Tour de France 2013

[barmaher]

IF the second ITT is:

a hilly one in the Alps
and on the Wednesday

...is there any chance they might finish up with an ITT from Palace of Versailles to the Champs Elysees...18km or so?

 

[Ferminal]

I think it's unlikely, it's been years since they had 4 TTs. The proposed distances suggest that there will be a minimum of 70km of ITT, that is around a standard amount, wouldn't expect them to get it up around 100km given that was what this year was about.

For the Bonascre stage, it's too hard to do a lot running into Pailheres. They could do Garavel just before Usson, but I wouldn't expect it. The stage will be around 200km, compared with 185km in 2010 and 220km in 2005.

 

[barmaher]

Yeah, 2010 was just Paliheres and Ax-3. Let's hope the stage is better than that one.

 

[barmaher]

Does anybody know what they are thinking of for the penultimate stage? The last week seems to be getting nailed down nicely:

Bastille Day up Ventoux
Rest on the Monday
Stage to Gap on the Tuesday, possibly including the descent finish we saw in 2011
Hilly ITT on the Wednesday
2 x Alpe d'Huez on the Thursday
Stage into Le Grand Bornard on the Friday, presumably after a descent from Col de la Colombiere...hopefully it will be similar to the stage in 2010 that Frank won.

But no idea of the penultimate day,

I still think the route would be balanced enough with another 20km of Time Trials.

It looks like 2 x tough days in Pyrenees...climb of Ventoux...probably 3 x tough days in the Alpes.

 

[roundabout]

Funny you should say that. Now there's talk of a penultimate stage from Annemasse to Dole.

Possible TT in Paris is then possible?

Also possibly no stage to Annecy.

If true, it's potentially a more balanced course than 2012, but nothing special.

 

[barmaher]

What would Annemasse to Dole consist of? I think it's a very good route if the second Pyrenees day and the day into Le Grand Bornard are tough enough.

 

[Descender]

Does anybody know what they are thinking of for the penultimate stage? The last week seems to be getting nailed down nicely:

Bastille Day up Ventoux
Rest on the Monday
Stage to Gap on the Tuesday, possibly including the descent finish we saw in 2011
Hilly ITT on the Wednesday
2 x Alpe d'Huez on the Thursday
Stage into Le Grand Bornard on the Friday, presumably after a descent from Col de la Colombiere...hopefully it will be similar to the stage in 2010 that Frank won.

But no idea of the penultimate day,

I still think the route would be balanced enough with another 20km of Time Trials.

It looks like 2 x tough days in Pyrenees...climb of Ventoux...probably 3 x tough days in the Alpes.

I'm not too sure about that... I'm excited by the prospect of having the last mountain stage finish after a descent, but the previous stage finishing in Huez, I'm skeptikal about them including the Colombiere. They will probably start the next stage from Bourg d'Oisans, and the Colombiere would be too far to be included then.

I fear something more dull like Glandon + Madeleine + Tamié + Forclaz-de-Montmin + Croix Fry.

EDIT: I'd be glad to see something like this:

Bourg d'Oisans --> Le-Grand-Bornard with Col du Glandon, Col de la Madeleine, Col de la Forclaz, Col de l'Arpettaz, Col des Aravis.

Or if we want to spice things up we could add the Col des Cyclotouristes just before Forclaz:

Some of those roads are not in best condition though, sadly.


The route would also make an internal homage to the current world champion on its way to Forclaz:

 

[Descender]

Funny you should say that. Now there's talk of a penultimate stage from Annemasse to Dole.

Possible TT in Paris is then possible?

Also possibly no stage to Annecy.

If true, it's potentially a more balanced course than 2012, but nothing special.

Surely they would do an ITT in Paris then. I can't see them finishing the Tour with two flat stages.

 

[roundabout]

What would Annemasse to Dole consist of? I think it's a very good route if the second Pyrenees day and the day into Le Grand Bornard are tough enough.

A transfer on bicycles to get closer to Paris. Jura at the beginning and flat in the end. A sprinter stage.

 

[roundabout]

I don't have to remind you what the odds of Col des Cyclotouristes and Arpettaz being included are.

In the same vein one can pretend that the stage to Bagneres-de-Bigorre will have Core-Aspet-Mente-Bales-Peyresourde-Azet-Ancizan-Courade and be 235km long.

Or more realistically 223km long sans Courade.

 

[Descender]

I don't have to remind you what the odds of Col des Cyclotouristes and Arpettaz being included are.

In the same vein one can pretend that the stage to Bagneres-de-Bigorre will have Core-Aspet-Mente-Bales-Peyresourde-Azet-Ancizan-Courade and be 235km long.

Or more realistically 223km long sans Courade.

I don't see why that would have to be unimaginable.

I find the unwillingness on the part of ASO to bring some variation into their routes pretty sad. Hell, even the Vuelta seems more willing to help improve the condition of roads (for completely wrong reasons, but that's beside the point). ASO seems much more reluctant to do something like that... which is too bad.

As to the length of the stages, again, those would be hard stages, but hardly inhumane. Hell, we can get rid of Madeleine if we have to.

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

I don't have to remind you what the odds of Col des Cyclotouristes and Arpettaz being included are.

In the same vein one can pretend that the stage to Bagneres-de-Bigorre will have Core-Aspet-Mente-Bales-Peyresourde-Azet-Ancizan-Courade and be 235km long.

Or more realistically 223km long sans Courade.

What is wrong with the Col des Cyclotouristes and Arpettaz?

 

[roundabout]

Well, they are paving the Sarenne

But from ASO's perspective, why waste, err, invest money into improving the roads when they are satisfied with a 2004-like stage.

 

[Descender]

What is wrong with the Col des Cyclotouristes and Arpettaz?

The descent of the Cyclotouristes is in bad condition. Arpettaz would need some road works too.

Well, they are paving the Sarenne

But from ASO's perspective, why waste, err, invest money into improving the roads when they are satisfied with a 2004-like stage.

Indeed. To use the same climb TWICE. The same one we see year in year out.

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

The descent of the Cyclotouristes is in bad condition. Arpettaz would need some road works too.

Thank you. Looking at the map Arpettaz does not look that attractive to use in that it seems to be just up and back. Or am I missing something? Cyclotouristes looks to be a very good option to use. Has it ever been used?

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

Well, they are paving the Sarenne

But from ASO's perspective, why waste, err, invest money into improving the roads when they are satisfied with a 2004-like stage.

Sarenne is a waste of time in my view.

 

[Descender]

Thank you. Looking at the map Arpettaz does not look that attractive to use in that it seems to be just up and back. Or am I missing something? Cyclotouristes looks to be a very good option to use. Has it ever been used?

What do you mean up and back? Yes, both sides are not opposed to each other. But have you seen at my stage? Isn't it just beautiful?

 

[roundabout]

http://www.velowire.com/itsyourtour/thread/129/0/projet-aso---le-col-de-l-arpettaz.html

Looking at the pictures Arpettaz is in better condition than I had thought.

Don't know if it's enough for ASO though.

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

What do you mean up and back? Yes, both sides are not opposed to each other. But have you seen at my stage? Isn't it just beautiful?

The stage is very good, better than what we will get unfortunately. But given the fact Arpettaz does not take riders anywhere I can see why it is not a obvious choice. I admit I did not know it was there until you posting about it.

 

[Descender]

The stage is very good, better than what we will get unfortunately. But given the fact Arpettaz does not take riders anywhere I can see why it is not a obvious choice. I admit I did not know it was there until you posting about it.

What you describe happens several times in every single stage race. Riders are sent back and forth and back again for a variety of reasons. The AdH stage is just one example of that.

 

[Descender]

http://www.velowire.com/itsyourtour/thread/129/0/projet-aso---le-col-de-l-arpettaz.html

Looking at the pictures Arpettaz is in better condition than I had thought.

Don't know if it's enough for ASO though.

Is that Arpettaz? It was my understanding that the road was full of loopholes on both sides.

That is definitely cyclable, come on.

My French is rotten... does this mean the road has been recently resurfaced?

On attaque alors la descente, sur une route partiellement refaite (surtout le sommet).

 

[rghysens]

My French is rotten... does this mean the road has been recently resurfaced?

More or less, it says that the road is partially remade (especially the summit).

 

[barmaher]

Yes, Descender. Our only hope for a stage like the Frandy and Bertie stage is if they start a lot further north than Bourg d'Oisans.

 

[barmaher]

It looks as if the Alpe stage may be the finale. So no Champs Elysees.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/alpe-dhuez-to-replace-champs-elysees-as-tour-de-france-2013-finale

That would be weird. It jives with having the ITT on the Wednesday, but I don't like it.

 

[McLovin]

ASO already confirmed Paris as the final stage.