|
2014 Tour de France Route Revealed
|
| roturn |
Posted on 23-02-2014 19:59
|
Team Manager
Posts: 22043
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
|
It`s that time of the year again when the routes of the biggest races in cycling are revealed. After the Giro route is already known, the Tour de France is presenting their 2014 route next.
But beforehead let`s go back to 2013. We all remember Angel Madrazo to win his first ever Tour de France plus a huge Santander result in general with Tenorio finishing on a strong 5th as helper.
We also remember a great GC fight by Damiano Cunego in the attempt to defend his 2012 title after 5! consecutive Giro titles.
Andy Schleck as 3rd also showed great climbing after one year without professional cycling.
But it was also the Tour de France of Aleksandr Pluchkin. The B&O rider was closer to the big coup than anytime before and had the leader jersey for most of the first half before he punctured in the most unlucky moment before the climb on stage 13, which dropped him back a lot. This disaster almost led to relegation for B&O in the end.
Let`s see on the 2013 Top10 before finally coming to the new route.
| 1 | Angel Madrazo | Santander | 91h26'36 | | 2 | Damiano Cunego | Lotto - Cervelo | + 1'16 | | 3 | Andy Schleck | Vesuvio - Accumalux | + 3'41 | | 4 | Beñat Intxausti | Team Bacardi | + 6'09 | | 5 | Justo Tenorio | Santander | + 7'46 | | 6 | Andrei Amador | UBS - BMC | + 9'01 | | 7 | Janez Brajkovic | Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms | + 9'18 | | 8 | Romain Sicard | Pearl Adidas | + 9'27 | | 9 | Aleksandr Pluchkin | Team B&O | + 11'41 | | 10 | Walter Pedraza | Koenigsegg | + 13'02 |
No riders have yet confirmed their appearance at the 2014 Tour de France. But one name must be named. Since Christophe Moreau in 2007 the French are waiting for the next Tour de France winner. All hopes are on Romain Sicard, 8th in 2013. Next season he will finally reach his top strength and could indeed be a big favourite in his home race. Other French people already put hopes in Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier, who though still needs some time I think. But at least it shows that the French`s hopes are not baseless after their former stars can no longer ride with the best.
A special thanks for the route goes to Italian stage creator Emmea for another very nice bit of his stage work.
We will start with some stages in the Bretagne. What to expect there? Sprinters and wind might be the first idea. And indeed this might be the answer when taking a closer look on the profiles:
Instead of a prologue the race kicks off with a 28km team time trial starting at Mont Saint-Michel. So we will have some time gaps from the beginning and team strength becomes a huge part of this Tour de France. 4 flat stages along the coast of the Bretagne follow where the sprinters should get their chance of a stage win. Stage 6 again is the next time trial and with 55km it`s long enough to hurt the pure climbers while the end of week 1 leads the peloton towards the Massif Central.
Stages 8-10 are in the middle of the Massif Central and as you can see. Lots of damage can be made here and having a bad day can cost you the whole Tour. While the GC riders get their chance to battle for honor, it`s the fight for staying within the time limit for all other riders.
2 days in the Pyrenees including the well known climb onto the Plateau de Beille should make two more exciting stages for the climbers before the sprinters get another chance on the 13th stage. The 2nd week finishes with the shorter but still pretty tough climb on the Mont Faron, known from the Tour de Mediteraneen.
Going into the 3rd week we start with 2 "easier" stages. One for the sprinters and one for the puncheurs or a typical breakaway stage actually. Going into the Alps for the next 4 stages should finally decide the GC fight. In especially the 46km mountain time trial, the stage to Alpe d'Huez and the climb on the Col du Galibier are highlights of this route.
As usual the final day on the Champs-Elysees. Last 170km and a chance for all remaining riders to "celebrate" and in case of the sprinters a chance to take a prestigious stage.
So we have
2 ITT (flat/mountain)
1 TTT
8 Flat stages
6 Mountain stages (4 MTF)
4 Hill Stages (2 MTF)
So is it THE route for the next French Tour winner? At least Sicard should be one of the favourites. But as he is without a team for 2014 yet, it`s not even decided to see him here. But one thing is guaranteed. The field will definitely be packed with the stars of this sport and should once again bring epic battles. |
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 08-12-2025 01:39
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| Smowz |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:07
|
Team Leader
Posts: 6386
Joined: 09-04-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Going to be very tempting for lots of big sprinters, team time testers and of course the best climbers in the world.
The big question for me is whether Phinney will give this a go, that TT is really long, but then so is the more dangerous mountain TT.
The other question is whether Madrazo comes without his bum chum Tenorio?
After two pretty stale performances bar a fluke stage win for red bull I need a better plan of attack this year. *makes phone call to Roman* 
|
| |
|
|
| Miguel98 |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:08
|
World Champion
Posts: 10231
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Interesting route. Stage 8 looks like a bloody wall at the end. It will definetelly be interesting to see what will attrack. And this is more sprinters friendly than the Giro too. |
| |
|
|
| Heine |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:10
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4470
Joined: 08-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Seems like an exsiting route, will be interesting to see who participates, could be a great route for Phinney, but also for the more pure climbers
|
| |
|
|
| rycadinho |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:17
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1042
Joined: 28-09-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Stage 8 in particular looks intriguing, it'll be exiting to see who will challenge Madrazo - The route looks good for him.
|
| |
|
|
| roturn |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:18
|
Team Manager
Posts: 22043
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
|
As a team without any climbers I really need to get 1-2 decent stage racers in during transfers. Otherwise I will go down into the PCT division quicker again than I had hoped. 
|
| |
|
|
| Miguel98 |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:19
|
World Champion
Posts: 10231
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
After a quick search on Google, Stage 8 finale features a climb with 14km's with an average 7.5%. Definetelly interesting to make gaps! |
| |
|
|
| jph27 |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:20
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7374
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
|
If, big if, I get Sicard, we'll be here - this route is incredible.  |
| |
|
|
| alexkr00 |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:21
|
World Champion
Posts: 13561
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 400.00
|
Brutal route 
And team time - trial in the first stage might be an opportunity for my first Yellow jersey. That's if I decide to keep at least some of the TTT focus this year as well.
Well done on the preview
|
| |
|
|
| Dippofix |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:28
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3930
Joined: 29-01-2013
PCM$: 300.00
|
Wow, that route is fantastic - something there for everyone it seems.
I'm hoping we'll see one or two nice echelon stages in the Bretagne.
I also hope Pluchkin has better luck this time. I think the Tour was the first MG race i followed properly, and i felt so, so gutted for him. 
|
| |
|
|
| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:34
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7366
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
Ridiculous amount of mountains. Gaps will be huge if PCM13 has anything like a realistic AI... need to strenghten badly.
Edited by wackojackohighcliffe on 23-02-2014 20:34
|
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:38
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 17833
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
I wonder if any sprinters will make it to Paris to claim Green... My heart says yes but my head is saying hell no!
Should make for a good GC fight though, with only 2 real breakaway days in there
|
| |
|
|
| Miguel98 |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:39
|
World Champion
Posts: 10231
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Actually I just thought: with PCM 13 good(ish) mountain AI, the gaps will be massive. I imagine the top 20 in the end to be separated by over 45 minutes+. |
| |
|
|
| Alakagom |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:53
|
World Champion
Posts: 10452
Joined: 19-11-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
I have a feeling Marquez will enjoy this route if we get in Great preview, should be a great Tour.
|
| |
|
|
| ember |
Posted on 23-02-2014 20:53
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7059
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 900.00
|
Wow!
It looks amazing. And I start to wonder if my team will have any finishers if I decide to go without a leader for the overall classification.
Last season's Tour was great, without Pluchkin's puncture it would have been brilliant. I think we'll see next season's greatest battles in the final week in the Alps, that should be quite a show. |
| |
|
|
| beagle |
Posted on 23-02-2014 21:12
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4235
Joined: 06-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
I like this route much more then Giro one, the first week suits perfectly to my team 
jph27 wrote:
If, big if, I get Sicard, we'll be here - this route is incredible.
Another big if, will you even participate for sure? Sorry for some little trolling
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
|
| |
|
|
| jph27 |
Posted on 23-02-2014 21:19
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7374
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
|
beagle wrote:
I like this route much more then Giro one, the first week suits perfectly to my team
jph27 wrote:
If, big if, I get Sicard, we'll be here - this route is incredible.
Another big if, will you even participate for sure? Sorry for some little trolling
Darnit, missed the word hopefully |
| |
|
|
| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 23-02-2014 22:09
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2798
Joined: 20-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
This is going to be fun
|
| |
|
|
| fintas |
Posted on 23-02-2014 22:16
|
Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2597
Joined: 21-03-2008
PCM$: 1200.00
|
Nice route... Will be nice attend this race
|
| |
|
|
| Roman |
Posted on 23-02-2014 22:27
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4279
Joined: 29-05-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Nice route. It will be a really hard race, which should bring in a lot of biggest names in the peloton. Maybe it will be a good tactic to go for breakaways. I have the idea of bringing all-Czech team to the biggest race in the world in my head for quite a long time, well maybe this year...
|
| |
|
