2012 Tour route leaked

[swampy1970]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2012-tour-de-france-route-revealed

2012 Tour de France stages:
P Prologue Sat 30 June Liège > Liège 6.1 km
1 Road stage Sun 1 July Liège > Seraing 198 km
2 Road stage Mon 2 July Visé > Tournai 207 km
3 Road stage Tues 3 July Orchies > Boulogne-sur-Mer 197 km
4 Road stage Weds 4 July Abbeville > Rouen 214 km
5 Road stage Thurs 5 July Rouen > Saint-Quentin 197 km
6 Road stage Fri 6 July Épernay > Metz 210 km
7 Road stage Sat 7 July Tomblaine > La Planche des Belles Filles 199 km
8 Road stage Sun 8 July Belfort > Porrentruy 154 km
9 Time trial Mon 9 July Arc-et-Senans > Besançon 38 km
10 Road stage Weds 11 July Mâcon > Bellegarde-sur-Valserine 194 km
11 Mountains Thurs 12 July Albertville > La Toussuire - Les Sybelles 140 km
12 Mountains Fri 13 July Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > Annonay 220 km
13 Road stage Sat 14 July Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Le Cap d’Agde 215 km
14 Road stage Sun 15 July Limoux > Foix 192 km
15 Road stage Mon 16 July Samatan > Pau 160 km
16 Mountains Weds 18 July Pau > Bagnères-de-Luchon 197 km
17 Mountains Thurs 19 July Bagnères-de-Luchon > Peyragudes 144 km
18 Road stage Fri 20 July Blagnac > Brive-la-Gaillarde 215 km
19 Time trial Sat 21 July Bonneval > Chartres 52 km
20 Road stage Sun 22 July Rambouillet > Paris Champs-Élysées 130 km

Two time trials and one of a decent length (52km) and only 4 days in the mountains. Andy Schleck... will be quietly sobbing into his morning coffee...

 

[Andrija]

Although there are lots off people who are disappointed, I wouldn't mind watching the race on this route. It's not the route what makes exciting race.

But I think it's hoax designed to turn attention on coming presentation, and to resolve some dilemmas if there are any.




As you can see there are no "repos" and "accidentee" stages marked on the left side of the first picture.
And why would ASO put the route on their site 8 days before the presentation? Isn't it too early and risky even for the more accurate web administration?

Edit:
Also, there was no map, and besides prologue (which is already defined) length of every stage is "rounded".
Though, the more I think about this kind of route - the more I like it. Would be interesting to see racing tactics and, probably, some new podium contenders.

 

[slovakguy]

Originally Posted by swampy1970 .

Two time trials and one of a decent length (52km) and only 4 days in the mountains. Andy Schleck... will be quietly sobbing into his morning coffee...

the boy is too young to be drinking grown-up drinks. perhaps sobbing in his lucky charms?

as for it being a hoax.... nah, don't think so. betting just an accidental posting by the web manager. or ex-web manager.

 

[tonyzackery]

I think it was a contrived ploy too.
Schlecks are indeed out. AC, pending positive (pun intended) jurisprudence, will be back in podium mix provided his team is up to the task and he doesn't try to double-up again next year. Evans a repeat winner? Highly possible. It will be a good duel between him and AC during the TTs.

 

[Andrija]

Whether it's hoax or genuine mistake - this won't be the route we'll see next Tuesday.
Since, allegedly, the route was published on the official site, it should be treated like a strong hint of what's to be expected next week.
The (route) composition and majority of towns should stay the same.

A more serious mountain top finish in the Pyrenees is change I'm expecting.
Ballon d'Alsace or Grand Ballon (or both) could be added, and one of the time trials could be moved (but not removed).

It will be the route Britons will like. Handful of stages for Cavendish and a serious chance for Wiggins. Maybe a way to attract them to come at the Tour in top shape instead of saving themselves for the Olympics... Or to give Brailsford headache.
Bruyneel will, certainly, accept this route like a personal message from ASO.

 

[bing181]

Originally Posted by Andrija .


Ballon d'Alsace or Grand Ballon (or both) could be added, and one of the time trials could be moved (but not removed).

Well, this is my neck of the woods, know all these climbs well (unfortunately!)

Re the Ballon, hard to see for mine, as we'd end up with a fairly serious "mountain" stage, as opposed to a "hilly" one. More likely I would have thought to come down through Bresse somewhere, there are some decent hills there, then through Le Thillot and over the Col des Croix (3rd or 4th cat climb), through Servance and eventually Plancher Bas > La Planche.

All conjecture of course (!), but whatever happens, looking forward to some of the local road surfaces being improved! La Planche in particular is a real goat track - also, only one way up and down. Should make for some interesting riding, as it's a bugger of a climb to finish a stage.

 

[tonyzackery]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-stages-also-leaked

Another "inadvertent" accident. Yeah, okay, whatever you say...
Timing is just so coincidental. LOL!

 

[swampy1970]

LOL.

Interesting route though... unlike the Tour.

The Stelvio at the end. I read they were thinking about that a while back and I have a hunch that it won't be like the damp squib that was the next to last stage on the Ventoux a couple of years ago. Not that the Ventoux is easy but the Stelvio is just nuts...

... the last bit. Alpe d'who-ez?

 

[guncha]

No finishes at H.C. mountains. Planche des Belles Filles is 2nd cat climb. It should not make a big difference. Other two MTF stages are OK. But apart from stage to Luchon there are no other high mountain GC stages. Just too lame route and big disappointment.

 

[steve]

Originally Posted by guncha .

No finishes at H.C. mountains. Planche des Belles Filles is 2nd cat climb. It should not make a big difference. Other two MTF stages are OK. But apart from stage to Luchon there are no other high mountain GC stages. Just too lame route and big disappointment.

Cadel should be able to back up and take his second win /img/vbsmilies/smilies/biggrin.gif

 

[Andrija]

What do you know...
Leaked route was the route.
I'm surprised.

But web administration isn't equally accurate regarding stage profiles as they were with leaked route.
There are no profiles beyond the Alps. It seems they're not sure how to line the climbs on the way to Bagneres-de-Luchon and Peyragudes.

With this route ASO could organize Le Tour du Tour instead of L' Etape du Tour.
Obviously, Prudhomme liked Andy's attack 60 kilometers from the finish and decided to give him plenty of similar opportunities next year. Finishing climbs just aren't the climbs where climbers can gain sufficient time. Maybe time bonuses will be back.

No one should doubt in sincere intentions of Prudhomme to make exciting race, but with this kind of route it could end worse than 2009 Tour.

 

[swampy1970]

2012 Tour de France route officially presented

By: Hedwig KrönerPublished: October 18, 11:00, Updated: October 18, 14:11Race:Tour de FranceDo you like this?

UPDATED: Previously leaked parcours confirmed

The route of the 2012 Tour de France has been officially presented in Paris today. The parcours, which had been mistakenly published by race organiser ASO one week ago, has been confirmed and detailed. The 99th Tour de France has been elaborated to include two long time trials and 'only' three summit finishes, so next year's winner will have to be an even more complete rider than in previous years.

The first week of racing, starting in Belgium, will have plenty of opportunity for the fast men to shine after the traditional prologue in Liège. But stage three to Boulogne-sur-Mer will also carry some challenging hills for opportunistic attackers to the liking of race director Christian Prudhomme. A first test day for the climbers and GC contenders will come on stage seven, when the Tour hits the medium mountain range of the Vosges in Eastern France and its ski station La Planche des Belles Filles at 1,148m of altitude.
This first summit finish comes after a 5.5km climb at an average gradient of 9.5 percent, with some parts exceeding 15 percent - a short but steep climb that should reveal the state of the favourites' legs.
After a tricky stage eight to Porrentruy, again perfect for breakaways, the next decisive day will be stage nine's 38km time trial from Arc-et-Senans to Besançon, setting up the potential candidates for the overall victory on a hilly parcours.
Stage 10 in the medium mountain range of Jura will feature the difficult Col du Grand Colombier, located 40 kilometres from the finish. Then, the second of the three summit finishes will take the riders to La Toussuire - Les Sybelles on July 12 via the mythical Cols de la Madeleine et de la Croix de Fer.

Coming down the Alps, the bunch will cross Southern France via another certain bunch sprint finish in the Mediterranean seaside resort Cap d'Agde on Bastille Day before entering the Pyrenees. There, the Cols of Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde on stage 18 could shake up the classification even one day before the third and final mountain top finish in the ski station of Peyragudes on stage 19.

Moving up north again, the Grande Boucle will stage a second time trial, this time covering 52km, in Chartres on the penultimate day.

This parcours should see even more fireworks from the climbers on the mountaintop finishes to gather a maximum advantage over the better time triallists on GC. A total of 25 climbs will count for Cat 2, Cat 1 or HC points for the mountains classification. Again, Prudhomme has elaborated a route which he hopes will "expand the riders' possibilities and give more importance to the medium mountain ranges."

There will be nine flat stages, four medium mountain stages (including one summit finish), five mountain stages including two summit finishes (one on stage 11 in the Alpine La Toussuire, and one on stage 17 in Peyragudes in the Pyrenees), two individual time trials and one prologue.

2012 Tour de France stages:

P Prologue Sat 30 June Liège > Liège 6.1 km
1 Road stage Sun 1 July Liège > Seraing 198 km
2 Road stage Mon 2 July Visé > Tournai 207 km
3 Road stage Tues 3 July Orchies > Boulogne-sur-Mer 197 km
4 Road stage Weds 4 July Abbeville > Rouen 214 km
5 Road stage Thurs 5 July Rouen > Saint-Quentin 197 km
6 Road stage Fri 6 July Épernay > Metz 210 km
7 Road stage Sat 7 July Tomblaine > La Planche des Belles Filles 199 km
8 Road stage Sun 8 July Belfort > Porrentruy 154 km
9 Time trial Mon 9 July Arc-et-Senans > Besançon 38 km
10 Road stage Weds 11 July Mâcon > Bellegarde-sur-Valserine 194 km
11 Mountains Thurs 12 July Albertville > La Toussuire - Les Sybelles 140 km
12 Mountains Fri 13 July Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > Annonay 220 km
13 Road stage Sat 14 July Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Le Cap d’Agde 215 km
14 Road stage Sun 15 July Limoux > Foix 192 km
15 Road stage Mon 16 July Samatan > Pau 160 km
16 Mountains Weds 18 July Pau > Bagnères-de-Luchon 197 km
17 Mountains Thurs 19 July Bagnères-de-Luchon > Peyragudes 144 km
18 Road stage Fri 20 July Blagnac > Brive-la-Gaillarde 215 km
19 Time trial Sat 21 July Bonneval > Chartres 52 km
20 Road stage Sun 22 July Rambouillet > Paris Champs-Élysées 130 km

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2012-tour-de-france-route-officially-presented

 

[limerickman]

It's an interesting route!

 

[slovakguy]

interesting to note how the top squads are already scheming for this route. have to give a bit of credit to contador tipping evans to defend the title over this course and taking seriously the aggregate strength of radio-leper-trek-nissan in asking bjarne to reinforce the squad. also interesting to note that he has already won his pass to continue competing from the cas in his own mind.

 

[guncha]

Originally Posted by Andrija .
There are no profiles beyond the Alps. It seems they're not sure how to line the climbs on the way to Bagneres-de-Luchon and Peyragudes.

Profiles of mountain stages can be found here:
http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/2011/le-tour-2012-en-profils/
Here you can detailed information about each climb:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/10/news/2012-tour-de-france-route_195755/2

It seems TDF will have just 2.5 stages in high mountains for GC: Both MTFs Toussuire and Peyragudes; while Luchon might not be very decisive because Peyresourde is just 9.5 km at 6.8% followed by 16km decent.
Bellegarde and Foix are waste (recent history shows that nothing happens when H.C. or 1st cat. climbs are located 40km before finish).
Apart from that there is medium mountain finish at La Planche des Belles Filles and stage wih 2nd cat climb 15km before finish.
IMHO, if a real GC contender will lose 3 or 4 minutes in ITT he won't able to gain such a big amount of time in mountains.

 

[limerickman]

Originally Posted by guncha .

Profiles of mountain stages can be found here:
http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/2011/le-tour-2012-en-profils/
Here you can detailed information about each climb:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/10/news/2012-tour-de-france-route_195755/2

It seems TDF will have just 2.5 stages in high mountains for GC: Both MTFs Toussuire and Peyragudes; while Luchon might not be very decisive because Peyresourde is just 9.5 km at 6.8% followed by 16km decent.
Bellegarde and Foix are waste (recent history shows that nothing happens when H.C. or 1st cat. climbs are located 40km before finish).
Apart from that there is medium mountain finish at La Planche des Belles Filles and stage wih 2nd cat climb 15km before finish.
IMHO, if a real GC contender will lose 3 or 4 minutes in ITT he won't able to gain such a big amount of time in mountains.

I think you're correct Guncha. The profile of this TDF doesn't suggest huge time gaps for the mountains.