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Rate the 2014 Tour De France!

Page 4 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.

Rate the 2014 Tour De France!

  • 1 (Crap)

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ColAgnel said:
I'm imagining Le Tour '14 with all Andy and Frank, Contador, Nibali, Nairo, Purito, Valverde, Cadel or even Tejay, Mollema, Costa, Talansky and so on near their top form. Screw the parcours, the riders make the race. This one can be very arduous if they want to.

Also forgot both Cancellara and Boonen to drag their leaders.

Epic battle

(most likely for 2nd place though)
 
Jul 14, 2013
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I know most of the Stage 10 climbs well. Unfortunately. Not super long, but very very nasty, and on ****ty back roads.

I don't know how it comes across on paper, but it's a small mercy they haven't tried to send the amateur Etape du Tour along this one ... carnage.
 
Oct 21, 2013
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biokemguy said:
I thought one or both of those guys said they aren't riding the tour any more earlier this year?

There are cobbles you know? Andy needs Cancellara, and i am 100% sure he will ride Le Tour next year. Same for Boonen if Uran rides Le Tour.
 
A couple of weeks ago I gave the giro course an 8. I already regretted it the same evening, because a 6 or 7 would have been more appropriate. I think I got a bit carried away.

Now for the tour, let's see what ASO has thrown on us.
Stage 1: I prefer GT's to start with a prologue, but with the start in the UK, I can understand the organisers wanted a Cav-friendly course, but there seems to be a small hill (500m @ 7%) about 1km from the finish, that can provoke some late attacks and disrupt the sprint. I can live with it.
Stage 2: Absolutely brutal stage. The best tour stage design since the 1995 stage to Liege. I can only hope the racing lives up to its expectations
Stage 3: A Cav-friendly stage. I can live with it.
Stage 4: Another flat stage. OK, in a best case scenario we'll still be thrilled about the racing in stage 2.
Stage 5: Cobbles! A good thing about the cobbles is that they'll only appear in the last half of the stage and the most difficult sectors are left out. I think some 3* and 4* sectors will be decisive enough. I expect a similar race as in 2010.
Stage 6: A flat stage between two cities with a lot of historical heritage (market squares of Arras and cathedral and episcopal palace of Reims, absolute gems), sprint.
Stage 7: A long, flat stage. The shortest distance between Epernay and Nancy is about 200km, this stages exceeds it with 30km. So, I hope there will be some hills in the final (côte de Maron?). Combined with the distance even these easy hills should create some attractive racing in the final, but a sprint with a big group (half the peloton) should not be excluded.
Stage 8: This is the kind of stage next year's giro could have used. Another well-designed, balanced stage. I'm surprised that ASO could actually come up with this. The best thing about it is that it isn't followed by a possibly more deciding stage (like a TT or mtf). I am looking forward to the racing in the last 25km, this stage offers possibilities.
Stage 9: In between the expected action on stages 8 and 10, this is a medium mountain stage for the breakaway.
Stage 10: I think it would be hard to find two more difficult climbs In the Vosges that close to each other as Petit-ballon and Platzerwasel, maybe with the exception of the col de chevrères and planche des belles filles. Unfortunately there are almost 70 less exciting km between those 2 duos that will paralyse racing. This stage looks a bit like the stage to Porrentruy in the 2012 tdf, but with a mtf.
Stage 11: It really depends on the exact route. The map suggests an approach via the north (flat), but the distance rather seems to point at a western or southwestern approach, which would mean a verry hilly final, comparable to stage 8. I hope for the latter, of course.
Stage 12: Here too, we don't know what the exact stage design will be. The map overview suggests a northeastern run-in (via Saint-Chamond), but that would give a stage of only +/- 140km. It is possible that this stage makes a loop south of St.-Etienne, climbing Croix de Chaubouret or similar climbs, leading to a stage length closer to the expected 183km, but I find it difficult to believe that there will be 5 hilly/medium mountain stages in a row, followed by 2 high mountain stages. One can only hope, though.
Stage 13: This stage looks like the stages the giro has so much on offer the last two years. Given that there are 3 more mtf's, It should have been better if this stage finished in the valley, but with some more climbs underway. That would render a +/- 230km multi-climb stage.
Stage 14: Although there's quite a lot of distance in between the climbs, I can live with this design. It is one of the most traditional stage designs of this tour.
Stage 15: the first flat stage in a week or so (depending on the exact design of stages 11 and 12). That's ok for me
Stage 16: A stage for the breakaway, given the difficulties the next two days. I don't expect a lot of gc-relevant actions either, because it's followed by the queen stage. The contenders/pretenders will want to save themselves for the next day
Stage 17: Queen stage, but with a junior-race length. I expect fireworks from the beginning.
Stage 18: This has a similar design as stages 13 and 14. because of the flat before the final climb, the tourmalet will see no action between the race favourites. I would have preferred a downhill finish in Argelès-Gazost after Soudet + Marie Blanque + Aubisque or Marie Blanque + Aubisque + Spandelles (or all 4 of them, but that would probably be too much)
Stage 19: A rolling stage. Breakaway or sprint. I think it will depend on the fact if there's a dominant sprinter, or not. Most sprinter teams will be depleted by now, and if one of them will be head and shoulders above the rest, I think other teams won't help him. And one depleted team won't be enough to reel in the break.
Stage 20: long flattish tt, it's about time
Stage 21: traditional parade

So for me, the main negative point is the similar design of 4 of the 5 mountain stages. On the positive side, there's a huge variation of stages in the first half.

I'll give it an 8, or even 8.5
 
Jul 29, 2012
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ColAgnel said:
I'm imagining Le Tour '14 with all Andy and Frank, Contador, Nibali, Nairo, Purito, Valverde, Cadel or even Tejay, Mollema, Costa, Talansky and so on near their top form. Screw the parcours, the riders make the race. This one can be very arduous if they want to.

Also forgot both Cancellara and Boonen to drag their leaders.

Riders can also destroy a race. There's a team that specialises in that one.
 
Dec 16, 2011
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Let's give it an 8.

As you all, I really like the Yorkshire, cobbles and Vosges stages. Overall, the Alps and Pyrenees stages are pretty well designed as well. However, this Tour is missing a real queen stage. Next to this, the amount of time trialling is ok, but I don't like that the TT is placed on the penultimate day. I'm a bit affraid for a 2011 scenario, with a lot of accidents due to no GC differences in the first week, and almost no GC action in the second week because people waited for the TT.

Still, quite an interesting course with a lot of stages where you don't know what will happen.
 
Well, stage 2 is excellent. Stage 5 is nice. Stage 8 I like. Planche des Belles Filles is a pretty useful stage that will hopefully let this shortish climb cause carnage.

But the Alps are bad. Very bad. The Risoul 1850 stage looks on the surface half-decent but feels very laboured, very safe, very uninspired. The Pyrenées... wow. The Luchon stage made me angry. The Pla d'Adet stage is ok. But the Hautacam stage makes me want to punch children in the face, drown kittens and depict the prophet Mohammed. It's like they took all the speculation, all the debate about possibilities, then actively sought out the stage design that would infuriate people the most. You know how Japan has actively destroyed a couple of mountains to claim urban space from the sea? I'd quite happily donate them the mountains the Col de Tourmalet is built on.
 
Stage 8 would have been a shameless copy of the 2009 Avenir arrival (don't know about 2001), but I am impressed that Gouvenou found a shortcut on the Grosse Pierre. Even if he used google maps.

My hope for the future is a better use of the Petit Ballon - Platz combi. I also hope Petit Ballon and Chevreres can show that it doesn't have to be a motorway to be in the Tour. Maybe Spandelles and other forgotten climbs will make an appearance.
 
Libertine Seguros said:
Well, stage 2 is excellent. Stage 5 is nice. Stage 8 I like. Planche des Belles Filles is a pretty useful stage that will hopefully let this shortish climb cause carnage.

But the Alps are bad. Very bad. The Risoul 1850 stage looks on the surface half-decent but feels very laboured, very safe, very uninspired. The Pyrenées... wow. The Luchon stage made me angry. The Pla d'Adet stage is ok. But the Hautacam stage makes me want to punch children in the face, drown kittens and depict the prophet Mohammed. It's like they took all the speculation, all the debate about possibilities, then actively sought out the stage design that would infuriate people the most. You know how Japan has actively destroyed a couple of mountains to claim urban space from the sea? I'd quite happily donate them the mountains the Col de Tourmalet is built on.

Would Tourmalet-Aspin/Ancizan-Adet have been really better?

Tourmalet was always going to be used. The only disappointment is that Spandelles didn't make the cut.

But I do agree that Pyrenees are a bit underwhelming. All the decisive climbs on 3 stages in one department.

Yuck.
 
the sceptic said:
Btw anyone think Wiggins will lose some weight and go for it? He would easily be the favourite for 2nd imo.

IMG_8582_edited-1.jpg


Sir Wiggo will target the real R-R.
 
Arredondo said:
Here is a profile of Jenkin Road, 800 meter at 11.2%, with a part of 33%! (i don't know if i have to believe that)

I work in Sheffield and drove it a few months ago when I knew it was going to be part of the stage route. There is a section when, for a few seconds, I didn't think I was going to have a gear low enough on my 1.6 litre car. It's seriously steep.

Get early if you want to see it though - it's going to be absolutely rammed on there.
 
roundabout said:
Would Tourmalet-Aspin/Ancizan-Adet have been really better?

Tourmalet was always going to be used. The only disappointment is that Spandelles didn't make the cut.

I'll be honest.

Everything would've been better than Tourmalet-Hautacam. Everything. Even Pau-Marie-Blanque-Aubisque-Hautacam and that's even shorter.

The only thing that surprises me is that they don't start the stage in Tarbes to make sure it doesn't exceed 100km. :rolleyes:
 
Aug 16, 2011
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the sceptic said:
Btw anyone think Wiggins will lose some weight and go for it? He would easily be the favourite for 2nd imo.

I highly highly doubt that, Wiggins is finished as far as GC in GT's goes.
 
Lack of 'proper' mountain stages may be a blessing in disguise. We may get people willing to attack much more readily given that they aren't going to have the sky train setting tempo up really steep climbs.

They can have a crack and if it doesn't work out slot back into the group rather than being spat straight out the back by the sky doms.

Depending on what happens in the first week and cobbles you could have some teams with a do or die attitude on the hilly stages.
 
the UK telegraph which posts a lot of BS about cycling, has in its sport section today- cycling's 5 biggest stars and what they will do in the tour.

The 5 stars- Cav, Froome, Kittel, Cancellara, Quintana

Kittel is a bigger star than Nibali, Contador and Rodriguez :rolleyes:

Under Kittel they say "don't be surprised if he leads the gc into France":eek:

Forget doping. The fact that the people who know the least about the sport get paid for writing on it, is the real injustice in cycling..
 
the UK telegraph which posts a lot of BS about cycling, has in its sport section today- cycling's 5 biggest stars and what they will do in the tour.

The 5 stars- Cav, Froome, Kittel, Cancellara, Quintana

Kittel is a bigger star than Nibali, Contador and Rodriguez :rolleyes:

Under Kittel they say "don't be surprised if he leads the gc into France":eek:

Forget doping. The fact that the people who know the least about the sport get paid for writing on it, is the real injustice in cycling..

_______________

No ttt alone makes it a 3. Add in Arenberg, UK hill stage, PDBF stage and the other Vosuges stage and its already a 6.

And I like the mountain stages, very good by TDF standards.

I don't agree mountain stages need to be 250k. That 1 stage in the Alpes is imo very good. Up from the start. The last climb the shortest one. Only problem is too much flat between Iozard and Risoul but of course that happens whatever French mountains you use.

Port du Bales is good. Of course more mountains would be better but its the 2014 tdf, they probably would have waited for Port du Bales anyway.

The medium mountain Pyrannees stage looks very good.

Hautacam probably going to be 1 mountain finish, but still a hc finish is better than what they had in the 2012 tour.

Of course it would be easy to make a much much better course, but we know ASO like to make the courses ****, so with that in mind its a good course.
 
Stage 2 - Sweet!
Stage 5 - Awesome!
Stage 8 - Ok, an early climb to break things up would help.
Stage 10 - Nice, an early climb would be good there too
Stage 13 - Ok I guess
Stage 14 - Not bad, bit safe
Stage 17 - Too short. Having said that, it has worked in the past - see 2011
Stage 18 - Really, I mean REALLY?? Libertine has summed it up more eloquently than I could ever hope to :mad:

Good: The sprint stages aren't all lumped into a two week snoozefest, great medium mountains, cobbles, no TTT, Cool Port De Bales descent finish, one or two decent mountain stages.

Bad: Port de Bales stage needs something to break it up earlier, that stupid Hautacam stage, no windy, winding coastal stage, no prologue (cue massive stage 1 and 3 crashes), sprint stage on the final weekend

I gave it a 6 but it could easily have been an 8 if the Hautacam and Port de Bales stages were better
 
I'm going to phrase it this way: The fact that ASO has to recur to the cobbles to create an element of "surprise" It only indicates how predictable, boring & lacking in innovation they have become. Why not explore the middle of the country for instance?

I always believe a good TDF "must" have TWO (2) ITT of 55 km each, 7 flat stages, 7 high mountain stages-at least two of them finishing on descent- & 5 "medium-mixed-hilly-mountain stages :)
 
hfer07 said:
I'm going to phrase it this way: The fact that ASO has to recur to the cobbles to create an element of "surprise" It only indicates how predictable, boring & lacking in innovation they have become. Why not explore the middle of the country for instance?

I always believe a good TDF "must" have TWO (2) ITT of 55 km each, 7 flat stages, 7 high mountain stages-at least two of them finishing on descent- & 5 "medium-mixed-hilly-mountain stages :)
I think that the cobbles are something that ASO aren't overdoing, which is a nice change when they add them. Last time they used cobbles was 2010 and 2004 before that, so it's not like the Alpe or the stupid Tourmalet - which would be an amazing mountain if it wasn't used EVERY FREAKING YEAR! :rolleyes:

It would be cool if ASO used part of the old Flanders route one year. Watching GC guys ride the Muur would be cool.

I do agree re: stage balancing. I fail to see how 8-10 sprints, 4-5 hilly stages, 5-6 Mountain Stages and a TT or two is a "balanced" route. Maybe someone needs to start a Change.org petition requesting ASO fire Pescheux and co, and replace him with Zomegnan (or Libertine :p)
 

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