Would you like to see Anglirú in TDF one year?

[jsem94]

Poll broken?

No either way. There's plenty of great places in France already.

 

[Asturiano]

I don't know why the poll doesn't work.

About the topic, I was talking about "once in a lifetime", not something to do more than once.

 

[Red Rick]

Poll fixed. It seems everyone agrees with me so far

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Distance is the main issue. They could only do it if they took about three or four stages through Spain to head across the north from San Sebastián across Euskadi, Cantabria and Asturias to get there. The only way I see it being possible is if the Tour started near there and then had a big transfer back to France, which I see as unlikely because a) ASO wouldn't want to stick a climb like Angliru out in the first three stages and kill off a lot of intrigue from the word go, and b) Asturias isn't one of the richest parts of Spain and seems more than happy with bringing the Vuelta in instead.

Now the sentiment, if it regards wanting the Tour to incorporate some climbs that are steep enough to ensure time gaps and prevent the trains from being able to control, then sure, but Angliru is not really a realistic option for that. Also remember that the Tour has bigger space requirements than the Vuelta, so the in-the-middle-of-nowhere finish types like at Los Machucos or Ancáres are not as feasible for Le Tour. There are some climbs the Tour doesn't use that mightn't be Angliru-like, but are plenty steep and have ski stations that could be interested in hosting the race, such as Plateau des Saix and Super-Collet, which hosted the Dauphiné in 2011. If they are happy with their descents, there's the Iparraldean monsters like Ahusquy, Errozate, Arnostéguy, and you could always go from Soudet to Bostmendieta and either Bagargui (which could host a finish) or Larrau like in my fantasy Vuelta stage here.

And if it's about the Tour using some Spanish climbs, then fine, as long as they are reasonably located that it doesn't require logistical headaches to get there. That limits us to the French-bordering regions of País Vasco, Navarra, Aragón and Catalunya. However, that does mean that for the most part, those brutally inconsistent climbs are off-limits save for the Basque ones. Perhaps San Miguel de Áralar, like in the 2014 Vuelta, would be feasible, but otherwise you'll be limited to the likes of Port-Ainé, Cerler, VallTer2000, and so on.

 

[kingjr]

They don't need to but it's fine by me if they would.

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re:

Really don't know this: Alpe D'huez has ever been featured in Giro in the last 30 years? Or Stelvio in the TDF?
Maybe some are part of the identity of a given GT, hence they have never been featured (or, at least, only a very few times) in other GTs.

Agreed

 

[railxmig]

Re:

The organisers of the Tour also run the Vuelta and would be killing the unique identity of the Spanish race if they nicked THE legendary climb of that three-week GT.
While we are talking about parcours I'd love to see, as maybe a one-off, the Tour adopt three weeks of classics-style rolling stages with no TT's or big mountains to really open up the field.
The racing would be very aggressive and exciting and the Tour is big enough not to be damaged by going outside the current format of endless days of pan-flat cycling with a weekend of climbs.

I'm worried the aggressive racing from the classics is because they only last one day. In a GT i'm worried many stage would be soft-pedaled. Also, it would not open the field, as there are classics specialists and they should be the favourites.

@LS, i think this thread is about a relal life TdF, so your Basque shenanigans on random goat tracks wont work. But the likes of Port-Ainé, Cerler, Vallter 2000 are interesting options even, if i never liked Cerler to begin with. If you want descent stages, a couple of years ago i would recommend the climbs north of Grenoble, but since Grenoble is nowadays a one big road island it would need some prep. I don't know if Le Planolet (Station de Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse) is good enough for TdF, but maybe Dauphine could finish there. You can use Vence-Porte combo for it, as i think Coq is too narrow for Tour.

Back to the topic. I don't want to see it in Tour and i think it's mainly because it would just feel forced.

 

[Leinster]

Re: Re:

The organisers of the Tour also run the Vuelta and would be killing the unique identity of the Spanish race if they nicked THE legendary climb of that three-week GT.
While we are talking about parcours I'd love to see, as maybe a one-off, the Tour adopt three weeks of classics-style rolling stages with no TT's or big mountains to really open up the field.
The racing would be very aggressive and exciting and the Tour is big enough not to be damaged by going outside the current format of endless days of pan-flat cycling with a weekend of climbs.

I'm worried the aggressive racing from the classics is because they only last one day. In a GT i'm worried many stage would be soft-pedaled. Also, it would not open the field, as there are classics specialists and they should be the favourites.

Back to the topic. I don't want to see it in Tour and i think it's mainly because it would just feel forced.

I think our best indicator for this is the 2015 Tour. The first week was multiple classic-style stages, cobbles and muurs and narrow roads and crosswinds, and the first soft-pedal day was when the race got to the Pyrenees. In the end, nobody had the strength to attack Froome in the mountains because they were so worn out from the first week on the rivet.

 

[VO2 Max]

Re:

The real question would be if people want to see the Finestre in the Tour de France.

Yes, here there would be some logic. Sestriere is an established TdF finish town and there are sensibly epic routes available - from Moutiers in a bit less than 200km you can Col de l'Iseran, Mont Cenis and Finestre along the way. It's all close to the border and it feels like a Tour stage. Go longer and more epic by adding in the Roselend.

Angliru could make a fun gimmick for the route design thread. Clockwise route with most of the third week working westward through the Pyrenees toward Bilbao, then a last proper stage from Santander or Torrelavega up to Angliru before flight from Gijon up to Paris for the ceremonials. But, nah.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

France has plenty of brutal climbs west of La Pierre Saint Martin they never use. If they persist in this neglect I'm in favour of using them in La Vuelta instead. They did it last year and everyone seemed to like it.

There is no towns who candidate to have a stage from the TDF in that area.

Sadly, I don't think they'll be more interested having the Vuelta instead...

To the question about Angliru: no. There are many climbs in France that are plenty tough enough and not being used. Or could be paved or re-paved.

To your point, it's a shame that St. Jean-Pied-de-Port isn't featured in Le Tour. A place of historical significance, with many climbs nearby that LS alluded to.

 

[telencefalus]

i want zoncolan in vuelta espana, makes sense right?

 

[Asturiano]

By the way, I saw this video about Angliru. Really beautiful to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKc4RFNt2jE

 

[Durden93]

The angliru is for the Vuelta. Maybe in the future they could organize a one time one week race featuring the motriolo, zoncolan, ventoux, angliru, alpe etc. and call it the 7 days of hell

 

[Tonton]

Re:

The angliru is for the Vuelta. Maybe in the future they could organize a one time one week race featuring the motriolo, zoncolan, ventoux, angliru, alpe etc. and call it the 7 days of hell

Some four-week challenge with time aggregate for overall, that would be cool. Four Sundays in late October, after the GDL. 100 km, hopefully a two climb affair. I hate the _____/.

Four Sundays (made for TV), make it Angliru-Mortirolo-GC Virieu-some rtchtstbfrchpassfcher that Gigs98 and Mayomaniac would be glad to organize. Make the overall the World Climbing Championship, rainbow to wear on Queen stages...

Sweet dream...just a dream...