Stage 9 | Concord - Mt Washington (222km)

Notable climbs | Kancamagus Hwy (12km, 4.1%), Wildcat Mt (5.5km, 4.5%), Mt Washington (13km, 10%)

Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6,288 ft (1,917 m) and the most prominent mountain east of the Mississippi River. It is famous for dangerously erratic weather. In August the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb, both of which are bicycle races that run the same route as the road race. The hillclimb's most notable victor to date has been former Tour de France contender Tyler Hamilton.

It's certainly one of the toughest summit finish in this tour and should attract a huge crowd to follow the action there. We have to expect the best climbers to go for crucial moves and gaps, too.

Stage 10 | Montpelier - Mt Equinox (208km)

Notable climbs | Brandon Mountain (6km, 4.3%), Dorset Peak (4.8km, 8.2%), Mt Equinox (7.8km, 11.7%)

Equinox Mountain is a mountain in Bennington County, Vermont, United States, in the town of Manchester. The mountain is the highest peak of the Taconic Range, and the highest point of Bennington County. Radio station WEQX's tower is located on the mountain, hence the callsign of the station. There was a former hotel, the Sky Line Inn, which was torn down in 2011 to make way for a new visitor's center.

After yesterday's epic climb up the Mt Washington, the peloton once again faces a tough summit finish: coming rather short at 7.8km, the Equinox features steady slopes around 11% - the steepest climb of all featured in this year's ToA! This stage concludes the first ten days in the Northeastern US and two rest days (inlcuding a long transfer to Montana) will be well needed.

TheManxMissile wrote:
Montpelier is in France, not the USA
Also, DOWNLOADS ragh!

Stages 1-10 | North Eastern US

Stage 11 | Billings - Red Lodge (144km)

Notable climbs | Bear Creek Hill (5.7km, 5.4%)

Two rest days and one transfer later, the ToA is heading for the Northwestern US, with the next five stages all held in Montana: Red Lodge is well known for many outdoor recreation opportunities: skiing, mountain biking, and backpacking are nearby. In April it is host to a popular triathlon called the Peaks to Prairie.

With the Beartooth Mountain (featured in the next stage's mountain timetrial) in the background, the finishing stretch in Red Lodge will provide an unique view. It's one of the shortest road races in the tour, but also the first (and maybe most) challenging flat stage. The Bear Creek Hill may well split the bunch into pieces and pure sprinters will have to fight there.

Stage 12 | Beartooth Pass ITT (36km)

Notable climbs | Beartooth Pass (25km, 4.8%)

The Beartooth Highway is an All-American Road that has been called "the most beautiful drive in America," by late CBS correspondent Charles Kuralt.[1] Because of heavy snowfall at the top, the pass is usually open each year only from mid May through mid October, weather conditions permitting. It traces a series of steep zigzags and switchbacks, along the Montana-Wyoming border to the 10,947 ft (3,337 m) high Beartooth Pass. When driving from the east to the west (like it does here), the highest parts of the Beartooth Highway level off into a wide plateau near the top of the pass.

The only mountain TT in this race, the Beartooth won't feature the toughest slopes - but with approximately 25km of climbing this day, we should expect the GC favorites to face a key day again. A bad day may cost you the GC.

Stage 13 | Livingston - Helena (209km)

Notable climbs | None

Helena is the capital city of Montana and is proud to host one of this edition's stages. The Cathedral of Saint Helena (near the finishing stretch) and the Helena Civic Center are two of many significant historic buildings in the city.

It will be the second of three flat stages in this first four days in Montana and given the rather easy profile here, we may expect the sprinters to take that opportunity to fight for line honours again.

Stage 14 | Helena - Great Falls (195km)

Notable climbs | None

Second consecutive flat stage and again featuring some minor difficulties in the first half of a rather long day in the saddle: Great Falls will host the stage destination and as the day before, we may see the sprinters taking over again.

They better do if they want to stay in contention for the points competition, as this will be the last flat day (except of a partly hilly timetrial) prior to the final stage. The tour is heading further north now, as we're soon to reach our one-day-visit to Canada.

Stage 15 | Dupuyer - West Glacier (164km)

Notable climbs | Siyeh Pass (10.5km, 5.5%)

The tour is heading north as we now enter the Glacier National Park with a rather short, but challenging hilly stage. There's one outstanding climb awaiting the peloton: Mount Siyeh, with a height of 10,014 feet (3,052 m), is the fifth tallest and one of six peaks over 10,000 feet (3,048 m) in Glacier National Park, Montana.

It ain't the steepest climb, but given it's length and a long and tricky downhill to the finish near West Glacier, we may well see some GC-contenders trying something. Downhill skills will be a factor for obvious reasons and the climb up the Siyeh Pass - featuring the Siyeh Bend (see first picture below) - will be interesting to watch.

Stage 16 | Cresno - Red Mountain Resort (235km)

Notable climbs | Old Mountain Pass (7.1km, 7%)

One final rest day and Canada here we come! The ToA will visit this beautiful country with maybe the most challenging mountain stage to this point: 235km in total and featuring four climbs overall. The Red Mountain Resort will host both this day's finish (it's summit finish to be climbed twice), as well as the next stage's departure:

Red Mountain is one of the oldest ski hills in North America, with a history dating back to the creation of the Red Mountain Ski Club (RMSC) in the first decade of the 1900s. It is located in the Monashee Mountains just north of the U.S. border.

The lack of brutal slopes (10% maximum) may not lead to the biggest selection between the very best climbers, but it's the first real mountain stage with several ascends spread over the route. It's worth the trip to Canada for sure.

Stage 17 | Red Mountain Resort - Republic (157km)

Notable climbs | Snow Peak (29.2km, 4%)

We're going from Canada back to the US, with our final state Washington hosting the last five stages of the tour.. Republic as this day's destination, as we are heading for a mountain stage with a flat finish.

A short stage with two challenging, but not too step climbs, the longest ascend up the "Snow Peak" may again see only the best climbers survive in the leading group(s). The final sector of this climb features slopes up to 9-10%.. Downhill skills may be a factor here.

Stage 18 | Ephrata - Ephrata (194km)

Notable climbs | Loop's Hill Climb (4km, 5%)

Last hilly stage in the tour (except of the partly hilly timetrial on next day): Ephrata, where an annual Grand Fondo has become a vital part of the US domestic cycling scene, will be featured in this ToA with an unique stage. Featuring a hilly loop close to a flat finish, spectators will surely enjoy some hopefully great action here.

The landscape with deserts and rocks, as well as dirt roads for most parts of the route will add some spice to a day, in which some GC-contenders may have a chance to play their hilly skills over better climbers. We may not expect huge gaps, but small groups battling for line honours.

roturn wrote:
Nice stage again. But it could change my decision to race it.
A stage to lose the whole Tour.