Tour 2012: Route Rumours / Our wishes

[Richeypen]

I have always liked this route after I knew 2 ITT's were on the agenda. A tougher Alprine stage may of made it better but I am quite content with the route.

Ditto.Will lead to some great racing. So hard to predict the final podium which is always nice.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Did you watch the Dauphine and the Vuelta?

Yes I certainly did and you shouldn't compare the course or the field of riders with the 2012 tour de france course and probably riders. Also Sky rode nothing like US Postal. US postal drove the peloton day in day out up every mountain stage and blitzed the field to pieces for 7 years in a row.

 

[auscyclefan94]

http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/10-10-2011/tour-tradito-suo-sito-ufficiale-803237157341.shtml - Giro & Tour sites may of been hacked.

 

[Descender]

That being said, the ITTs should be reversed and the last one doesn't necessarily have to be the last important stage does it?? A 52km flat ITT before the mountains to open some gaps and force the climbers to attack, then the 38kms hilly one towards the end to shake things up and deliver some drama.

 

[jens_attacks]

Are you saying the team pulled him out and that Kern wasn't injured? Why would they do that?

*whistles innocently*

i won't say anything more but the thing is that i hate bernaudeau a lot(not his riders at all) because he's like those pompous french riders on 29th july 1998.

and yes sky proved that they can control a race like usps or csc 2008.and froome confirmed that he will ride the tour.it will be one of the strongest teams.

 

[gregrowlerson]

i won't say anymore but the thing is that i hate bernaudeau a lot(not his riders at all) because he's like those pompous french riders on 29th july 1998.

and yes sky proved that they can control a race like usps or csc 2008.and froome confirmed that he will ride the tour.it will be one of the strongest teams.

From the apparent route that has been leaked, I certainly like 2 of the mountain stages. They appear similar to stage 16 from 2006, and stage 15 from 2007. Each of these could be considered a Queen stage. Anyway, below are the time gaps from those stages.

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 5.36.04 (32.493 km/h)
2 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 1.41
3 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 1.54
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 1.56
5 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile
6 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance 2.37
7 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole
8 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
9 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner 3.24
10 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 3.42
11 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
12 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile
13 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile
14 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 4.21
15 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 6.33
16 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel 7.55
17 Marcus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 8.37
18 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
19 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital 9.14
20 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 9.40
21 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital

1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 5.34.28 (35.160 km/h)
2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 0.51
3 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
4 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.58
5 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quickstep - Innergetic 2.14
6 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3.23
7 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 4.25
8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team CSC
9 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance 5.16
10 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 5.31
11 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
12 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 5.47
13 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 6.27
14 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
15 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
16 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
17 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
18 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
19 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC
20 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana
21 Johann Tschopp (Swi) Bouygues Telecom
22 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Astana

Sastre and Contador were the first GC contenders on the stages. We can see that relatively serious time gaps can be achieved by climbers here.

The profiles were:

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2006//tour06/?id=stages/tour0616

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2007//tour07/?id=stages/tour0715

 

[Bavarianrider]

First TT could look something like this

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

Sky couldn't go US Postal and if they did they would blow Wiggins up and set it up really well for guys like Alberto and Frandy.

Ok, the US Postal analogy was a bit ott. What I meant was Sky setting such a high steady pace up the mountains that it becomes very difficult to make an attack stick, just like they did at the Vuelta (and yes I know the field will be stronger in France but the tactic will still work quite well). I think the team has matured enough over the last 2 years that they won't ride in such a way that will put Wiggins into the red.

Given how people laughed at Brailsford's plan to have a British TdF winner in 5 years, Wiggins will be hard pushed to get a better parcours - certainly to podium, if he has a similar year to this season.

 

[Ferminal]

First TT could look something like this

Hardly hilly at all.

 

[McLovin]

I know that when I put the route on the forum I said they killed this Tour. But honestly, it'a a grower. The stages before Alpes are not like this year before Luz Ardiden. They finnaly use what the whole forum asked: other mountains than the 3 big masifs. You can't find a Galibier in the Juras, that's for sure. But they put Grand Colombier, and before they put 'the beautifull girls' (what a beautifull name). And after all, they had to save big climbs/mountains for 100'th edition. They use what? La Toussuire, a climb 'born' 5 years ago ( and who was chose in front of Tignes), and Peyragudes and Belle Filles, both newcomers. It's what you asked people. Don't turn it around now. It's all about the riders to make it fun. Who is with me that that 2'nd category climb in 2005, won by Weening was more emotional than Luz Ardiden, Pleateau de Beille, Finestre stage and Alpe d'Huez (climb, not stage).....etc..... together? And now, like someone sais, the climbers must atack since the prologue . I bet it will be fun!

 

[Winterfold]

Yes I certainly did and you shouldn't compare the course or the field of riders with the 2012 tour de france course and probably riders.

Yes I can - the Tour 2012 course will be far easier then the Vuelta 11 and it is not much more difficult than a Dauphine .

I can understand all the posters who are blind to the romantic grimpeur obsessed notion of cycling not wanting to admit that the times have changed and the rouleurs have turned tables on the climbers (except Contador) by learning to ride their own pace at a high threshold (and Clinic reasons) - but you are generally more open-minded as to the realities and have no excuse.

Wiggins proved the groupthink here wrong plenty times this season - winning the Dauphine, 5th on the Angliru - both of which were considered impossible - lucky that a whole host of great climbers and favourites all turned up at the Vuelta our of form - and werent just completely owned

I guess the big difference in 2012 will be in how much difference there is between him and Evans when they are both on full form. Evans I think hustled the Dauphin, but Wiggo wasnt at 100% either. Wiggins was definitely climbing better in the Vuelta. I think these days they are pretty well matched, except on a Amstel Gold type finish.

If they have any sense, they will work together and let the TT decide, that will not be too exciting a race, but for one year, i would not care. Assuming no Contador.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

lol, lots of Froome hype in this thread.

duh he is British.

 

[The Hitch]

reverse that stage.

Well, if it was the only mountain stage in the Pyranees, it might turn out awesome.

Last time round it came before Tourmalet finish. Everyone just waited for the Tourmalet, there was no point attacking earlier.

But this time round, if theres nothing else for the climbers to go on, they will have to attack on Tourmalet if not earlier.

Or at least time to team time trial it up mountains to make it hard.

80 k of action maybe.

Whereas if the stage is reversed they would just wait for the Peyesroude.

 

[JRanton]

duh he is British.

Well he certainly deserves far more hype than any Dutch GC hope, I'll say that much.

 

[The Hitch]

Heres a name id like to throw into the ring.

You havent seen this one coming.

Yes hes very young.

But dont you agree hes someone to really look out for on this route.


Diego Ulissi.

 

[just some guy]

Well he certainly deserves far more hype than any Dutch GC hope, I'll say that much.

I´m not part of any Dutch mafia - but you have to be joking .

 

[Descender]

Heres a name id like to throw into the ring.

You havent seen this one coming.

Yes hes very young.

But dont you agree hes someone to really look out for on this route.


Diego Ulissi.

Now you had something going with the Menchov mention... but Ulissi? Me no thinks so.

 

[roundabout]

Why? He can attack on every stage just like your ilk wants.

 

[will10]

Who is with me that that 2'nd category climb in 2005, won by Weening was more emotional than Luz Ardiden, Pleateau de Beille, Finestre stage and Alpe d'Huez (climb, not stage).....etc..... together? And now, like someone sais, the climbers must atack since the prologue . I bet it will be fun!

Col de la Schlucht, yes was a great day.

I think it's a reasonable route. 7/10

 

[theyoungest]

Well he certainly deserves far more hype than any Dutch GC hope, I'll say that much.

He's probably more talented than any of them, yes. Although the Vuelta isn't the Tour. And remember, Gesink almost got second in a Vuelta with a stronger field, before he decided to hit the tarmac once again.

Heres a name id like to throw into the ring.

You havent seen this one coming.

Yes hes very young.

But dont you agree hes someone to really look out for on this route.


Diego Ulissi.

Ulissi? Maybe this Tour is better for his teammate Malori

 

[Ferminal]

Well, if it was the only mountain stage in the Pyranees, it might turn out awesome.

Last time round it came before Tourmalet finish. Everyone just waited for the Tourmalet, there was no point attacking earlier.

But this time round, if theres nothing else for the climbers to go on, they will have to attack on Tourmalet if not earlier.

Or at least time to team time trial it up mountains to make it hard.

80 k of action maybe.

Whereas if the stage is reversed they would just wait for the Peyesroude.

The stage has to be reverse if the leaked route is correct (Pau -> Luchon).

Aubisque (West) and Tourmalet (West) are the "harder" sides, then Aspin or Ancizan followed by Peyresourde or maybe even doing Azet just prior (see Descender's profile).

It's as good as the Giro stage to Cortina, all it's missing is super length. Add another 30kms (by going over Marie Blanque) and you have yourself a classic stage (on paper).

 

[JRanton]

I´m not part of any Dutch mafia - but you have to be joking .

Not at all. I'm deadly serious.

 

[theyoungest]

Not at all. I'm deadly serious.

Well, in that case you can be happy, because he gets lots of hype.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well he certainly deserves far more hype than any Dutch GC hope, I'll say that much.

trolololololololol

Gesink >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Froome

 

[The Hitch]

Ulissi? Maybe this Tour is better for his teammate Malori

Yes, i was just about to post saying i got them mixed up

Well done on catching that.