Tour de France 2019

[Red Rick]

Isnt the last km all the way to Midi di Bigorre just a hiking path or something?

 

[Ferminal]

Re: Re:

Gimmicks sell, to a degree. I for one hope they go > 3000m within the foreseeable future. Use or pave some dirt roads above l'Alpe, Les 2 Alpes, or Val Tho or whatever. Use that global warming to your advantage.

Although Sky's dominance make it less probable with a good Tour anyway, looking at the rumoured overview map for next year, they could have designed one of the best routes ever.

Yeah. There really is no excuse to have 7 or 8 (semi)sprinters stages this time, but just watch...

Ha Mont de Lans in our lifetime? Doubtful when they don't even go back to L2A let alone all the other complications. Anyway, glad to see the altitude arriving for this edition. But next time Iseran (S) is used I'd prefer Val d'Isere so that underwhelming Tignes stage is ok if that's how it ends up.

Re: PdBF it has been overused yes but it has a habit of delivering and means they can fit a proper early(ish) selection around the backloading nonsense. Adding another 100m gain to that doesn't detract.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Re: Re:

Ha Mont de Lans in our lifetime? Doubtful when they don't even go back to L2A let alone all the other complications.

Yeah, I got a little carried away after browsing YouTube videos for a bit.

I'd settle for Pic Blanc above l'Alpe d'Huez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOuzU0vCqBk

insane, haha

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Ha Mont de Lans in our lifetime? Doubtful when they don't even go back to L2A let alone all the other complications.

Yeah, I got a little carried away after browsing YouTube videos for a bit.

I'd settle for Pic Blanc above l'Alpe d'Huez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOuzU0vCqBk

insane, haha

And this is why men have a lower life expectancy than women.

 

[ice&fire]

Re: Re:

Gimmicks sell, to a degree. I for one hope they go > 3000m within the foreseeable future. Use or pave some dirt roads above l'Alpe, Les 2 Alpes, or Val Tho or whatever. Use that global warming to your advantage.

Although Sky's dominance make it less probable with a good Tour anyway, looking at the rumoured overview map for next year, they could have designed one of the best routes ever.

Yeah. There really is no excuse to have 7 or 8 (semi)sprinters stages this time, but just watch...

Ha Mont de Lans in our lifetime? Doubtful when they don't even go back to L2A let alone all the other complications. Anyway, glad to see the altitude arriving for this edition. But next time Iseran (S) is used I'd prefer Val d'Isere so that underwhelming Tignes stage is ok if that's how it ends up.

Re: PdBF it has been overused yes but it has a habit of delivering and means they can fit a proper early(ish) selection around the backloading nonsense. Adding another 100m gain to that doesn't detract.

Next time Iseran S is used? Last time they did it Anquetil and Bahamontes were at the top of their game.

 

[Robert5091]

The route! :lol:

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Pau time trial almost confirmed. No specifics given.

https://www.sudouest.fr/2018/10/24/tour-de-france-2019-une-surprise-a-pau-5507966-4596.php

 

[OlavEH]

https://mobile.twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1054370033219129345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1054370033219129345%7Ctwgr%5E363937393b70726f64756374696f6e&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ad.nl%2Fwielrennen%2Fhoeveel-tijdritten-en-bergen-zitten-in-de-tour-van-2019~a4fd4945%2F
Those should be the Alps and Pyrenees stages, plus a La Planche des Belles Filles summit finish in 1st week.

Just as I expected if this is the case. The Tignes stage, which could have been the best stage in the Tour, is dreadful and designed the worst possible way. No Iseran and 40 flat kms up the valley before Tignes.

Also short stage and only Izoard and Galibier on the Valloire stage, and nothing exceptional on the Tourmalet, Val Thorens and Prates di Albi stages. The latter is though probably the most interesting stage due to Pegeuere. But the early placing in the Tour makes it less probable that much will happen before the last climb.

This is archtypical ASO design. Utter mediocracy!

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

https://mobile.twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1054370033219129345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1054370033219129345%7Ctwgr%5E363937393b70726f64756374696f6e&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ad.nl%2Fwielrennen%2Fhoeveel-tijdritten-en-bergen-zitten-in-de-tour-van-2019~a4fd4945%2F
Those should be the Alps and Pyrenees stages, plus a La Planche des Belles Filles summit finish in 1st week.

Just as I expected if this is the case.

The Tignes and Val Thorens stage profiles are obviously bogus...



https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/grand-est/lee-tour-france-2019-fait-etapes-reims-nancy-saint-die-vosges-colmar-mulhouse-1560566.html

^ the Mulhouse - Planche des Belles Filles stage would be very similar to the 2014 stage, according to the above. That would be great, but not sure if I believe that.

 

[OlavEH]

The Tignes and Val Thorens stage profiles are obviously bogus...

And why is that?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Tignes via Iseran S confirmed:

http://sport24.lefigaro.fr/cyclisme/tour-de-france/actualites/l-iseran-toit-d-un-tour-2019-qui-donne-le-vertige-930593

 

[Escarabajo]

https://mobile.twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1054370033219129345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1054370033219129345%7Ctwgr%5E363937393b70726f64756374696f6e&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ad.nl%2Fwielrennen%2Fhoeveel-tijdritten-en-bergen-zitten-in-de-tour-van-2019~a4fd4945%2F
Those should be the Alps and Pyrenees stages, plus a La Planche des Belles Filles summit finish in 1st week.

That is horrible!
That stage to Bagneres de Bigorre does absolutely nothing.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Readying myself to get super disappointed this year. Nevermind, I have done that for 364 days already....

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

Readying myself to get super disappointed this year. Nevermind, I have done that for 364 days already....

Keep some disappointment for the other two GTs

 

[Red Rick]

https://mobile.twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1054370033219129345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1054370033219129345%7Ctwgr%5E363937393b70726f64756374696f6e&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ad.nl%2Fwielrennen%2Fhoeveel-tijdritten-en-bergen-zitten-in-de-tour-van-2019~a4fd4945%2F
Those should be the Alps and Pyrenees stages, plus a La Planche des Belles Filles summit finish in 1st week.

That is horrible!
That stage to Bagneres de Bigorre does absolutely nothing.

Galibier from Briancon is also a glorified false flat on altitude.

 

[vladimir]

https://mobile.twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1054370033219129345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1054370033219129345%7Ctwgr%5E363937393b70726f64756374696f6e&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ad.nl%2Fwielrennen%2Fhoeveel-tijdritten-en-bergen-zitten-in-de-tour-van-2019~a4fd4945%2F
Those should be the Alps and Pyrenees stages, plus a La Planche des Belles Filles summit finish in 1st week.

That is horrible!
That stage to Bagneres de Bigorre does absolutely nothing.

Galibier from Briancon is also a glorified false flat on altitude.

Well, it was certainly an enjoyable stage there in 2011. But with Sky controlling I fear it will be dull until Lautaret

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

https://mobile.twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1054370033219129345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1054370033219129345%7Ctwgr%5E363937393b70726f64756374696f6e&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ad.nl%2Fwielrennen%2Fhoeveel-tijdritten-en-bergen-zitten-in-de-tour-van-2019~a4fd4945%2F
Those should be the Alps and Pyrenees stages, plus a La Planche des Belles Filles summit finish in 1st week.

That is horrible!
That stage to Bagneres de Bigorre does absolutely nothing.

Galibier from Briancon is also a glorified false flat on altitude.

Both are breakaway stages , so next year's Barguil/Alaphilippe/etc. can win (Same for the first Vosges stage.)

The stages are fine within that context. Much better than this year's Luchon stage with its terrible final climb. Less so if they go with Aspin instead of Beyrède, of course.

Also, Galibier is actually a pretty decent climb from Lautaret onwards, with a steep final stretch. GC action is likely.

The Tignes and Val Thorens stage profiles are obviously bogus...

And why is that?

The former stage profile has already been disproven (see above) but made no sense because of the ridiculous amount of valley / false flat in between the two climbs.

The Albertville - Val Thorens stage profile had Col de la Loze in it. Even if that would be possible the stage would then be too hard for a l'Étape du Tour.

 

[Red Rick]

https://mobile.twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1054370033219129345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1054370033219129345%7Ctwgr%5E363937393b70726f64756374696f6e&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ad.nl%2Fwielrennen%2Fhoeveel-tijdritten-en-bergen-zitten-in-de-tour-van-2019~a4fd4945%2F
Those should be the Alps and Pyrenees stages, plus a La Planche des Belles Filles summit finish in 1st week.

That is horrible!
That stage to Bagneres de Bigorre does absolutely nothing.

Galibier from Briancon is also a glorified false flat on altitude.

Both are breakaway stages , so next year's Barguil/Alaphilippe/etc. can win (Same for the first Vosges stage.)

The stages are fine within that context. Much better than this year's Luchon stage with its terrible final climb. Less so if they go with Aspin instead of Beyrède, of course.

Also, Galibier is actually a pretty decent climb from Lautaret onwards, with a steep final stretch. GC action is likely.

The Tignes and Val Thorens stage profiles are obviously bogus...

And why is that?

The former stage profile has already been disproven (see above) but made no sense because of the ridiculous amount of valley / false flat in between the two climbs.

The Albertville - Val Thorens stage profile had Col de la Loze in it. Even if that would be possible the stage would then be too hard for a l'Étape du Tour.

If you design great mountain stages inevitably a fair amount of them will go to the break. But nah *** that. Must have 8 sprints

 

[staubsauger]

Eh, so everything sounded absolutely fine for Tour de France standards just to eventually turn out pretty miserable? How did they even manage to do that!?

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Well, it was certainly an enjoyable stage there in 2011. But with Sky controlling I fear it will be dull until Lautaret

I remember Michael Rasmussen going bonkers on Galibier coming from Bourg-d'Oisans in 2006.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Re:

Eh, so everything sounded absolutely fine for Tour de France standards just to eventually turn out pretty miserable? How did they even manage to do that!?

Not sure what changed, TBH. The rumors have been more or less the same for a long while now.

 

[OlavEH]

The former stage profile has already been disproven (see above) but made no sense because of the ridiculous amount of valley / false flat in between the two climbs.

The Albertville - Val Thorens stage profile had Col de la Loze in it. Even if that would be possible the stage would then be too hard for a l'Étape du Tour.

It's ASO we're talking about here. They could perfectly well created a stage with a long stretch in the valley between Madeleine and Tignes.

And is L'etape du Tour confirmed to be Val Thorens? And it's also certain that the profile is too hard for the L'Etape?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Soft-ish Val Thorens stage confirmed.

| Pilou81 | thursday 25 October 2018 at 2:27:21
Voilà dans l équipe dernière étape alpestre cormet de roselend côte de longefoy et val Thorens.. 131 kms

https://www.velowire.com/article/1046/en/tour-de-france-2019--the-rumours-about-the-race-route-and-the-stage-cities-.html#comments

official route, apparently:

https://twitter.com/azerty774/status/1055225631380783106

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Tignes via Iseran S confirmed:

http://sport24.lefigaro.fr/cyclisme/tour-de-france/actualites/l-iseran-toit-d-un-tour-2019-qui-donne-le-vertige-930593

Will look like this.

Iseran South was used three times before. Love that one from 1949. Mont-Cenis + Iseran. A combination to love.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Tignes via Iseran S confirmed:

http://sport24.lefigaro.fr/cyclisme/tour-de-france/actualites/l-iseran-toit-d-un-tour-2019-qui-donne-le-vertige-930593

Will look like this.

the Val Thorens stage will look pretty much like this

or this:

@GregIenco

Les deux dernières étapes alpestres du #TDF2019 :
20e étape, 131 km : Albertville > Cormet de Roselend > Mâcot > Côte du Longefoy > Notre-Dame-du-Pré > Moûtiers > Val Thorens.

Poke @ammattipyoraily @laflammerouge16
11:08 PM - 24 Oct 2018

https://twitter.com/GregIenco/status/1055340228750307328