Tour 2014 Route Rumours

[sensations]

so is schlucht in? 2005 side?? sky to vanish like discovery?

and how much from ballon d'alsace top to the finish?

froomey might end the race right there

It's a good question. Depends on how ASO lays out the stage leading into Gerardmer.

I reckon it'll be something along the lines of Tomblaine, Saint Die Des Vosges, Saint Marie aux Mines, Col du Calvaire, Col De La Schlucht, descend into Gerardmer with an uphill finish up the Chemin de Rayée to the ski station (2.5km at 7%). That would put the stage at roughly 170km.

Naturally, some small deviations left and right from the route would put the stage at 185km, include the east side of Schlucht and a hillier final 80km but I can totally see ASO riding down D148 and D61 along the plateau to make sure it's not "too selective".

As for the Ballon - they'll probably link it with the Col De Firstplan and go up from Lautenbach to Le Markstein and then to the Grand Ballon. From the top it's at least 40km into Mulhouse.

 

[The Hitch]

not if it's on the last day. then it's all about recuperation and froome showed in this years tour that isn't his strongest point

 

[theyoungest]

not if it's on the last day. then it's all about recuperation and froome showed in this years tour that isn't his strongest point

Yeah. The poor guy will take just 3 minutes on Quintana, instead of 4.

 

[jens_attacks]

Yeah. The poor guy will take just 3 minutes on Quintana, instead of 4.

and he will have only 6 minutes on him by then...


really, i think nairito will ride il giro

 

[barmaher]

If the rumours are to be believed, it will have a very low ITT km, compared to the last 10 tours. Only 2011 would have fewer time trial kilometers. Hitch makes a good point about TTT not really helping "balance" the route too much.

2004 76.5km
2005 74.5km
2006 116km
2007 117.5km
2008 82.5km
2009 56km
2010 61km
2011 42.5km
2012 101.5km
2013 65km

 

[Ferminal]

So Pla d'Adet looks like Portillon-Peyresourde-Azet-Adet. Pretty good but still not the 3500m+ stage which a Tour generally has. Ideally they'd throw Mente/Aspet in as softeners but most likely they will come the day before, prior to Bales.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Yeah. The poor guy will take just 3 minutes on Quintana, instead of 4.

he could lose 3 minutes. time he could make back in the mountains. you people act is if quitnana is done. he will only improve next year, froome I don't think so.

 

[Netserk]

I thought Tourmalet would be in both the Hautacam and Pla d'Adet stage.

So something like Bagnes - flat - flat - Tourmalet - Aspin - Pla d'Adet.

or

Bagnes - Peyresourde - flat - flat - Tourmalet - Aspin - Pla d'Adet.

 

[sensations]

So Pla d'Adet looks like Portillon-Peyresourde-Azet-Adet. Pretty good but still not the 3500m+ stage which a Tour generally has. Ideally they'd throw Mente/Aspet in as softeners but most likely they will come the day before, prior to Bales.

So it's almost a matter of Spandelles or no Spandelles on the final stage to get a stage with 3500m+. Cause neither the Chamrousse stage with the long, flat run-in nor the Grenoble-Risoul stage will really deliver on that front.

 

[Ferminal]

Something like this?

1 cobbles stage
2-3 hillyish stages
2 medium stages with uphill finish
5 high mountain stages (4 MTF, 1 descent)
1 ITT
9 "sprints"

hmmmeh, better be a surprise.

 

[sensations]

I thought Tourmalet would be in both the Hautacam and Pla d'Adet stage.

So something like Bagnes - flat - flat - Tourmalet - Aspin - Pla d'Adet.

or

Bagnes - Peyresourde - flat - flat - Tourmalet - Aspin - Pla d'Adet.

That would be pretty damn woeful either way, to be honest.

 

[Ferminal]

So it's almost a matter of Spandelles or no Spandelles on the final stage to get a stage with 3500m+. Cause neither the Chamrousse stage with the long, flat run-in nor the Grenoble-Risoul stage will really deliver on that front.

Yeh! Marie Blanque-Aubisque-Spandelles-Hautacam would be a perfect finish.

 

[Netserk]

That would be pretty damn woeful either way, to be honest.

It's ASO so that shouldn't be a surprise...

 

[roundabout]

Lautaret-Izoard-Risoul is 3500 meters for the climbs

 

[Ferminal]

Lautaret-Izoard-Risoul is 3500 meters for the climbs

If you start Lautaret at Bourg d'Oisans?

 

[roundabout]

Something like this?

1 cobbles stage
2-3 hillyish stages
2 medium stages with uphill finish
5 high mountain stages (4 MTF, 1 descent)
1 ITT
9 "sprints"

hmmmeh, better be a surprise.

Mulhouse should an ASO special

Oyonnax and Saint-Etienne are question marks

Probably 8 sprints as a best case scenario

 

[roundabout]

If you start Lautaret at Bourg d'Oisans?

Yeah. From Grenoble it's another 500 meters up

 

[sensations]

Lautaret-Izoard-Risoul is 3500 meters for the climbs

It's roughly 3200m as far as I see it. I really don't think the 500m on the first 50kms from Grenoble to Bourg d'Oisans should be genuinely taken into account for 'climbing'.

 

[Ferminal]

Mulhouse should an ASO special

Oh yeh, was on my mind but somehow forgot to list it...

Yeah. From Grenoble it's another 500 meters up

It's roughly 3200m as far as I see it. I really don't think the 500m on the first 50kms from Grenoble to Bourg d'Oisans should be genuinely taken into account for 'climbing'.

That is my idea, meaty categorised ones. Usually at least one like the classic Pau - Luchon or Alpe d'Huez stage. Sadly this year was Grand-Bornand, even 2012 managed it to La Toussuire, 2011 out of Italy, 2010 only had it in the form of the Pau version. 2009 should be with LGB, 2008 Alpe d'Huez, 2007 surprisingly may have been borderline, final stage maybe. 2006 should be a couple.

I guess they will call Portillon Cat 1 (is it usually from that side?) and make all 160km of it their "epic high mountains stage".

 

[McLovin]

Grenoble - Risoul, according to 2 route sites is 4000+. This if only with Lautaret and Izoard before final climb. They could throw Ornon there. Am I missing something?

 

[sensations]

Grenoble - Risoul, according to 2 route sites is 4000+. This if only with Lautaret and Izoard before final climb. They could throw Ornon there. Am I missing something?

Lautaret: 1300m (le Bourg d'Oisans-Lautaret)
Izoard: 1100m (Briancon-Izoard)
Risoul: 900m (Guillestre-Risoul1850) (got that wrong previously)

The other 700m or 800m are false flats or very modest stretched climbs.

Laffey+Ornon to begin with would put the stage at more or less 215km. ASO won't do that considering the St. Etienne-Chamrousse stage will have to be close to 200km or more than that unless they go all 'unipuerto' on folks.

 

[McLovin]

Yes, that is what I was saying. And from Grenoble to Bourg d'Oisans there are at least 500m.

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

On Velopeloton they are talking about an ITT between Freiburg (Germany) and Mulhouse, instead of a road stage starting in Gerardmer. It would be cool, but i can hardly imagine a stage starting outside France without any rumors about it long before the presentation.

Tomorrow we will know!

 

[Beech Mtn]

Lots of info compiled here on the Tour route, including supposedly two ITTs on consecutive days

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Lots of info compiled here on the Tour route, including supposedly two ITTs on consecutive days

So only one Vosges road stage? LOL

And a flat ITT followed by an ITT to La Planche des Belles Filles ...for what, exactly? That climb suits Froome perfectly. This will only increase his advantage, compared to a road stage. He'll be 4 minutes ahead by the first rest day. /