I don't believe he can come up with something great. Corzika 2013 all over again is my (very depressing) bet.

Flat prologue and then a hilly/medium mountain stage. They could even do a 1:1 with one of the Nice-Nice stages of late ('17 would be great, '07 as well; as long as full Èze is there). They showed in '14 that it's not out of the question. They can have two flat (potentially interesting) stages afterwards. I don't think that's unrealistic.

 

[Breh]

Ghent is putting together a bid for the 2021 World Championships.

There's talks of a big loop through the Flemish Ardennes followed by some local laps in Ghent.

 

[pastronef]

Re: Re:

The 2020 Tour de France will start in Nice.
http://www.europe1.fr/sport/cyclisme-le-tour-de-france-2020-partira-de-nice-3597188
Now we only need Zomegnan to design the first few stages, a col d'eze time trial on stage 1 and a traditional Nice-Nice stage on stage 2.
Just imagine the outcry when they'll announce that we'll get two sprint stages at the start...

Madone, here we go! As an upgrade from Peille, and then no loop in the end, it'll top with 27.5 km to go _O_

no way, if they ever ride Madone they will climb the usual road, so the tarmac is better on the Peille side, for the downhill. but I think ASO has other roads in mind

 

[Netserk]

Re: Re:

The 2020 Tour de France will start in Nice.
http://www.europe1.fr/sport/cyclisme-le-tour-de-france-2020-partira-de-nice-3597188
Now we only need Zomegnan to design the first few stages, a col d'eze time trial on stage 1 and a traditional Nice-Nice stage on stage 2.
Just imagine the outcry when they'll announce that we'll get two sprint stages at the start...

Madone, here we go! As an upgrade from Peille, and then no loop in the end, it'll top with 27.5 km to go _O_

no way, if they ever ride Madone they will climb the usual road, so the tarmac is better on the Peille side, for the downhill. but I think ASO has other roads in mind

Huh? I want them to climb the traditional side and then descend down to La Turbie and Nice (something like this, with Braus and Castillon just before).

 

[Valv.Piti]

Thats a pretty meh route for the Dauphine really. 4 MTFs in a row is a bit overkill, there really isn't variation, but not a real sprint stage is a huge plus for me. Will be interesting to see the La Rosiere-stage.

 

[jaylew]

Dubai and Abu Dhabi Tours will be combined for one 7 stage race next year. Don't know if this is good or bad news.

 

[fauniera]

Re:

Thats a pretty meh route for the Dauphine really. 4 MTFs in a row is a bit overkill, there really isn't variation, but not a real sprint stage is a huge plus for me. Will be interesting to see the La Rosiere-stage.

The distances are a joke. Not to mention the friggin TTT.

 

[Nirvana]

A good Tour de l'Avenir route :lol: