Tour de France Tour de France 2024 route rumours and announcements

[OlavEH]

Wednesday: Gap > Barcelonnette (Cayolle, Champs, Allos)

If this happens I would be suprised if the climbs are in that order. A section of the western approach of Champs look really sketchy on Street View. It would be logical if they climb Allos first, then ascend Champs from the west and descend the eastern side.

 

[Red Rick]

Since at least two descent finishes are being rumored, by worries for a parcours tailor made for Evenepoel have been significantly alleviated.

 

[KZD]

I have a feeling this Tour is going to be backloaded, but based on the rumors the last week looks encouraging.

I think so as well but at least the first two stages are hilly ones and stage 4 seems that it will be a mountain stage so it shouldn't be like this year's Giro. With so many mountains, I hope that there is a flat time on the first week (or maybe after the first rest day).

 

[Andy schleck]

I have a feeling this Tour is going to be backloaded, but based on the rumors the last week looks encouraging.

Stage 4 will be a mountain stage probably, there will be probably the Pyrenees in the second week, so i don't think it will be backloaded. I think there will be 8/9 mountain stages like this year.

 

[Ulle97]

I see many talking about the monster climbs in the Southern Alps- Bonette, Champs, Cayolle, Vars, Izoard, Allos etc..... they are indeed true giants.

However, I see whenever the Giro uses their monster climbs like the Gavia and Stelvio that the time gaps are huge.

The last time the Tour used the Bonette in 08, the time gaps weren't epic. Is there a reason for this? Can these big 2000m+ climbs cause the carnage that we hope for??

 

[pman]

I am approaching how I view the course design differently this year. Usually I am just looking to see which stage would I like to attend or how the course will impact the GC fight. This year I am not interested in either. I accept that we're probably entering an era of boring GC fights- unless Remco is as good as climber as he is time trialist or if Pogacar proves the last two years were simply well below his best.

I am skeptical either are true. So I am choosing to lean into the concept of viewing the Tour as 21 monuments/classics. Ignore the GC, focus on each day being a great event in itself. For example, Stage 20 this year was one a ton of fun to watch despite the GC being decided. So hopefully we just get some exciting stage profiles.

 

[OlavEH]

The last time the Tour used the Bonette in 08, the time gaps weren't epic. Is there a reason for this? Can these big 2000m+ climbs cause the carnage that we hope for??

Most probably logistics and money. There are few or none plausible stage finish locations close to Bonette. The locations willing to pay are further north in the Alps.

 

[Andy schleck]

The last time the Tour used the Bonette in 08, the time gaps weren't epic. Is there a reason for this? Can these big 2000m+ climbs cause the carnage that we hope for??

Of course they can, with the attacking riders that fortunately cycling have at the moment. Look the gaps on col du granon and col de la loze.

 

[Gigs_98]

I'll believe in those many stages in the southern Alps when I see them.

 

[Red Rick]

I'll believe in those many stages in the southern Alps when I see them.

Moutiere is just French Fauniera

 

[Netserk]

I'll believe in those many stages in the southern Alps when I see them.

We better hope you don’t see them.

 

[OlavEH]

Is it a rumour about the 5 last stages will be in Cote d'Azur?

 

[Netserk]

Is it a rumour about the 5 last stages will be in Cote d'Azur?

Côte d'Azur? No.
From Superdévoluy to Nice? Yes.

Just click on the link:

[https://www.dici.fr/actu/2023/07/31...-20-juillet-2024-hautes-alpes-l-ubaye-1623993]

Some information that i talked.

Three days or more in the Hautes-Alpes and Ubaye

It remains to imagine the scenario: it could take this form for example

Wednesday July 17: An arrival at Super-Dévoluy from the foot of Mont Ventoux?

Thursday July 18: A Gap-Barcelonnette stage? Some hope to see the Tour cross the Col de Moissières for the first time...

Friday July 19: An Embrun-Isola 2000 (or Auron) stage via the Vars and Restefond/la Bonette passes?

 

[OlavEH]

Côte d'Azur? No.
From Superdévoluy to Nice? Yes.

Just click on the link:

Okay, so there could be stage a bit further north in the Alps? I would actually prefer that.

Stage 17: Mountains around Grenoble with a finish at the Bastille.
Stage 18: Big Mercantour stage including Bonette.
Stage 19: Hilly stage finishing around Nice or in the vicinity.
Stage 20 and 21 as already published

 

[Netserk]

Okay, so there could be stage a bit further north in the Alps? I would actually prefer that.

Stage 17: Mountains around Grenoble with a finish at the Bastille.
Stage 18: Big Mercantour stage including Bonette.
Stage 19: Hilly stage finishing around Nice or in the vicinity.
Stage 20 and 21 as already published

There could be, but that wouldn't fit with the rumours of the article in question.

Once again, this time not translated:

"Trois jours ou plus dans les Hautes-Alpes et l'Ubaye


Reste donc à imaginer le scénario: cela pourrait prendre cette forme par exemple


Mercredi 17 juillet : Une arrivée à Super-Dévoluy en provenance du pied du Mont ventoux?


Jeudi 18 juillet : Une étape Gap-Barcelonnette? Certains espèrent voir le Tour franchir pour la première fois le col de Moissières...


Vendredi 19 juillet : Une étape Embrun-Isola 2000 (ou Auron) via les cols de Vars et de Restefond/ la Bonette ?"

 

[Red Rick]

What are the rumors about the Pyrenees? 2 or 3 days?

 

[OlavEH]

There could be, but that wouldn't fit with the rumours of the article in question.

Yeah, but are that actual rumours or just mostly speculation?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I have a hard time seeing that the last 5 stages will be 4 mountain stages and a TT, so I kind of expect a flat stage 19 to keep the sprinters in the race. Mountains 16-18 if the want three mountain stages in the last week before the final weekend.

 

[OlavEH]

What are the rumors about the Pyrenees? 2 or 3 days?

The only thing I've seen so far is Plateau de Beille.

I would be suprised if there are more than 2 days in the Pyrenees that acutally matter for the GC.

 

[Ulle97]

I feel the GC stages will be light enough until we get to the last week. The Plateau de Beille in the Pyrenees will probably be biggest GC battle in the first fortnight

 

[Valv.Piti]

I have a hard time seeing that the last 5 stages will be 4 mountain stages and a TT, so I kind of expect a flat stage 19 to keep the sprinters in the race. Mountains 16-18 if the want three mountain stages in the last week before the final weekend.

Im so curious about this - why the catering to the sprinters? Why not make a stage 19 to keep the classics riders and barodeurs in the race? Its not like sprinters really add anything to the race, where as a stage 19 like this year was super interesting to follow the whole day.

We don't really need sprinters to make for a good race, especially not late. Much, much better with some hilly days like the day Mohoric won or Pedersen won in 2022.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Good point. I think a stage that is possible to end in a sprint but also hard enough for a strong break is a good idea for that stage. Basically a stage that a lot of riders can think “I can maybe win this”.
If it ends with 4 Mountain stages and a TT I think there be quite a lot of “unnecessary abandons” and I don’t think ASO wants that.

 

[OlavEH]

Im so curious about this - why the catering to the sprinters? Why not make a stage 19 to keep the classics riders and barodeurs in the race? Its not like sprinters really add anything to the race, where as a stage 19 like this year was super interesting to follow the whole day.

We don't really need sprinters to make for a good race, especially not late. Much, much better with some hilly days like the day Mohoric won or Pedersen won in 2022.

I agree. As an example there is a nice short and steep climb near Vence (it was used in stage 6 in PN this year, 2 km, 9,7 %). It would surely be possible to create a loop doing this climb a couple of times and then finish in Vence.

 

[tobydawq]

Good point. I think a stage that is possible to end in a sprint but also hard enough for a strong break is a good idea for that stage. Basically a stage that a lot of riders can think “I can maybe win this”.
If it ends with 4 Mountain stages and a TT I think there be quite a lot of “unnecessary abandons” and I don’t think ASO wants that.

I don't think so. Very few riders would abandon the Tour voluntarily.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Good point. I think a stage that is possible to end in a sprint but also hard enough for a strong break is a good idea for that stage. Basically a stage that a lot of riders can think “I can maybe win this”.
If it ends with 4 Mountain stages and a TT I think there be quite a lot of “unnecessary abandons” and I don’t think ASO wants that.

Yes, a completely flat day adds close to nothing to the race if not for wind. Late in the race, you don't really need that many obstacles either for 50% of the peloton actually thinking they are in with a shot - some of the harder sprinters, classics riders, loyal domestiques getting a random shot etc.

I don't think the problem with backloading like this is abandons. I couldn't care less for a few sprinters or others abandoning - again, this late in the race they don't really add anything anyways. I think the problem rather is conservative racing when you have this many GC-relevant days in a row. Something like 2 hard mountain stages, classic style break day on stage 19 and then the MTF and ITT to finish the race sounds good to me.