Tour de France Tour de France 2022 route rumors thread.

[BlueRoads]

Wasn't that just the prefect of the Nord region?

Yeah, I don't know whether it's more popular in some areas or among certain people.
Like I said, it was just my guess, because I don't really understand what people here think is the reasoning behind the route - I don't believe those who are responsible are just too stupid or unoriginal to make a better route. They may not be the totally super best suited ones to do this, but they certainly have as much knowledge as the average forum member. So there must be reasons. With them broadcasting the stages in full nowadays it doesn't even make sense to have stages that will probably only have action in the last half hour from that perspective, so I would really think it's the monetary and logistical issues that lead to a route that is okay in my opinion, but even I have to admit it doesn't look super-cool and apart from the cobbles many stages seem to follow the same two blueprints.

 

[OlavEH]

With them broadcasting the stages in full nowadays it doesn't even make sense to have stages that will probably only have action in the last half hour from that perspective, so I would really think it's the monetary and logistical issues that lead to a route that is okay in my opinion, but even I have to admit it doesn't look super-cool and apart from the cobbles many stages seem to follow the same two blueprints.

First of all. Is money so important that they couldn't do minor changes in one or two stages? And could logistics stop them from changing the sequence of the mountain stages or making them somewhat longer using the same start and finish? I don't buy it.

 

[fbjim]

like any route it's plusses and minuses


Granon and Hautacam and Mende, and a pave stage I'll take that in trade for Peyragaudes even if that's a super lame finish.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

What climbs the route will have before la super planche des belles filles? I can't see that information.

No official profile, but looks like Col de Grosse Pierre (from Gerardmer) and Col des Croix (from Le Thillot) as only meaningful (3rd category) climbs.

 

[Finn84]

Considering French geography i don't think it's possible to put cobbles after mountains unless you'll do unless you'll do some really weird ish with big transfers. Or you start from like Basue country and do the opposite of next year's route but i give exactly 0% chance of ASO ever doing this.

Something like this wouldn't be too bad with transfers.

Wed - stage in Vosges.
Thu - flat between Nancy and Reims
Fri - TT near Saint-Quentin
Sat - Cambrai to Lille via Arras (cobbles)
Sun - parade to C-E

I mentioned some relatively big towns in the area, of course these may be changed to some nearby.

 

[fbjim]

also Chatel and Mende are the most challenging looking weekend stages (unless the weather plays along in Denmark). have ASO realized that the product that they are putting out is not good and gave up on competing for weekend viewership?

Mende has been an exciting finish virtually every time it's been in the Tour. I don't get why people are suddenly putting it with PDBF and Peyragaudes as a lame finish. I must have missed that in my CyclingNews Forum Lore update. In fact any time the Tour finishes in Nimes, Rodez or any other town in that region I hear complaints about them skipping Mende!

 

[kingjr]

I dunno, the 2 stages with the Galibier look OK. And so does the Hautacam stage. No real surprises which is unfortunate. I really dislike fake climbs like "super" PDBF or the lacets de montvernier (a gimmick road built for tourists, right?). There are plenty of difficult natural cols.

Really, though, the challenge is going to be who shows up in form against Pogacar. If he has real challengers then the route will look great. If it's a walkover like last year we can hope for interesting stage winners...

What's a fake climb? Does the road only pretend it is going up?

 

[OlavEH]

Mende has been an exciting finish virtually every time it's been in the Tour. I don't get why people are suddenly putting it with PDBF and Peyragaudes as a lame finish. I must have missed that in my CyclingNews Forum Lore update. In fact any time the Tour finishes in Nimes or any other town in that region I hear complaints about them skipping Mende!

Mende is okay, but it's still a steep ramp at the end of the stage. Meaning that we'll have 3 kms of action and not much more than that. And that is the main problem with the Tour. Every single high mountain and medium mountain stage are designed for action on the last climb. The only stage that could potentially have more long range attacks (the Foix stage) will probably be neutralized by having two tough MTFs the next two days.

 

[kingjr]

Mende has been an exciting finish virtually every time it's been in the Tour. I don't get why people are suddenly putting it with PDBF and Peyragaudes as a lame finish. I must have missed that in my CyclingNews Forum Lore update. In fact any time the Tour finishes in Nimes, Rodez or any other town in that region I hear complaints about them skipping Mende!

You really only need to know one piece of CN forum lore as far as the TdF route is concerned: it always sucks, to varying degrees.

 

[fbjim]

Also tour routes sometimes seem reactionary to complaints and I wonder if this one was a result of a lot of pundits making press about the amount of descent finishes in the 2021 route.

What's a fake climb? Does the road only pretend it is going up?

"real" climbs are ski station access roads ending in the world's ugliest set of buildings on the planet

 

[topcat]

A brilliant route. Ultimate poignancy from Prudhomme and Gouvenou. Pog can do a tour vuelta double and still be fresh for Lombardia and have the greatest season in the last two years.

 

[houtdffan]

I don’t have a problem with Planche des Belles Filles as a climb being used by the TdF. What does irritate me is when Planche des Belles Filles being used by the TDF every other freaking year and hyped like it’s the new Alpe d’huez or Mt Ventoux.

I get people’s irritation with the Alpe, but I also understand why it’s so revered. It’s the first true TDF mtn top finish and became a symbol of the Tour during the Hinault-Fignon-LeMond-Roche-Delgado era which saw some spectacular racing at the summit. Same as Ventoux: Iconic; Tom Simpson; No trees and wind, steepness. I mean I get it. It’s redundant, but it makes for compelling viewing with the crazed spectators and such. That stuff sells the sport. PDBF has none of that mystique and the gaps are minimal.

Problem is that people gripe about those being used too much and boring, but since Prudhomme really started to put his own stamp on his Tour legacy, it gets used twice as much as the ones everybody bitches about.

In defense of Jean Marie Leblanc, who was about as innovative in his route design as the guy who oversees the garbage truck route, he did have some absolutely brutal mountain stages.

Why are we crucifying Prudhomme when it is Goveneou who actually designs the stages? Even Pescheux didn't have this many short mountain stages and usually had 2-3 brutal ones each year

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Something like this wouldn't be too bad with transfers.

Wed - stage in Vosges.
Thu - flat between Nancy and Reims
Fri - TT near Saint-Quentin
Sat - Cambrai to Lille via Arras (cobbles)
Sun - parade to C-E

I mentioned some relatively big towns in the area, of course these may be changed to some nearby.

Agreed that it would be doable. One sprinters stage is plenty, though.

rest day on Monday

1. long ITT
2. Vosges GC stage
3. Vosges GC stage
4. Nancy - Epernay (steep hills)
5. Reims - Arenberg (cobbles)
6. Paris crit

something like this would have my preference. Anything to avoid 2 sprints after the final rest day. I have no idea why they keep doing that.

 

[OlavEH]

Are there anyone who knows if there are good areas for creating a sterrato stage in the Tour? Without using the very rough gravel roads like in Paris - Tours? I would rather prefer a sterrato stage before a cobblestone stage. Without having any statistics to refer to, I believe that the chance for crashes and accidents have to be larger on cobblestone sections than on sterrato.

 

[Leinster]

I marked the sectors, that have been in the last edition of PR. I added the stars of PR + the ones of La Flamme Rouge, when not used in PR.

11 Villers-au-Tertre à Fressain 1400 m ***
10 Eswars à Paillencourt 1600 m **
09 Wasnes-au-Bac à Marcq-en-Ostrevent 1400 m **
08 Émerchicourt à Monchecourt 1600 m (Here you can take a peek, it looks quite narrow and nasty) It isn't on the cobbled map of LFR.
07 Monchecourt à Émerchicourt 1300 m **
06 Abscon 1600 m ***
05 Erre à Wandignies-Hamage 2800 m (in PR this is the 3.7k long sector Hornaing à Wandignies, here not the complete sector is used) ****
04 Warlaing à Brillon 2400 m ***
03 Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes à Sars-et-Rosières 2400 m ****
02 Bousignies à Millonfosse 1400 m ***
01 Hasnon à Wallers / Pont Gibus 1600 m *** (in PR done vice versa)

Is this the 3rd time a TdF stage has finished in Arenberg and they've never used the Trouee?

If the Tour went to Carpentras 3 times in 10 years without doing the Ventoux, there'd be hell to pay.

 

[StryderHells]

Are there anyone who knows if there are good areas for creating a sterrato stage in the Tour? Without using the very rough gravel roads like in Paris - Tours? I would rather prefer a sterrato stage before a cobblestone stage. Without having any statistics to refer to, I believe that the chance for crashes and accidents have to be larger on cobblestone sections than on sterrato.

I think both the Cobbles and the Gravel are overblown when it comes to crashes in GT’s.
I don’t think of the Cobbles cause more crashes than gravel, regular tarmac causes more issues.

 

[Leinster]

Mende is okay, but it's still a steep ramp at the end of the stage. Meaning that we'll have 3 kms of action and not much more than that. And that is the main problem with the Tour. Every single high mountain and medium mountain stage are designed for action on the last climb. The only stage that could potentially have more long range attacks (the Foix stage) will probably be neutralized by having two tough MTFs the next two days.

Remind me again why everyone always says the Vuelta is better than the Tour..?

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Who here still remembers "A travers de Lausanne"? We need those fun races at the end of the season back.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Well, most of key stages are similar to what rumours suggested. One thing that stands out: at least 5 MTF (!) (or maybe more, not sure about Mende and Megave ) + one stage that is almost MTF (stage 9). This Tour is good for climbers and GC action is expected during six or seven mountain stages. Unfortunately these stages generally aren't favourable for long range attacks but on some stages attacks from 20+ km are possible. Also a rather long rolling ITT at the end to compensate for mountains.

Possible impact of mountain stages on the GC (5 stars in bold):
PDBF * * *
Chatel Les Portes du Soleil * * * *
Granon * * * * *
Alpe d' Huez * * * * *
Foix * *
Peyragudes * * * *
Hautacam * * * * *

The race starts with a 13 km flat (and possibly technical) TT to shape the GC. this will be an early indication of contenders' form. I suppose there will be a lot of corners on the streets of Copenhagen, which should be slightly favourable for lighter, less powerful guys. Obviously the cobbles on stage 5 are key moment of the first week. Almost all sectors (20 km in total) packed in the last 50-60 km. Things could get interesting or maybe even dramatic if the weather is bad. Primoz can't avoid cobbles, it seems

PDBF is the first MTF in week one. As others said, it's maybe used too often. It should give us info who is who in the mountains but it's Chatel les Portes du Soleil finish that I regard as most important mountain stage in the first part of the race. I actually expect some interesting action there. Pas the Morgins is a solid climb in the first 11 km (average above 7%) and together with a small descend and another small climb to the finish it could provide GC action for 20+ km (a rest day that follows should encourage it).

Obviously the comeback of Granon after so many years is great. It's a very hard climb: relentlessly steep and really high. It's preceeded by a classical option: the biggest climb (or rather combo) in cycling: Galibier + Telegraphe. Unfortunately attacks on Galibier are unlikely (the MTF is too formidable and the next stage is hard as well). Anyway, I expect the race to explode in the final 10 km, especially if one team decides to make the tempo hard on Galibier. This could be the most important stage of the race.

Alpe d' Huez is back as well in a classical 3 climb alpine stage. It's another big day, just after Granon. No action expected before the last climb but given all those Alpine climbs cumulative fatigue may have an impact there producing significant gaps. Probably no stratospheric performances there due to the previous difficulties.

Between the Alps and the Pyrenees a stage to Mende could bring some GC action (but I'm not sure if they will finish on that steep climb?). The stage to Foix has the potential but its position before difficult stages will likely neutralize any GC action. This would be better as the last Pyrenean stage.

Peyragudes could be very interesting if some contender decides for an attack on Louron Azet. This is actually a realistic scenario (given a short descend afterwards, almost no flat sections and not too difficult final climb) and I would give the stage 5 stars but the next stage to Hautacam could cap long-range action here.

The last mountain stage to Hautacam is a very solid portion of climbing. Three difficult climbs packed in a short stage. This may be a dynamic stage and some guys will go all-out if they have to gain time. Aubisque is a legend, a good and steep climb. Too far to attack but will tire the guys out. Spandelles must be a new climb, I don't remember it but the climb looks very promising. I can even imagine a scenario, when a trailing favourite (and his team) decide to risk and explode the race there. Hautacam is the Alpe d' Huez of the Pyrenees, even if there's no action before this climb should guarantee proper GC racing.

The last rolling TT should provide significant gaps and fatigue will be an important factor. 40 km is a lot but there will be a lot of mountains in the race as well plus it's not flat and even has some climbs to help lighter guys a bit.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Is this the 3rd time a TdF stage has finished in Arenberg and they've never used the Trouee?

If the Tour went to Carpentras 3 times in 10 years without doing the Ventoux, there'd be hell to pay.

Because the TGV passes right in front of the forest and nobody wants the race finale shut down by the railway gates.

For putting it in the middle of a stage it is way too difficult and might end careers. Simply too dangerous.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Ill await Red Rick and Libertine Seguros to nuke this route design, a busy afternoon for me is coming up

 

[Leinster]

Because the TGV passes right in front of the forest and nobody wants the race finale shut down by the railway gates.

For putting it in the middle of a stage it is way too difficult and might end careers. Simply too dangerous.

I can accept the train timetable more than I can the safety aspect. I’d like to see them go the other way up the trench; as I understand it the Roubaix direction is slightly downhill, which is part of what makes it so dangerous. It might be easier (safer) to do it uphill?

I think it’d be great (and also safer) to have it as a final/late obstacle between small groups rather than an early selection from the full peloton.

 

[Rackham]

This could be a route for Wout. He could gain some time in the TT's and the cobbled section and hang on as long as he can in the climbs if he doesn't have to work for Roglic.

WvA will be all over the place in this Tour. He'll fight for green, work for Roglic, win some stages & be everywhere.

A brilliant route. Ultimate poignancy from Prudhomme and Gouvenou. Pog can do a tour vuelta double and still be fresh for Lombardia and have the greatest season in the last two years.

Primoz Roglic is going to be a major obstacle on this route.

On a scale between 1 and 10 on the "this is good for Roglic" rating, I'd rate this as a 9. It plays to his strengths (shorter, super hard mountain stages with summit finishes like in the Vuelta) and doesn't feature the one area where he constantly loses his power & recuperation: 200km+ hard stages which aren't his forte. If this was a Vuelta profile, the consensus would be "this is good for Rogla", with the one question mark being the cobbles. But, he's properly raced on cobbles before (Tour 2018) & isn't bad on dirt roads either.

So with his Vuelta 2021 form, I'd frankly see Roglic as equal favorite on this route. The problem for Roglic was always those massively long nasty stages (or the stages which followed) which drained his forces & damaged recuperation. But looking at this Tour profile (& the fact the toughest mountain stages are midweek as well, i.e. whereas Roglic can fade by the weekend before rest day), I feel it's way better than expected from a Roglic point of view.

Obviously he's the one who does the riding whilst just sit on my couch & watch (i.e. it's easy for me to say whatever), but honestly, from my point of view this is a great opportunity which I didn't really see coming. It's like a combination of Itzulia Basque Country & the Vuelta except it's in France.

 

[roundabout]

Who here still remembers "A travers de Lausanne"? We need those fun races at the end of the season back.

You're old. I only remember the post-TdF 2 ITT in a day editions.

I do remember it was steep, narrow and had cobbles, but hardly a course for a TdF sized field.

I think this was a part of the route.

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[Valv.Piti]

What I do like though is it doesnt seem too sprinter heavy which I like. I would have loved to see some longer mountain stages though, at least just one real crazy stage. Imagine Croix de Fer before Galibier towards Granon, that woulda looked nice wouldnt it lads.

But oh well. But Ill be there on the first three days!! Hopefully I can get some interviews as well, preferably one with my man Alejandro, but I doubt he will be turning up...