Tour de France 2025 route rumours and announcements

[Netserk]

I mainly want flat ITTs back not to help Remco get a bit of a buffer on Pogacar but because it does mix a few non-GC guys in contention for the stage . The last couple of years we have basically had exclusively Tour ITTs where the top 3 on the stage were also the top 3 in GC. Especially the Nice ITT was an abomination because it simply mirrored what we had seen for 3 weeks: A 20 min threshold climb, a 4 minute kicker and a 10 minute descent, very creative stuff.

Fully agreed. And they could have opted for a more scenic route too:

Monaco > Nice (ITT)

28.7 km, +519 m. Bike ride in Monaco, Monaco-Ville

ridewithgps.com

 

[Jan the Man]

Check the 2003 TT between Armstrong and Ullrich to Cap Decouverte.

First time check they were even.
Then the gap went to 40secs at the next time check.
And 1min 36sec at the finish.

There's a clear example. If a rider is feeling weak, a 20km TT will not be enough to highlight this.

I think the opportunities to create a route that will not suit Pogacar are minimal. People are looking to the long TTs as a potential area where one GC contender (Remco) has a genuine chance of putting a good gap into him.

I don't know if we'll ever see Vingo able to challenge him in the mountains again??

True but Cap Decouverte that was a tough TT itself - and as a route would suit Pogacar

it's been explained many times. Please read the posts in the threads

for starters, see the gaps between LA and JU in the first ITT in 2003 and pay attention to the splits. Those of us who have seen many long ITTs have an idea as to how the gaps expand and why you CANNOT extrapolate

The Cap Decouverte is not an amazing example. Yes it shows the gaps grow larger the longer a TT is but it was a tough sticky TT. The TT route itself would suit Pogacar over a Remco.

Sure if you had a pancake flat TT of 55km Remco ordinary would be expected to take at least 1 minute from Pogi but it also depends on the time during tour

A 55km in first week you expect Remco to take more time than if the exact same 55km route fromed stage 19 or 20 which is what happened historically (taking your example 2003).

Remco is a better time trialist than Pogi but that doesn't necessarily mean a route full of TT Kms would see him taking masses if any time overall from Pogi.

 

[Jan the Man]

Fully agreed. And they could have opted for a more scenic route too:

Monaco > Nice (ITT)

28.7 km, +519 m. Bike ride in Monaco, Monaco-Ville

ridewithgps.com

True but this year the first TT would probably have had Ganna and Tarling fighting close with Remco?

 

[velaso montador]

What do we know of stages which are basically confirmed so far?

Can any of you studs sum it up for me please would be very appreciated

 

[Ulle97]

Unfortunately very little so far.

Stage 1- Sprint.
Stage 2- Flat but the last 20km have 3 little climbs that will cause some splits.
Stage 3- Sprint.... but could see crosswind action.

After that, nothing is confirmed.
Rumours of a Mur de Bretagne finish seem to strong. Could be stage 4 or 5.

I'd imagine they'll do Pyrenees then Alps.
Speculation of a Superbagneres finish in the Pyrenees.

The Alps are a mystery.

 

[Netserk]

What do we know of stages which are basically confirmed so far?

Can any of you studs sum it up for me please would be very appreciated

Only the first 3 stages. Two bunch sprints and a hilly finale.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Unfortunately very little so far.

Stage 1- Sprint.
Stage 2- Flat but the last 20km have 3 little climbs that will cause some splits.
Stage 3- Sprint.... but could see crosswind action.

After that, nothing is confirmed.
Rumours of a Mur de Bretagne finish seem to strong. Could be stage 4 or 5.

I'd imagine they'll do Pyrenees then Alps.
Speculation of a Superbagneres finish in the Pyrenees.

The Alps are a mystery.

Stage 4 starts in Amiens according to the Tour map posted in this thread when the Grand Départ was revealed. That would mean a Stage 4 finishing on the Mur would be at least 530 kilometers long. There‘s no way they can reach Brittany before Stage 6 or 7 with this start.

 

[OlavEH]

Unfortunately very little so far.

Stage 1- Sprint.
Stage 2- Flat but the last 20km have 3 little climbs that will cause some splits.
Stage 3- Sprint.... but could see crosswind action.

After that, nothing is confirmed.
Rumours of a Mur de Bretagne finish seem to strong. Could be stage 4 or 5.

This would probably mean a dreadful start. Continue towards the Pyrenees along the western coast, and we'll probably have something like 5-6 sprinter stages in the first 9 days.

 

[velaso montador]

Unfortunately very little so far.

Stage 1- Sprint.
Stage 2- Flat but the last 20km have 3 little climbs that will cause some splits.
Stage 3- Sprint.... but could see crosswind action.

After that, nothing is confirmed.
Rumours of a Mur de Bretagne finish seem to strong. Could be stage 4 or 5.

I'd imagine they'll do Pyrenees then Alps.
Speculation of a Superbagneres finish in the Pyrenees.

The Alps are a mystery.

Thanks really appreciated. So not much yet from the spicy stuff but also very soon. So far the hype is there at least from what we know it seems so that's a good start

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Stage 4 starts in Amiens according to the Tour map posted in this thread when the Grand Départ was revealed. That would mean a Stage 4 finishing on the Mur would be at least 530 kilometers long. There‘s no way they can reach Brittany before Stage 6 or 7 with this start.

On the other hand, they could do a properly hard hilly stage in Suisse Normande on day 5 (which they should, given how easy week 1 will be, but probably won't). I also expect a gravel stage in Tro-Bro Léon country on the second weekend after how this year went.

 

[Ulle97]

Thanks really appreciated. So not much yet from the spicy stuff but also very soon. So far the hype is there at least from what we know it seems so that's a good start

Usually around mid September more 'leaks' come through.

 

[houtdffan]

That one wasnt totally flat though... which would probably suit guys like Vinge and Pog as well.

However, the second ITT was 49km in 2003. Totally flat. Look at the gaps there.

you mean in the rain when Lance say up after Ullrich crashed?

 

[Salvarani]

you mean in the rain when Lance say up after Ullrich crashed?

It was to show how the gaps wont necessarily extrapolate because it is long and flat. You could see the gaps are smaller between a lot of the riders.

 

[houtdffan]

It was to show how the gaps wont necessarily extrapolate because it is long and flat. You could see the gaps are smaller between a lot of the riders.

Nobody was riding threshold due to the rain. Too much risk of a crash that day

 

[Salvarani]

Nobody was riding threshold due to the rain. Too much risk of a crash that day

Ok, what about 2002 stage 9 then.

 

[houtdffan]

Lance had his bad day that year in stage 9. Nobody could really punish him for it since Ullrich had a drug suspension, Hamilton was on his second GT

Gaps would have been there had Ullrich rode. Just as Lance would have won the first ITT in 2003 had Ullrich not showed up to race at the last minute, despite the bad day.

People do not understand just how weak the competition was in some of Lance's years

 

[Salvarani]

Still doesnt mean the gap will just naturally extrapolate.

 

[gavia88]

On the other hand, they could do a properly hard hilly stage in Suisse Normande on day 5 (which they should, given how easy week 1 will be, but probably won't). I also expect a gravel stage in Tro-Bro Léon country on the second weekend after how this year went.

The fourth stage could go to Rouen or Le Havre From Amiens, especially the first can be spiced up by some decent hills in the final as well. But also a Le Havre stage should not mean a full bunch sprint. Stage 5 could than go to the Suisse Normande.

 

[Rob5091]

Since guys are now sprinting up mountains, I hope we see longer stages and no tt under 50km. There is supposed to be some element of endurance after all.

 

[Monte Serra]

Two stages in the Hautes Pyrénées for 2025. Wonder what the unprecedented stage format will be. Team time trial up the Tourmalet in the format tested in Paris-Nice? That will at least guarantee thermo-nuclear climbing times.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1817104034727121294

View: https://x.com/inrng/status/1817104034727121294

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Two stages in the Hautes Pyrénées for 2025. Wonder what the unprecedented stage format will be. Team time trial up the Tourmalet in the format tested in Paris-Nice? That will at least guarantee thermo-nuclear climbing times.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1817104034727121294

View: https://x.com/inrng/status/1817104034727121294

I have an unprecedented format for you! How about, let‘s say, we do a grid start.

 

[Netserk]

I'm betting on a Peyragudes uphill TTT with individual times. Same last 11 km as the 2022 stage.

Loudenvielle > Peyragudes (TTT), Tour de France 2025 rumour

10.9 km, +666 m. Bike ride in Loudenvielle, Occitanie

ridewithgps.com

You'd love to see it, @Red Rick!

🤤🤤🤤

 

[Devil's Elbow]

An uphill TTT of any kind in the Pyrenees next year would unequivocally be the worst idea in the history of the Tour. Not only are the strongest teams way too dominant in the mountains already, but it would also come halfway through the Tour at the earliest given the Grand Depart so some teams would be rather depleted going into it.

Oh, and it would likely come at the expense of a real mountain stage.

 

[Netserk]

An uphill TTT of any kind in the Pyrenees next year would unequivocally be the worst idea in the history of the Tour. Not only are the strongest teams way too dominant in the mountains already, but it would also come halfway through the Tour at the earliest given the Grand Depart so some teams would be rather depleted going into it.

Oh, and it would likely come at the expense of a real mountain stage.

I've been told by the mood police to quit moaning about routes and instead put on a smile and say "Yes! And..."

So can we please express some gratitude for the wonderful innovation of the Tour?

 

[tobydawq]

Obviously there will not be a mountain TTT in the middle of the race...