Tour de France 2013

[cineteq]

Is it likely the final ITT will be held in Paris??? And I wonder will any stages finish on velodromes???

That would be very fitting, icing on the cake!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Is that not what stage 2 will be??? I can't really imagine Sky pulling for Cav up there if Wiggins has to respond to an attack.

A complaint for me at the TDF is why they never have any stages around Paris in the North. They are always near thee mountain ranges which is fine but if they started somewhere then headed through France to the mountains it would be better, instead of skirting along the borders.

Is it likely the final ITT will be held in Paris??? And I wonder will any stages finish on velodromes???

Can't use a velodrome unless it's an ITT really, as can you imagine the chaos of setting up a bunch sprint? Stage 2 has the only selective things way, way too far from the finish. Maybe Cavendish might be dropped, but I still see 60-70 riders together at the finish. This is the Tour after all.

Given they are more limited in terms of which mountains they can use in comparison to the Giro and Vuelta, they sure do a good job of not using whole ranges, and always using the same area of the ones they use - when was the last time we had a proper French-Basque or Alpes-Maritimes stage? Going out of Nice would give a perfect opportunity for one.

 

[greenedge]

there will be TTT. I'd put some money on that.

We were right?

 

[greenedge]

What about JROD. I could envisage if he starts the TDF, him just getting Katusha to drill it, then he goes up the mountain with Cadel, Contador, Shlecks and all the rest, then nobody would chase ( as the peleton coast in conserving energy ).

Thx for the reply about the velodrome LS.

 

[auscyclefan94]

We were right?

I'm always right.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

What about JROD. I could envisage if he starts the TDF, him just getting Katusha to drill it, then he goes up the mountain with Cadel, Contador, Shlecks and all the rest, then nobody would chase ( as the peleton coast in conserving energy ).

Thx for the reply about the velodrome LS.

Sounds like a perfect opportunity for Menchov to lose time. I wonder if Purito would even start the Tour? It all depends on the Giro and Vuelta routes that year. If they take Purito he can't contend. He'll just be a liability in the TTT as they'll want to protect him, and that will ruin Menchov's chances too.

 

[greenedge]

He could just go stage hunting. If not him, they might send Moreno to ensure a stage hunting presence, who can also help Menchov in the mountains/ won't hold back in the ITT. I'm sure JROD would also like to go to the biggest event of the year in its' 100th year and unless if Katusha firmly feel he impedes Menchov,he would probably be there.


And Katusha have not been strong in any TTTs' they have compete in as of late.

However you can then contradict that by saying they rode for JROD who clung onto them in the Giro/ Vuelta and at the TDF they had no GC hopeful.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Well, this year at the TDF Katyusha went for the gimmicky all-Russian team so had no chance without Menchov anyway.

I'm sure Purito would like to be at the 100th TDF - but the same can be said of all the contenders, and if they serve up a favourable Giro or Vuelta route I think he'd be happy enough to forego just riding a TDF he has no chance in and is just there to stagehunt at for the chance to win a Giro or Vuelta against a likely weaker field.

 

[roundabout]

This is OT from the last few posts but the recent bit of news on the front page about 2013 is seriously ****.

I am hopeful that it's all hot air and never was nor ever will be seriously considered

 

[theyoungest]

This is OT from the last few posts but the recent bit of news on the front page about 2013 is seriously ****.

I am hopeful that it's all hot air and never was nor ever will be seriously considered

You mean the bit about the Alpe d'Huez, twice? Yeah, that would be truly horrible. Thousands of Dutch cycling "fans" who think that Alberto Contador is the singer in a mariachi band, who will be too drunk to even step to the side of the road the second time the riders pass them.

 

[sublimit]

Sounds totaly insane going twice up the Alpe. the riders will be on their knees but I cant believe this will ever happen.

More nuts than a downhill ITT.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

This is OT from the last few posts but the recent bit of news on the front page about 2013 is seriously ****.

I am hopeful that it's all hot air and never was nor ever will be seriously considered

And all the while, no Burdincurutcheta, no Errozate, no Arnostegi, no Larrau, no Laberouat, no Mont du Chat, no Tentes, no Mantet, no Descarga.

Hell, if we allow them to go abroad a bit, no Finestre, no Sanetsch, no Orzanzurieta...

Who's next in the line for a double dose? We've had Tourmalet, Peyresourde, Galibier, now Alpe d'Huez. Why not Aspin or Aubisque, huh? Sestrières perhaps?

Jesus Christ, you'd think that France only had about five mountain roads.

The only plus side is that if they're willing to let the riders take on narrower and tough roads with little room, we might see Puy de Dôme back.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

how is that nuts?? simply a stage with 2 hc mountains (for tour proportions)

 

[sublimit]

how is that nuts?? simply a stage with 2 hc mountains (for tour proportions)

maybe for GC riders its OK but every other rider will pull out long before.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

maybe for GC riders its OK but every other rider will pull out long before.

uhh no. there are many tour stages we've seen with multiple hc climbs in it and no the riders don't pull out. it's the tour and it's only 2hc climbs.

 

[sublimit]

uhh no. there are many tour stages we've seen with multiple hc climbs in it and no the riders don't pull out. it's the tour and it's only 2hc climbs.

So you think this is a good idea then? for the last stage?
I still think it sucks.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Especially as this means they'll probably just go via Lautaret too. Just this year we've had harder stages than twice up the Alpe would be.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

This is OT from the last few posts but the recent bit of news on the front page about 2013 is seriously ****.

I am hopeful that it's all hot air and never was nor ever will be seriously considered

Michel Wuyts is the likely source. He mentioned it during the Tour already that the Col de Sarenne was being considered from the Alpe d'Huez side and that it needed to be asphalted again.

The descent:

http://www.steephill.tv/2006/col-de-sarenne/pictures/the top view from col #94f.html

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

So you think this is a good idea then? for the last stage?

maybe not for last stage except if there is a colombian team because they won't wait till last stage

 

[Libertine Seguros]

So you think this is a good idea then? for the last stage?

No, it's a terrible idea, for any stage let alone the last one (though I do like the idea of shaking it up and not always having the same processional finish).

However, the prestige of finishing the Tour is high enough that riders will want to complete it.

 

[jens_attacks]

alpe d'huez twice sounds lame,extremely lame. alpe itt and another stage with mtf sounds way better

 

[Ferminal]

Sounds really gimmicky. If they are going to use the Sarenne descent I have no idea why they'd go back around to Bourg d'Oisans... a finish at Les Deux Alpes would be far better.

I'd go for the 2008 Stage, with Les Deux Alpes on the end. Galibier (Lautaret), Croix de Fer, Alpe d'Huez/Sarenne, Les Deux Alpes. Proper Queen stage.

It's Briancon - Les Deux Alpes.

I added Mollard as well.

To me it's just a waste to open up a new road, but then use it only to climb the same mountain twice. Les Deux Alpes is straight off the descent, whereas it's a flattish 10-15km extra if you want to go back to Bourg d'Oisans.

 

[Siriuscat]

Variation on a theme really but what about Bourg D'Oisans - Croix De Fer - Telegraph - Galibier - Col de Sarrene - DOWN Alpe d'Huez (just to annoy the hell out of Frandy ) - Les Deux Alpe MTF.

Down Alpe D'Huez seems heresy but it might be interesting. Twice on the Alpe would be pointless, there are other mountains.....

 

[Ferminal]

Variation on a theme really but what about Bourg D'Oisans - Croix De Fer - Telegraph - Galibier - Col de Sarrene - DOWN Alpe d'Huez (just to annoy the hell out of Frandy ) - Les Deux Alpe MTF.

Down Aple D'Huez seems heresy but it might be interesting. Twice on the Alpe would be pointless, there are other mountains.....

Yeh down the Alpe would be cool

 

[roundabout]

Maybe Mente, maybe Portillon.

It' still doesn't change the fact that it's one of the weirdest Tour stages that I can remember as it's less than 20km from Luchon to Peyragudes.

Wonder if we will get a 180km stage from Bourg-d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez or 200km stage from Bareges to Tourmalet in the future.

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?p=709051&highlight=bourg#post709051