2009 Tour de France route - Page 2

We are just 2 hour before the presentation of the next Tour de France.

It will be possible to see in live the presentation at 11:30 french time (UTC + 2)
http://www.letour.fr

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6 +2 (according Ashenden) samples with EPO should have banned Lance Armstrong to start next TDF !

http://www.letour.fr/us/homepage_horscourseTDF.html


It's on.

Sadly IE 7 is needed.

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6 +2 (according Ashenden) samples with EPO should have banned Lance Armstrong to start next TDF !

I hope the Barcelona stage finishes in Monjuich and the Sete stage finishes up that steep climb in the town (used to be used in the Tour of the Med occassionally?)

Barcelona stages will finish at Montjuich hill!

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6 +2 (according Ashenden) samples with EPO should have banned Lance Armstrong to start next TDF !

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009...t08/oct22news3

Cyclingnews has it. The Sete rumours were wrong and the stage in that neck of the woods actually is to La Grande Motte. Probably a sprint on the seafront.

Excellent. It will look spectacular. Claude Criquelion may come out of retirement.

Strange looking route. Good for a change though. Got to mix the formula up IMO. Some of those stage towns invoke memories of the 50's or 60's I reckon.

July 4, stage 1: Monaco ITT, 15km
July 5, stage 2: Monaco - Brignolles
July 6, stage 3: Marseille - La Grande Motte
July 7, stage 4: Montpellier - Montpellier, TTT 38km
July 8, stage 5: Cap d’Agde - Perpignan
July 9, stage 6: Gerona - Barcelona, 167km (Spain)
July 10, stage 7: Barcelona - Andorra-Arcalis, 224km (uphill finish)
July 11, stage 8: Andorra-la-Vella - St-Girons
July 12, stage 9: St-Gaudens - Tarbes (via the Tourmalet)
July 13, rest day and transfer to Limoges
July 14, stage 10: Limoges - Issoudun, 192km
July 15, stage 11: Vatan - St-Fargeaud, 200km
July 16, stage 12: Tonnerre - Vittel, 200km
July 17, stage 13: Vittel - Colmar (via col de la Schlucht)
July 18, stage 14: Colmar - Besançon
July 19, stage 15: Pontarlier - Verbier (Switzerland)
July 20, rest day
July 21, stage 16: Martigny - Bourg-St-Maurice (via col du Grand-St-Bernard and Petit-St-Bernard)
July 22, stage 17: Bourg-St-Maurice - Le Grand Bornand (via 5 climbs, starting with Cormet de Roselend, finishing with col de la Colombière)
July 23, stage 18: Annecy, ITT 40km
July 24, stage 19: Bourgoin - Jallieu-Aubenas
July 25, stage 20: Montélimar - Le Mont Ventoux
July 26, stage 21: Montereau - Paris/Champs-Elysées

Armstrong win on Ventoux? Then he can jet off to another planet before the test comes back non-negative: Texas.

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The real route

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6 +2 (according Ashenden) samples with EPO should have banned Lance Armstrong to start next TDF !

It reads like an exciting, varied route. I like ASO having Ventoux on the penultimate day, and therefore having the last time trial before the last summit finish. It means a rider that's good against the clock and a lesser climber can gain an advantage and then try and limit the damage up to Ventoux. Will be up to the climbers to attack, without them having to reserve any energy for the final time trial. That's in theory, and assuming the previous 3 summit finish stages haven't blown away all the time trialists.

Let's just hope it can be raced minus the distraction of the Armstrong bandwagon.

Good scoop. Spot on.

This is pretty much the best possible route for Astana and Contador - and for CSC too. With Contador, Leipheimer, Klöden and possibly Armstrong Astana has a very good TTT squad + a TTT is far better for Contador than an ITT.

Do we see the return of time bonuses?

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It never gets easier, you just go faster
Oton ATK Sandisk Mp3-soittimet ja Koss kuulokkeet

i'm a bit impressed with the nine days of racing to the first rest day. wondering what sort of pace the peloton will set with that ordeal in front of them.

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"Kick over the statues and the tyrants die. Wave bye bye to their heroes with a hammer."
--The Redskins, Kick Over the Statues

The official website says something like "only absolute time", and although that is about the TTT, I would think it implies no time bonuses.

The route won't favour the chances of Evans, Rogers, Kirchen and Vandevelde.

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Danger is my life.
-- Flyer's.Finale!

Well, I'm not overwhelmed by the route, but I can't say it's boring nor bad.
It's interesting that uphill finish stages are arranged through entire race equally, which should keep the GC tension. Also, these stages feature only by one serious climb which is that last one. Time trials precede uphill finishes and aren't too long, which should put the pressure on TTists.
So, although it looks like it's tailor made for Contador and he will have slight advantage, I wouldn't completely discount Evans on this kind of route (weak team could again prove decisive, especially in that TTT). Andy Schleck could do well too and there's Valverde, but somehow he always disappoints, even when the route suits him.
And, having said that, I realized how stupid it sounds... Like I've forgotten there's going to be an alien in the race with his super team and master mind DS.

Edit:
Only one out of three mountain top finishes is in France... But it's last one and it's Ventoux.

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"Soldiers! Heroes!

The supreme command has erased our regiment from its records. Our regiment has been sacrificed for the honor of Belgrade and the Fatherland. Therefore, you no longer have to worry for your lives - they do not exist anymore.
So, forward to glory! For King and country! Long live the king! Long live Belgrade! "

and j.b.'s on form with his comedy act. his comments actually made me snort a laugh or two.

"If [armstrong] doesn't feel an atmosphere of respect and serenity, he won't do it," Bruyneel said. "For him, the goal of a comeback is not linked to an obsession to win an eighth Tour[emphasis added]."


the cbc article link

__________________
"Kick over the statues and the tyrants die. Wave bye bye to their heroes with a hammer."
--The Redskins, Kick Over the Statues