Tour de Wallonie 2022

[Devil's Elbow]

Some non-Tour racing, it's been a while. Almost all the WT teams are here, it's the strongest field I can remember seeing in this race. And the route doesn't look too shabby either.

Startlist

Stage 1: Temploux - Huy, 174.4k
Starting with a bang with a finish atop the Mur de Huy. Note that they only do the final 900 metres for the second ascent to the finish line.

Côte de Sart-Saint-Laurent (first uncategorised climb):

Côte d'Évrehailles:

Côte de Sorinnes (uncategorised climb before Achêne):

Tienne de Vincon:

Côte de Groynne:

Couthuin:

Mur de Huy (in full the first time, final 900 metres only for the final ascent):

Amay:

Stage 2: Verviers - Herve, 176.8k
The sawtooth Ardennes stage, but with the hardest climbs some way out. Carnage from afar or reduced bunch contesting the finale?

Côte de Trasenster:

Côte de Hauregard:

Côte du Maquisart (opposite side from the one used in LBL):

Côte de Winamplanche (steep section is the Côte de Desnié that has replaced Maquisard in LBL):

Côte de Lorcé:

Côte de La Redoute (first 1.6k only):

Côte de Cornesse:

Soiron (intermediate sprint atop the steepest part):

Fays de José (climbed twice, summit at 1.9k from the line):

The final 500 metres to the line average about 3.5%.

Berwausau (first hill after the finish line):

(continued in part 2)

 

[Devil's Elbow]

(part 2)

Asse (next hill):

Charneux:

Then back to Fays de José.

Stage 3: Visé - Rochefort, 195.6k
Easier stage, but still over 3000 metres of elevation to deal with. Could be a (reduced) bunch sprint, could be won by a late attack or even the breakaway.

Côte de Feneur (main climb on that uphill part out of the start):

Côte de Chambralles:

Route de Marche (next climb):

Côte d'Izier (main body of the Côte de Malboutée):

Côte de Heyd (next climb, first kilometre only):

Côte de Soy (main climb from there to the intermediate sprint, first 2.2k only):

Jemelle (first 1.5k only):

Côte d'Ambly:

Côte du Fays:

Côte de Ciergnon (penultimate hill)

Rue de Dinant (final hill)

Stage 4: Durbuy - Couvin, 200.9k
Another day that still has over 3000 meters of elevation difference. With the final hill, it looks too much for the sprinters and possibly hard enough for some time gaps for the GC.

Côte d'Amonines:

Nassogne (final hill before the next categorised climb):

Fourneau Saint-Michel:

Côte de Daverdisse:

Pied de la Montagne (steep part of Côte de l'Ermitage):

Presgaux:

Côte du Barrage du Ry de Rome:

(final stage in part 3)

 

[Samamba]

Yeah just doesn't deserve a thread as there won't even be live images of the first 3 stages.

 

[RedheadDane]

Yeah just doesn't deserve a thread as there won't even be live images of the first 3 stages.

Let me guess; some *** about how "MNEE it's the same time as the Tour, and people won't watch it..."

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Van Wilder out with stomach flu... at one point it has to become comical.

 

[SafeBet]

I was curious to see Covi in this race again but he has just recovered from COVID so he will skip it (and San Sebastian).

 

[Samamba]

Van Wilder out with stomach flu... at one point it has to become comical.

See he should've gone to Lotto. Maybe a cursed rider in a cursed team would've worked somehow.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

(part 3)

Stage 5: Le Roeulx - Chapelle-lez-Herlaimont, 214.8k
Cobbles! Eight sectors in total, not sure it will be enough to shatter the peloton on this final stage like the organisers are clearly hoping, but still really cool to see a Walloon cobbles race that isn't Le Samyn.

List of cobbled sectors:

Name	Length	Notes
1. Pavé de Saint-Pierre	2300m	Used in Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux 2022
2. Chemin de Crucifix	2600m
3. Rue de l'Abbaye	3500m	Used in Tour de Wallonie 2018
4. Trou à la Vigne	2480m	Partially used in Tour de Wallonie 2021
5. Mellet à Thiméon	1900m	Used in Tour de France 2019. Intermediate sprint
6. Pont-à-Celles à Gouy-lez-Piéton	1800m	Used in Tour de France 2015. Intermediate sprint
7. Viesville	400m	Urban cobbles
8. Pont-à-Celles à Gouy-lez-Piéton	1800m	Repeat of sector 6

Côte du Point du Jour:

Côte de Bousval (main hill between sectors 2 and 3):

Rue de l'Abbaye (part of sector 3):

Rue de Luttre (climbed twice, just after sectors 5 and 7 respectively):

Grands Sarts (immediately before sector 7):

 

[Devil's Elbow]

And yes, it really is a shame that the first three stages aren't televised, especially with this being a 2.Pro they could and should do better.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

Let me guess; some *** about how "MNEE it's the same time as the Tour, and people won't watch it..."

Yeah, I don't get. I'm not watching the ITT or the Champs Elysees stages anyway. Those are the 2 dullest stages in the TdF. And why not broadcast on Monday?

 

[RedheadDane]

Yeah, I don't get. I'm not watching the ITT or the Champs Elysees stages anyway. Those are the 2 dullest stages in the TdF. And why not broadcast on Monday?

I was more thinking... what's to keep people from watching multiple races at the same time?

But some interesting names on the startlist, the main one of course being Alaphilippe.

 

[Potomac]

Won't we be too exhausted after Le Tour?

 

[RedheadDane]

Won't we be too exhausted after Le Tour?

NEVER!

 

[Potomac]

But my fingers....all this typing....I will need to resort to Keytones.


I'll get my coat.

 

[Samamba]

Luckily no Jumbo's here.

 

[Scarponi]

Why wouldn’t they start this day after Champs if they so worried about no one watching ?

 

[postmanhat]

Yeah just doesn't deserve a thread as there won't even be live images of the first 3 stages.

Was really looking forward to this. You'd think there'd be a fair overlap between people who'd watch Wallonie, and those who'd skip the two dullest stages of the Tour.

Edit - No Kragh Andersen again for DSM on a course that looks pretty good for him?

 

[RedheadDane]

Why wouldn’t they start this day after Champs if they so worried about no one watching ?

To be fair, I don't know if that is their reason. I don't know if they have a reason, other than being idiots.

 

[Didinho]

Didn't know there's not gonna be a broadcast, heartbreak.
In august I'm a week on cycling holiday nearby Durbuy. Was hoping to see some of the hills because I'm planning to take a gpx of some stages and do them.

Curious what Thibau Nys can do here, especially on the Mur

 

[RedheadDane]

Someone will be sporting a new helmet:

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Someone will be sporting a new helmet:

What kind of weird boxing is that?

 

[RedheadDane]

What kind of weird boxing is that?

Cork boxing!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Cork boxing!

Ah, ok. I'm not really familiar with the local Irish boxing scene.

 

[RedheadDane]

Ah, ok. I'm not really familiar with the local Irish boxing scene.

It's boxing against the cork of a Champagne - or rather Asti, or something like that - bottle.
A rider rather (in)famously tried that earlier this year.

 

[BR2]

Someone will be sporting a new helmet:

Is it Girmay's helmet?