First Week
The race starts off in Nice with a hilly stage, with a loop between Aspremont and the sea, it's a stage for the sprinters but at the same time it isn't at all a bad day for a breakaway. That long flat section to the line harms their chances, but for sure lots of riders will give it their all for a shot at yellow in the hills.
Stage 2 takes the riders for another loop but this time much bigger. After leaving the city the riders will head inland and will tackle the massive Col de la Comiane quickly followed by the Col de Turini, two of the hardest climbs in the Alpes Maritimes. That is a hard sequence, it also makes for a good breakaway opportunity as I doubt the climbers will make a bid for smashing the peloton.
After coming back down to Nice there will be two ascents of the Col d'Èze the first one being via it's hardest side and the second only until the Col des Quatre Chemins, before a fast descent back into the Promenade des Anglais.
Stage 3 is a goodbye to Nice. It's another mixed stage where the sprinters are bound to get their opportunity, however they will have to sweat quite a lot to be in with a shot of the stage. The stage finishes in Sisteron near the Alps and the riders have 7 categorized climbs on the way. None of them are excessively hard, however there are almost 3000 meters of climbing and most are concentrated in those first 120 Kilometers. Breakaway specialists will be smelling an opportunity, the sprinter teams will try to control everything without going too hard too early.
The next day symbolizes the entrance in the Alps. A weird race structure, I know, but that's what we're getting. It may not be the first, but for sure it will be an interesting stage finishing with the first summit finish of the race. The finish in the Orcieres Merlette ski town isn't a hard climb, it's around 10Km at 6%, not an easy climb but very constant and won't create gaps between the favourites, however bonifications will for sure be in stake so there will be moves in the end.
Stage 5 is another opportunity for the sprinters however again the'll have their work cut out for, the stage isn't hard but there's some slight gradients in the end that will go all the way until the Flamme Rouge.
Stage 6 takes the riders to the Massif Central. And it's a rough entrance, most of the stage is flat but then it becomes quite hard. It doesn't look much on the profile but there's some rough gradients! The Col des Mourèzes will warm it up for the Col des Lusettes which is around 12Km at 7%, it is quite hard in it's bulk and can be the place for some attacks.
After that there's a very short descent so then they go up to mont Aigoual for the finish, on a longish but shallow climb.
Stage 7, you guessed it, another tricky sprint stage. The organizers really pulled out all the stops to increase breakaways' chances of succeeding in this opening week, I gotta say I don't mind that! This is another stage with a rolling start that can see a big group fade away, but the second half of the stage is favourable for the sprinter teams to push through the straight roads of Southern France.
Stage 8 is the entrance in the Pyrinees. Glorious, however sadly they did it again they put a hard mountain stage with no summit before a brutal mountain stage. What does that mean? Breakaway doubt, 100%. However there's road to make damage in the overal, with the Menté/Bales/Peyresourde combination to set the stage on fire. Those climbs antecede the finish in Loudenvielle.
Stage 9 is the queen Pyrineen stage, and it's positioned before the rest day so this one yes it's in the ideal place for big damage to be made. Or at least, there will be for sure intention to do so. The Col de la Hourcère is really hard and a proper climb to start off the day, and then there will be some decent climbing before the final one before the descending and flat run-in to Lauruns.
That is the Col de Marie-Blanque which is 7.3Km at 8.7%, the final 3Km are at around 12% it's a brutal ascent and there will be attacks in there. At this point we know which riders will be riding for the Tour win, but after this stage everything will be even more clear.
Second Week
Week 2 starts with a pancake... Sorry a flat stage, there's around 500 meters of climbing in the whole stage which I'm sure anyone reading this can do in an hour close to home, interestingly though (and my honest applause) this "boring" stage can very well be completely a crosswind spotlight. It can happen, most of the stage is close to the Atlantic.
And stage 12 goes back inland into Poitiers. It's another stage for the sprinters, it should be a controlled transitional day, despite a little lump close to the finish it shouldn't pose an issue for the fast men.
Stage 13 however is a complete different issue. It's a breakaway day aswell no doubt, it has a flat begining to it and a rough rolling finish. In this return to the Massif the riders will have the Col de la Croix du Pey and the Suc au May as the main climbs of the day. Both are a bit complicated, the latter one has some nasty gradients, the average is 7,4% but there's a descending section near the summit. From there it's a rolling finish into Sarran.
Stage 13 is the Massif's queen stage. In fact, the second one with the most climbing in the whole race actually with over 4400 meters in it, half an everesting attempt. And no wonder, the day is absolutely full of climbing from start to finish there's no flat roads, just pure and rough rugged terrain to the liking of some riders, to the heartbreak of others. The stage has it's climax on the climb to Col de Neronne which is 4Km long at 8%, and no rest until the summit finish in Pas de Peyrol which is a short climb but very very steep towards the end with several kilometers above 10% right to the finish line.
Stage 14 is another breakaway day, it's a classic day into Lyon with some climbing throughout the day including the Col du Beal (remember Froome vs Contador in the Dauphiné?), before hitting an urban circuit in the finishing city, tackling several short and punchy climbs, perfect for the spectacle that unfortunately is limited nowadays.
Before the final rest day the race tackles the Jura mountains. You saw this set of climbs in the Tour de l'Ain, and even though we didn't see those first two climbs you just KNOW they're brutal. Ok if you don't then I'm telling you, the first climb (Selle de Fromentel) is the Grand Colombier through it's hardest side, although not to the summit it has it's final 2Km at around 15% and has pitches over 20%. That's already brutal but then they have to go through the Col du Biche (8Km at 8%) and it's ultra-technical descent.
After all that there's a short run-up to Culoz where they'll climb the Grand Colombier to the finish. A brutal climb, very long and steep specially in it's opening kilometers. The riders will have their deserved rest after this brutal stage.
Third Week
The final week starts off the same way the last one did, in the mountains. There's a lot of climbing throughout the day and if there are any attacks to come they should happen in the Montée de Saint-Nizier-de-Moucherotte, 12.4Km at 6.3% is a rough climb and it comes already with a lot of effort beforehand. The day after a rest day can be terrifying for some, but also it can be an opportunity for others to try and take advantage of it.
After that there's a long flat section until the short hill-top in Villard-de-Lans.
Stage 18 is a two-faced day completely. The first half of the stage is almost pan-flat except for a little ascent there in the first 40 kilometers. The second one though, is absolutely brutal. Why? Two mammoth Alpine passes, the first one is the Col de la Madeleine via it's hardest ascents, over 19Km at 8% is absolutely crushing and in itself would be enough for the race to be completely broken.
However, it probably won't, that's because they will have to take another massive climb, the newly (last year) surfaced Col de la Loze above Meribel. The climb to Meribel is itself hard, but the new part is crushing to every single rider. We're talking about 5Km at 10% but they are as far from constant as it could be, there's several ramps around 20%. The whole climb is over 21Km at almost 8%.
So to add to that fatigue from the previous stage, this is the final opportunity for the climbers to make damage. It's a perfect raid stage, well almost, the hardest climb is near the end so likely most riders will want to wait until there. BUT, there is so much climbing in the Cormet de Roseland, Col des Saisies and Col des Aravis. These three will set up the race a lot, and will allow domestiques to go up the road and set up for big moves, and the GC favourites themselves can move there as it's a constant up-and-down and the climbs are hard. There's over 5100 meters of climbing in this stage.
But in case they don't, the "worst" case scenario is that the attacks come on the Plateau des Glières. It's 6Km long at 11% it's a beast of a climb, in the end of a beast race and stage. No words more needed, everyone will be on their limit at the summit where they'll have a little gravel section and a descent before an insulting climb into the Col des Fleuries which can accentuate some gaps, I hard they'll be made here but you never know with the legs they'll have.
Stage 19 will be for the GC contenders a chance to rest as much as possible. The stage isn't long, and it also isn't mountainous however it's not totally flat, it's one the sprinter teams will have to control however they may struggle a bit to do so.
And this day, in the Vosges is the final GC day. The overall may already be decided at this point, but if it isn't then it will be an insane day. It's the race's sole time-trial, it's 36 kilometers long and it's a very very tough one. It's essentially a slow rise until the base of the Planche des Belles Filles where the riders will climb to it's summit (not that gravel section). It's a proper place to finish this year's Tour GC race.
And the final day. Voila!
Stage Importance
⭐ 10, 11, 21
Now, my opinion. Great route. I'm a fan of the structure of the race, the start in Nice makes it very tricky to go through the country, but the race visits the North and Bretagne every year so it shouldn't be hardly missed with just a year's absence.
They made a mountainous race. There are stages in the Alps, in the Pyrinees, in the Jura, in the Vosges and in the Massif Central. But most importantly all of the mountain chains will have crucial stages overall, they managed to put in all of them with an important role in the race. The last Pyrineen and Alpine stages are very good for long-distance attacks, and they also included brutal summit finishes in the last few days. Adding to that, the sprinters have a lot of chances but pretty much no sprint stage will be dull and boring because there's climbing/wind in most of them, not a lot but just the right amount.
So, the map is a bit confusing, it's very focused on the South of France but it's totally worth it in my opinion. I seriously speak up to the quality of this route fantastic work!
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