Grand Depart 2017 in Germany?

[yaco]

I find contrarians in this forum when discussing parcours, especially for GT's - I continually read that GT's are for all round riders - Nothing wrong with one or two short mountain stages if they are placed correctly in the route - Should also include a TTT so that teams pick all-round teams - This all adds to the mix.

 

[Gigs_98]

It's less than a day before the presentation and I still don't believe the rumors about the Izoard stage. I expected new rumors about that stage whenever I checked the velowire page, because I still can't imagine the ASO will make such a horrible last mountain stage. I just can't imagine that

 

[sir fly]

I think we'll see a surprise in the Alps tomorrow, but no one will actually be surprised.

 

[Escarabajo]

It's less than a day before the presentation and I still don't believe the rumors about the Izoard stage. I expected new rumors about that stage whenever I checked the velowire page, because I still can't imagine the ASO will make such a horrible last mountain stage. I just can't imagine that

Are you going to watch?

 

[McLovin]

It's like Hautacam stage two years ago, so yeah, totally possible.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Re:

It's like Hautacam stage two years ago, so yeah, totally possible.

There was probably not much they could do but Vars - Izoard. The département wanted a MTF finish on Izoard, probably from the south to show off the Casse Déserte.

The stage would be better if they also climbed Izoard from the start, though. An easy 1st category and average HC alone, apart from some minor climbs, is indeed not enough.

The Hautacam stage was better than just Vars-Izoard, IMO. Tourmalet (E) and Hautacam are much harder than the Izoard stage most people seem to expect, and the valley in between is not sloping upwards. Racing was poor, though, but that was in part because Nibali had no competition.

 

[Linkinitouille]

Col de la Biche, hardest side of Grand Colombier, and Mont du Chat CONFIRMED BY PRUDHOMME HIMSELF. All are Hors Catégorie.

 

[TromleTromle]

Re:

Col de la Biche, hardest side of Grand Colombier, and Mont du Chat CONFIRMED BY PRUDHOMME HIMSELF. All are Hors Catégorie.

Well - It's a step - but still a waste of B/GC.

They should a B/GC stage with finish on top
And a MdC with descent finish

 

[Robert5091]

103 km stage that ends on a long descent? I would imagine every rider's health insurance premiums will cost more! Jeez!.

 

[mikii4567]

Velowire was 100% correct again. Serre-Chevalier tweeted a photo of all of the stage towns.
Now to see (some of) the profiles...

 

[Robert5091]

2017? Will this really be the end of "Tommy the Tounge" a.k.a. "France's all time Gurning Champion"? I expect the peloton to all do Tommy V imitations along the Champs Elysses ... now that will be worth watching!

 

[TromleTromle]

or based on VW... but VW is probably right..

 

[Simurgh]

Livestream of the route presentation on Le tour's official facebook account now

 

[Vesica]

 

[Red Rick]

PdBF stage confirmed *** up

 

[TromleTromle]

Re:

PdBF stage confirmed **** up

Yep - meeeeh - first week a 2 out of 10.

 

[gregrowlerson]

How long is the final ITT? Should be 50 + kms.

 

[dacooley]

the only intrigue remaining is the length of TT and probably Foix stage.

 

[Eshnar]

Re:

the only intrigue remaining is the length of TT and probably Foix stage.

23 km. I'm not even joking.

 

[barmaher]

23km is an absolute joke. Jeez Louise.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Mmmmm Can't say I'm delirious about the pars-course . . .

 

[TromleTromle]

Foix.... ridiculous

 

[JRanton]

Re: Re:

the only intrigue remaining is the length of TT and probably Foix stage.

23 km. I'm not even joking.

Absolutely farcical. So just 36km of ITT in total. I'm not sure why I'm surprised given that there was only 13km of ITT in 2015.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

Foix.... ridiculous

Stage before Foix is okay. You don't often see mountain stages as long as 214 kms these days.

And the shortness of the following stage means they won't hold back

 

[Red Rick]

I'm starting to think that this course was made by a satirical newspaper, rather than a race organizer