I have the feeling, for Pogacar the wheather conditions will be at least as important as the actual route. He probably wont like stage 19. But rather 2, 9 and 11. And some of the high mountain stages if only its cold and rainy.
- Feb 21, 2019
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So after analysing the route, I think that the first week is quite disappointing, four likely sprint stages is simply too much. Unlike in the last years, we only have one mountin stage in the first week and its quite an 'easy' sadly. The TT is also too short and two hilly TTs in the same race doesn't make much sense either.
The second week is better but while I really the profile of stage 14, stage 15 could have been so much better. Hope that the wind makes an appearence on stage 10 (the same goes for stage 16 too).
The last week is good but a bit backloaded. Stage 17 has quite a hard final 50km but I think stages 19, 20 or 21 will be the ones deciding the race and at least I am glad a climb like Cime de la Bonette is back.
Regarding the favourites, I think this is a really good route for Vingegård, two hilly TTs is quite down in his alley and good luck staying with him on a climb like Bonette plus Pla d'Adet is also the kind of climb where he can cause a lot of damage. The first part of the route really suits Pogačar but I just fear Vingegård will be stronger than him in the second part of the race both due to the profile of the stages and recovery as well. I think this is also a good route for Roglič, but its unlikely that he will beat Vingegård. The Giro route suits Remco better but I hope to see him in the Tour.
The second week is better but while I really the profile of stage 14, stage 15 could have been so much better. Hope that the wind makes an appearence on stage 10 (the same goes for stage 16 too).
The last week is good but a bit backloaded. Stage 17 has quite a hard final 50km but I think stages 19, 20 or 21 will be the ones deciding the race and at least I am glad a climb like Cime de la Bonette is back.
Regarding the favourites, I think this is a really good route for Vingegård, two hilly TTs is quite down in his alley and good luck staying with him on a climb like Bonette plus Pla d'Adet is also the kind of climb where he can cause a lot of damage. The first part of the route really suits Pogačar but I just fear Vingegård will be stronger than him in the second part of the race both due to the profile of the stages and recovery as well. I think this is also a good route for Roglič, but its unlikely that he will beat Vingegård. The Giro route suits Remco better but I hope to see him in the Tour.
I have to say that I do not like the 2024 Tour route too much. In my eyes, this Tour seems to be a bit too easy. It‘s perfect for the sprinters, because there will be mass sprints all the time.
For me, as a fan of hard climbing stages and hard ITTs, this route looks too easy. Easy stages all the time. No hard mountain stages. No hard MTFs. I think the GC race could become quite boring. And at the end, there probably won’t be big time gaps in final GC.
I hope Primoz wins this, then I am happy. Now I even more hope for a good 2025 TdF route. Then it‘s Primoz second year at Bora, and he‘ll go for TdF victory, if he hasn’t already won it in 2024.
3/10 stars for 2024 TdF route, in my opinion. 8 to 10 mass sprints, that is just too much. It will be even much worse than in 2023, when Philipsen won all the time.
I am a spectator who doesn’t want to see any crashes. So, for me, sprint stages just don’t deliver. The results are predictable, the stages are boring, these are rest days for any non-sprinter. So the GC guys will have two official rest days in next year’s TdF, plus eight or ten additional rest days, which are the sprint stages. So for the GC guys like Primoz, there will only be eleven stages when it counts, for GC. That IMHO just is not the sense of a three week Grand Tour.
Riders make the race interesting, I know. But the conditions for a thrilling race are bad, IMHO, now, after the presentation of THIS route… *sad*
For me, as a fan of hard climbing stages and hard ITTs, this route looks too easy. Easy stages all the time. No hard mountain stages. No hard MTFs. I think the GC race could become quite boring. And at the end, there probably won’t be big time gaps in final GC.
I hope Primoz wins this, then I am happy. Now I even more hope for a good 2025 TdF route. Then it‘s Primoz second year at Bora, and he‘ll go for TdF victory, if he hasn’t already won it in 2024.
3/10 stars for 2024 TdF route, in my opinion. 8 to 10 mass sprints, that is just too much. It will be even much worse than in 2023, when Philipsen won all the time.
I am a spectator who doesn’t want to see any crashes. So, for me, sprint stages just don’t deliver. The results are predictable, the stages are boring, these are rest days for any non-sprinter. So the GC guys will have two official rest days in next year’s TdF, plus eight or ten additional rest days, which are the sprint stages. So for the GC guys like Primoz, there will only be eleven stages when it counts, for GC. That IMHO just is not the sense of a three week Grand Tour.
Riders make the race interesting, I know. But the conditions for a thrilling race are bad, IMHO, now, after the presentation of THIS route… *sad*
- Apr 3, 2009
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Not sure I get what's wrong with it? Certainly you are hosed if you don't have a strong team with these long stretches between the climbs. Which I think is a good test of the teams. Looks like a super tough stage, which could decide the whole race. Can you expand on why it's weird? The climb at the start?Can Someone explain to me what they were trying to do when they designed Stage 15, LOUDENVIELLE > PLATEAU DE BEILLE.
That is the weirdest design I ever seen.
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- Jun 7, 2010
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Looking at other stage profiles (seem likely to be more or less correct) there are no 'flat' stages with a hidden surprise somewhere.
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Stage 18 is indeed much better than I had feared, but it is still merely a breakaway stage.
Da Firenze a Nizza, tutte le tappe del Tour de France 2024
Ecco il percorso del Tour de France 2024: 3492 km, 52230 metri didislivello e 59 km a cronometro. Come di consueto ASO non ha pubblicato i...
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Stage 18 is indeed much better than I had feared, but it is still merely a breakaway stage.
- Nov 16, 2013
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- Apr 3, 2009
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Yeah, those are tough. Not sure it's a bad thing though, could end up causing some really interesting racing.
It's not an amazing layout but it's nothing unusual. Really I doubt the long valley will be that interesting because the early climbs are likely to force a break, whereas some of the best mountain stages recently have had stages where a break has been chronically unable to stay away, or form at all, but really it's just a standard MTF.
- May 3, 2010
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I like it!
The mountain stages in the first week are interesting, but probably not tough enough for big gaps between the GC riders. Pogacar or Evenepoel might win a stage already, because they're specialists of the middle mountains. The Galibier in the first week is unheard of, but mind, this is the long, gentle side, so the top favorites might just stay together. The technical descent can be important too.
The gravel stage looks spectacular. It will be a material battle. Crashes and mechanicals will play a role. It's a chance for Pogacar to gain time, because of his experience in the classics. MvdP, Pidcock and Mohoric can fight for the stage win.
The second week looks boring from Tuesday to Friday, but then come the serious mountain stages. The first stage in the Pyrenees has a succession of classic climbs, tough enough for a big attack if you have the legs. This one will be dangerous for Evenepoel, if he's still involved. In the stage to Plateau de Beille the GC battle will probably be limited to the final climb, but it's a long and steep one.
Stage 17 is interesting, because the penultimate climb is steep and close enough to the finish to try something. Two days later comes the queen stage. Cime de la Bonette is the toughest climb of the Tour, because of its height and length. This is the kind of climb where Vingegaard can be dangerous. The final climb to Isola 2000 hasn't been done since Rominger's win in 1993, if I remember correctly. Stage 20 is easier, but someone who isn't satisfied with his GC position might still be inspired to attack.
Finishing with a time trial hasn't been done since 1989, and that was a pretty close one. I like that the Col d'Èze is in it, a classic climb in Paris-Nice. I won't miss the Champs-Elysées.
The winner will have to be a complete rider, who can handle different kinds of challenges. Hopefully the riders will make the racing attractive, because this course gives enough opportunities.
The mountain stages in the first week are interesting, but probably not tough enough for big gaps between the GC riders. Pogacar or Evenepoel might win a stage already, because they're specialists of the middle mountains. The Galibier in the first week is unheard of, but mind, this is the long, gentle side, so the top favorites might just stay together. The technical descent can be important too.
The gravel stage looks spectacular. It will be a material battle. Crashes and mechanicals will play a role. It's a chance for Pogacar to gain time, because of his experience in the classics. MvdP, Pidcock and Mohoric can fight for the stage win.
The second week looks boring from Tuesday to Friday, but then come the serious mountain stages. The first stage in the Pyrenees has a succession of classic climbs, tough enough for a big attack if you have the legs. This one will be dangerous for Evenepoel, if he's still involved. In the stage to Plateau de Beille the GC battle will probably be limited to the final climb, but it's a long and steep one.
Stage 17 is interesting, because the penultimate climb is steep and close enough to the finish to try something. Two days later comes the queen stage. Cime de la Bonette is the toughest climb of the Tour, because of its height and length. This is the kind of climb where Vingegaard can be dangerous. The final climb to Isola 2000 hasn't been done since Rominger's win in 1993, if I remember correctly. Stage 20 is easier, but someone who isn't satisfied with his GC position might still be inspired to attack.
Finishing with a time trial hasn't been done since 1989, and that was a pretty close one. I like that the Col d'Èze is in it, a classic climb in Paris-Nice. I won't miss the Champs-Elysées.
The winner will have to be a complete rider, who can handle different kinds of challenges. Hopefully the riders will make the racing attractive, because this course gives enough opportunities.
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- Apr 30, 2011
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I think it will be like all the other Plateau de Beille stages (coming from West). Tempo on the climbs and a peloton at the bottom in the end.
And that's fine. At least there's some volume before the MTF shoot-out.
- Apr 30, 2011
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I'd laugh my ass off seeing Bambi on Tuscan gravel again.
- Nov 16, 2013
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- Jul 10, 2014
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Looking more like a Bond villain each day
As usual, Gouvenou only needed to make minor tweaks to make this a great route.
1. First TT needs to be twice the length. 25km is not a GT TT. That is a good length for PN
2. Spandelles, or Soulour should come before Tourmalet
Those 2 changes alone would make this a classic TDF course
1. First TT needs to be twice the length. 25km is not a GT TT. That is a good length for PN
2. Spandelles, or Soulour should come before Tourmalet
Those 2 changes alone would make this a classic TDF course
He may make a very late show up at Jaen once he makes sure none of the other big guys is in
- Nov 16, 2013
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You should really stop living in the past.
I haven't had the time to really look at the route yet so I'll reserve my opinions except to say why can't we ever get a meaningful long ITT? Seriously, I love that in his comments on Stage 7, Prudhomme says it's probably too short to make much of a difference in GC. Then make a longer, flat individual time trial!
You should accept reality that today's ultra short TTs have turned GTs from identifying the best overall rider to a competition that identifies those who climb mountains the best
Next year's giro is a bit different
- May 5, 2010
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Plus, part of the point of individual time trials is to separate a rider from their team. We're living in an era of super teams. We need strong, flat individual time trials now, more than before.
- Jan 29, 2021
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The best climbers are also the best time trialists in today's era. 25 or 50 km would not change the winner.
- Apr 13, 2021
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It's a joke that they announce the route but you cannot actually see anywhere the profiles, I am just supposed to guess the stages. Let's stop giving these gimmick merchants our attention and enjoy real cycling. Classics and cyclocross and your local events.
To a point. I think Remco puts 90 seconds into Jonas in a 50k flat individual time trial. It might not mean anything once Jonas puts 5 minutes into everyone on the queen stage a day later but it would make for more interesting racing which is supposed to be the point.
- Jun 7, 2010
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I don't think I remember ever seeing you asking for more gravel roads and downhill finishes. I think all you ever asked for are more TT km even though you want to 'identify the best overall rider'.
Hmm, wonder why is that?
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