I have had an idea for a Tour de France variant for some time, so I decided to make it on bikemap. Unfortunately, I have no skills in the PCM editor, so I will not be able to make the stages for PCM. Therefore I am hoping that some of you guys find my idea interesting, and hence want to make the Tour in PCM.
I will here below explain shortly my ideas for the difference stages and include a stage profile for every stage. Please notice that the scale of the height is different on the stage profiles.
First of all this Tour will start in Portugal, where we will have 3 stages. Then we go back to the southwest of France, where we will cross the country till we reach northeast of France. On the way we will see one stage in the Morvan mountains. After a rest day, we will go to the Jura mountains and the Alps before another rest day. In the last week the Tour reaches the Pyrenees before finishing with the last stage (before Paris) in Massif Central. An overall map is below:
Stage 1: Albufeira – Cape St. Vicent (205 km)
The Tour will start in the holiday town, Albufeira, but the first stage is differently not a holiday as the riders must climb no less than 4 catogorized climbs. One of these is the mountain, Foia, which is the highest point in Algarve. The last 50 km is relatively flat and a mass sprint should be expected, but it is not given as the route includes a total 2640 meters ascent.
The finish is at Cape St. Vicent, which is the southwesternmost point of Portugal (and Europe). It will be a very beautiful finish with water on both sides of the finish line. https://www.bikem...t-vincent/
Stage 2: Sines - Lisbon (194 km)
The second stage should end a mass sprint, as the route is mainly flat. However there are a number of short climbs on the way (remember the scale of the stage profile). The stage will end in the capital of Portugal, Lisbon.
As we are near to the coast, the stage could contain some side wind, which could bring some excitement into the stage. https://www.bikem...es-lisboa/
Stage 3: Coimbra - Guarda (175 km)
The last stage in Portugal could be the first one to make an impact on the general classification as the route includes this Tours first 1C climb. However there will be approx. 70 km to the finish from the top of the climb, but these 70 km is by no means flat.
There is 15 km to the finish from the top of the last 3C climb, and the last kilometers will be slightly uphill. If the yellow jersey is held by a sprinter before the stage, we will certainly see a change of leader. https://www.bikem...ra-guarda/
Stage 4: Bayonne - Bordeaux (204 km)
The first stage in France is mainly a transportation stage, as we want to reach the northern of France within a few days. The route is flat all the way and it only have 180 meters’ ascent.
The first 100 km is however along the coastline, so side wind can influence the stage. https://www.bikem...-bordeaux/
Stage 5: Perigueux - Chateauroux (228 km)
Another transportation stage, which is also the longest stage of this Tour. It is a bit more hilly than stage 4, but a mass sprint is again to be expected. https://www.bikem...ateauroux/
Stage 6: Bourges – Haut-Folin (175 km)
After two “boring” stages, we will again see some serious climbs today, including this Tours first summit finish. The finish is on the top of Haut-Folin, which is the highest point of the Morvan mountains.
This stage can give us the first real answers about, who can win the Tour. https://www.bikem...aut-folin/
Stage 7: Dijon - Troyes (195 km)
Well, here is another possible sprint finish on our way to the north. However the little climb approx. 25 km before the finish can give some of the sprinters problems, even though it is not to steep. https://www.bikem...on-troyes/
Stage 8: Chalons-en-Champagne – Saint-Quentin (169 km)
Stage 8 will be another chance for the sprinters, and they should make sure to take this chance, as there will not be many chances for them in the last two weeks. https://www.bikem...t-quentin/
Stage 9: Roubaix – Arenberg (TTT) (48 km)
This stage could be the most important of this Tour as a team time trail can give some great time gaps. Furthermore this is not a normal team time trail, as the route contains two sections of cobblestone! The first one, Camphin-en-Pévèle, is 1,8 km long and the second, Trouée d’Arenberg, is 2,4 km long.
This stage will be very, very interesting! https://www.bikem...nberg-ttt/
Rest day
Stage 10: Bourg-en-Bresse – Geneve (185 km)
After the rest days the Tour will reach the Jura mountains. The stage is not that hard, and it could be a good chance for some fortune riders to try to win a stage after a long breakaway. The GC contenders will probably save their energy for the very hard stage tomorrow!
For the stage finish, the Tour will visit Switzerland. However it is a short visit, as only the last 10 km is on foreign grounds. https://www.bikem...se-geneve/
Stage 11: Geneve – Mont du Chat (198 km)
The small visit in Switzerland continues for a short while, as the stage will start in Geneve, but after only 5 km the Tour will again enter France.
This stage is one out of two King stages (the other is Stage 16), and includes two 1C climbs and two HC! The finish is on top of the very steep Mont du Chat.
This is not the day to have an off-day, if you hope to win the Tour de France. https://www.bikem...t-du-chat/
Stage 12: Lyon - Valence (197 km)
After the very hard stage yesterday, the riders will be able to get a relaxing day, before 3 hard days in the Alps.
The stage could end in a mass sprint, but the hilly start could also allow a big breakaway to get away, and then it is doubtful, if the peloton want to use energy to catch them. https://www.bikem...n-valence/
Stage 13: Saint-Marcellin – Grenoble (179 km)
We enter the Alps with an interesting and hard stage. After a 1C and 2C climb, the peloton will reach the HC climb, Le Recoin. From the top of this climb, there is approx. 35 km to the finish of which 20 km is downhill.
However the challenges are not yet complete, as the last 2 km contains a very steep climb, Mont Jalla, which can make riders collapse, if they have used all their energy on the HC climb. https://www.bikem...-grenoble/
Stage 14: Gap – L’Alpe-d’Huez (197 km)
The second stage of the Alps will see a summit finish at the famous L’Alpe-d’Huez. The stage is not that hard before the final climb, but the long 2C climb can be used to make an early attack. https://www.bikem...lpe-dhuez/
Stage 15: Guillestre - Monaco (203 km)
The last day in the Alps contains more descent than ascent, which many of the riders probably prefer. The stage is an obvious breakaway stage, as the sprinters will not be able to hold the peloton on the first two climbs. Furthermore, the climbs are too far from the finish for the GC contenders to attack.
If the sprinters can hold on to the peloton and catch the breakaway, they will also have to survive a short climb with 15 km to the finish line.
The HC climb, Col de la Bonette, is at 2700 meters the highest point of the Tour. https://www.bikem...re-monaco/
Rest day
Stage 16: Pau – Lac d’Aumar (191 km)
The Pyrenees start with the second King stage of the Tour, which contains 5190 meters of ascent, which is the most in this Tour (Stage 11 had “only” 5080 meters). The stage contains a 2C, a 1C and two HC climbs. The first HC climb is the famous Col du Tourmalet.
The stage finish at Lac d’Aumar is very interesting, as it will come in the end of a 25 km long climb, which just gets steeper and steeper. https://www.bikem...ac-daumar/
Stage 17: Saint-Gaudens – Saint-Girons (147 km)
The second and last stage in the Pyrenees is the shortest of the Tour (excluding time trails and the stage to Paris), but it is not an easy one.
From the top of the last climb, there is approx. 30 km to the finish line, which is mainly downhill. As the stage is near the end of the Tour, it is one the last chances for the GC contenders to win time, so there should be plenty of attacks. https://www.bikem...nt-girons/
Stage 18: Saint-Girons – Albi (181 km)
“Finally, an easy stage” should be the thought from most of the peloton. The stage is very easy, and if the sprint teams want a mass sprint, it should be easy for them. However, the teams are tired at this time of the Tour, so a breakaway might win. https://www.bikem...rons-albi/
Stage 19: Villefranche-de-Rouergue – Decazeville (TT) (40 km)
Of course, the Tour should contain an individual time trial, and this is exactly what Stage 19 is.
The first 10 km is quite hard, while the remaining part is mostly flat and downhill. https://www.bikem...eville-tt/
Stage 20: Aurillac – Puy Mary (186 km)
The last real stage of the Tour, and what a stage here in Massif Central! Even though the stage might not have many long and difficult climbs, it will be up and down all day long, as there is plenty of small hills. Overall the stage contains 3890 meters’ ascent.
The stage will end on the steep Puy Mary, and it will be very important to have plenty of energy left for this last climb. But maybe some of the riders, who needs to win a lot of time, will take the chance before the last climb? https://www.bikem...-puy-mary/
Stage 21: Rambouillet - Paris (61 km – without the laps)
The last stage to Paris is straight forward. The stage profile does not contain the laps in Paris. https://www.bikem...aris/edit/
Overall the Tour includes:
1 team time trail
1 time trail
8 flat stages
5 hilly stages (2 flat finish, 1 plateau finish and 2 summit finish (2C and 1C)
6 mountain stages (4 summit finish (one 3C and three HC) and 2 flat finish)
There is 8 2C, 8 1C and 8 HC climbs in this Tour (however the category can be changed, if the climb look easier or harder in PCM).
