TDF 2010 Pyrenées

[McLovin]

They did in 2004. I doubt there will be a Mountain TT up the tourmalet.If it's to la Mongie if they do have the tt to there it will go for 12.8km and with an average gradient of 6.9% though the final 7 km are around 8 to 10%.

In 2004 it was La Mongie, not on top of Tourmalet. Maybe they will climb from Luz side and end it in La Mongie, or TT from Luz and have all the logistic part, podiums, cars in Mongie.

 

[ratatata]

In 2004 it was La Mongie, not on top of Tourmalet. Maybe they will climb from Luz side and end it in La Mongie, or TT from Luz and have all the logistic part, podiums, cars in Mongie.

Since that stage is probably going to start in Pau, it's almost certain that they will climb Tourmalet from Luz Saint Sauveur and the teams will be based in La Mongie

 

[Papparrazzi]

Anyone posted this yet?

http://velonews.com/article/98964/inside-cycling---2010-tour-to-celebrate-pyrenean-centennial

Interesting predictions, I've no idea how reliable they are.

Not reliable.

The toughest of the three stages in the Alps looks like being the second one, crossing the Madeleine and Glandon passes on the way to the Tour’s first summit finish at La Toussuire

That can't be right, it would mean a Y shaped stage!

 

[issoisso]

Not reliable.

The toughest of the three stages in the Alps looks like being the second one, crossing the Madeleine and Glandon passes on the way to the Tour’s first summit finish at La Toussuire

That can't be right, it would mean a Y shaped stage!

It's common for alpine tour de france stages to just be entirely within the same valley and the climbs around that valley. Specifically, for a stage to be: start down in valley - up one climb - down to same valley - up another climb - back to valley - up final climb.

Yes, it goes nowhere, but that's not the point. After all, it's not about the destination...it's about the ride there

 

[Mellow Velo]

Not reliable.

The toughest of the three stages in the Alps looks like being the second one, crossing the Madeleine and Glandon passes on the way to the Tour’s first summit finish at La Toussuire

That can't be right, it would mean a Y shaped stage!

Well, this is all rumour and all they have to do is branch off the Glandon, for the Croix de Fer. Maybe they will stick in the Col du Mollard, as well, again.

The Tourmalet concerns me.
I hope they are intending to carry out Alpe's suggestion, which was over the top and a short, steep, downhill to La Mongie for the finish. Spectacular!
However, up to La Mongie really doesn't recapture the spirit of 1910, does it?

 

[Big Ring]

Well, this is all rumour and all they have to do is branch off the Glandon, for the Croix de Fer. Maybe they will stick in the Col du Mollard, as well, again.

The Tourmalet concerns me.
I hope they are intending to carry out Alpe's suggestion, which was over the top and a short, steep, downhill to La Mongie for the finish. Spectacular!
However, up to La Mongie really doesn't recapture the spirit of 1910, does it?

The finish is at the summit, La Mongie is not mentioned in any rumors. Route will be:
Pau
Marie Blanque
Col du Soulor from Asson
Argeles-Gazost
Luz
Col du Tourmalet.
Perhaps La Mongie will be used for team buses etc.
As has been mentioned by a number of posts already these predictions were very accurate last year.

http://paris.thover.com/story.php?ID=190&l=en&t=Tour+de+France+2010:+first+rumours+about+the+stages

http://www.steephill.tv/2010/tour-de-france/

They are also claiming this is Etape de Tour as well.

 

[Rupert]

Tourmalet Summit

... Maybe they will climb from Luz side and end it in La Mongie, or TT from Luz and have all the logistic part, podiums, cars in Mongie.

A Summit finish and then roll on down to La Mongie for the logistics would be very cool. Not a lot of room at the top but that's OK, plenty of room for spectators along the road on the way up. And the last bit to the top from that side is pretty tough, will make for a great finish. Much better than finsihing in La Mongie (from either direction). And la Mongie is incredibly ugly (drab gray buildings, commercial/industrial look, etc).

 

[Papparrazzi]

Well, this is all rumour and all they have to do is branch off the Glandon, for the Croix de Fer. Maybe they will stick in the Col du Mollard, as well, again(

Yeah they could be doing Madeleine from Albertville, then descend to La Chambre, up Glandon and left over top to descend Croix de Fer to St Jean, then up La Toussiere. But they didn't mention Croix de Fer in the prediction

We'll find out 24th Oct

 

[Mellow Velo]

If this route is anything like the real McCoy, then we are heading for another shocker of a Tour.
http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2009/10/12/692091-Tout-en-haut-des-Pyrenees-centenaires.html
1MTF in the Alps and Trois Domaines, with everything riding on the Tourmalet ITT stage and Luchon.

 

[Race Radio]

If this route is anything like the real McCoy, then we are heading for another shocker of a Tour.
http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2009/10/12/692091-Tout-en-haut-des-Pyrenees-centenaires.html
1MTF in the Alps and Trois Domaines, with everything riding on the Tourmalet ITT stage and Luchon.

I read that article earlier today, but I did not see any reference to an ITT, is that still rumored to be part of the plan?

 

[Big Ring]

I read that article earlier today, but I did not see any reference to an ITT, is that still rumored to be part of the plan?

No. There is no TT on Col du Tourmalet. Tourmalet will be ridden from both sides, from the east in stage 17, with a summit finish on stage 18 from the west. I think the rumours of a TT started because of hotel bookings in Campan & Bagneres for Sunday 18, but it now seems that this is for the Etap du Tour.

 

[MizunoMX20]

Yeah they could be doing Madeleine from Albertville, then descend to La Chambre, up Glandon and left over top to descend Croix de Fer to St Jean, then up La Toussiere. But they didn't mention Croix de Fer in the prediction

We'll find out 24th Oct

Well that's because there are three climbs to almost the same summit. If this route is true, they will indeed do the Madeleine from La Lechere (near Albertville), then commence the Glandon in La Chambre and climb to 1924m, and then another 100m higher to the Croix de Fer, then to descent to almost the valley, and then make a U-turn to go back up to la Toussuire.

I would be quite happy with this stage, could be the toughest of the Tour. The Glandon from that site is very steep, the last 7km are 9% on average. I hope they will make this a short stage, so that the GC contenders can battle it out.