29 big climbs
It's weird, half way October, to talk about the Tour de France. But it has become a tradition, ASO, the organising firm behind the Tour de France makes a huge event of the reveiling of the parcours of the coming summer. So, as a big fan, I was curious too, even though most of what was told today was already leaked in the press. But now it is official, the Tour will be very hard next year. 29 "cols" or mountains need to be climbed. The Alps will be on the track twice, and the day before the finish in Paris, there is Time Trial uphill to the top of La Planche de Belles Filles in Les Vosges.
Source: ASO
Some really exciting stages are on the track. Even the first three stages, that all start in Nice are pretty hard, and not for the sprinters. With the Col d'Eze and some pretty nasty hills in the back land of Nice.
The fourth stage has the first finish uphill, which is very soon in the Tour. That can put immense pressure on the favorites, very soon.
But not only the Alps and The Pyrrenees are making it tough, the Massif-Central, and Les Vosges are two medium high mountain ranges that are both on the track too. Which is kind of unseen. It is like the Tour will never leave the mountains.
Like this stage in Region Auvergne, Massif Central, has quite the profile, and will be a very tough one, especially with the finish uphill!
Source: ASO
And then the Time Trial the day before the finish is brutal. Minutes can be lost in this one. The leader that day will have to have some excess gas in the tank to take this one home. La Planche de Belles Filles is a very hard climb, with an insanely steep last 400 meters.
Source: ASO
Looking forward to this one!
Sincerely,
Pele23