Professional Cycling For the Fans - 2012 TDF Route Leaked?

http://www.velopeloton.com/tour-de-france-route-2012-published/

A prologue plus two ITTs. No TTT and it looks like not as much mountain action.

What do you think of the route, if it is the real one?

I like it. I'm not a big fan of TTTs and I've wanted them to up the ITT kilometers for a while. I think it will make the mountains more exciting because guys like Schleck will have to attack and there won't be so much time to wait around and watch each other.

I thought Cadel took his one and only chance this year, but with two TTs he might have a chance to repeat. The route also favors Contador if he's cleared to race. Schleck is the big loser here. I know he won't do it, but he should take on the Giro instead.

Froome and Wiggins get a good chance too, although they're gonna need to figure out how to handle the "dual contender" thing, and it'll be even more complicated if Cav is in the mix. I really hope I can see Contador ride it though.

They just can't get it right, either there aren't enough TT kilometers or there's too little climbing. Prologue and two ITTs is something I wished for too (and I also don't like TTTs) but not at the expense of big mountain stages. Why not make a balanced route on which both Andy Schleck and Bradley Wiggins would stand a chance if they played their strengths right?
If this one is true, Andy shouldn't bother showing up- and unfortunately he almost certainly will- win the Giro instead and get a GT win at last. It's a sure thing that in 2013 they'll do their best to make the Tour route special- which should mean it will suit him again and he's young so he can afford skipping the biggest event once. Bruyneel & sponsors probably won't go for it though.
Some other best climbers- Rodriguez, Basso, Scarponi, Sanchez- may feel they don't stand much chance and go for the Giro/Vuelta. Considering AS or Van den Broeck aren't the most aggresive riders out there, I feel this may be it for exciting attacks in the mountains. I know they won't have a choice but still.
I really appreciate Evans & Wiggins but watching them defending their lead from stage 9 and no one really challenging them wouldn't be great.
Even if Contador wins it probably won't be a great show, he simply doesn't have great climbs to make it- he'll be very good in the ITTs, attack on one or two mountain stages and possibly stretch his legs on some hilly ones and it will all be more boring than 2009. Though if he's banned it will be much worse. Also, shame he was forced to to the Giro in 2011, 2012 would be a good year to try this double with both GTs being easier.

I'm going to wait until I see the stage profiles before I knock it for being too easy, but I see what you're saying. If the climbing stages aren't hard enough it will be very boring, indeed. Hopefully that just means that guys will race the mountains harder, but I wouldn't blame guys like Rodriguez & the Schlecks for trying the Giro/Vuelta double instead.

Do you think they're making it too easy because of the Olympics? They already moved the date up a week and I don't think they want a lot of guys dropping out mid-race. I hope not, because personally I don't care much about the Olympics and I'd rather see a good TDF than a good Olympic Road Race.

There might be some advantage to the climbing stages being manageable, in that it could keep a greater number of riders in contention. I must say, though, that the route as described does look as if it would give Wiggins the best chance he's ever going to get.

If Andy Schleck rides the Tour this year instead of the Giro/Vuelta, and Wiggins doesn't in favor of the Olympics, I'll be really confused.

Looks like the leaked route was correct.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2012-tour-de-france-route-officially-presented

I'll be interested to see the stage profiles when those come out. "Five mountain stages including two summit finishes" doesn't sound all that promising unless the other 3 have a short descent before the finish line (the Sanchez/Nibali type of stages). The mountains will either be really exciting with the worse GC TT guys on the attack or really boring with the good TT guys riding defensively.

Unless Cav is injured or something there's no way I'm leaving him off my TDF fantasy team in 2012.

The climbing stages look pretty tough, to me. They have thrown in some very steep sections that should favour the pure climbers. With a 52km ITT as the penultimate stage, the question may be whether Evans and Wiggins can limit their losses sufficiently to let them come good at the end.

The climbing stages look pretty tough, to me. They have thrown in some very steep sections that should favour the pure climbers. With a 52km ITT as the penultimate stage, the question may be whether Evans and Wiggins can limit their losses sufficiently to let them come good at the end.

Like others I want to see the profiles before deciding. Stage 18 looks like some very serious mountians, but it is not a mountiantop finish. Short or long decent after the last climb? Technical or not? How much flat afterwards? Each of those could make a world of difference. (Or for that matter who is seen as the danger by others. If a TT specialist is seen as the danger at that point the pure climbers just might work together and break things to pieces even if there is a long flat section after the last climb).

Man that route is , I dont know weird, how many train rides/ Christ I lived in France for 25 Years, love the event, used to follow it live for a couple of Stages when they came East, sat on the side of the road clapping on Anquetil and Poulidor in the 60's as a boy....as a Frenchman, I would love to see a French tour, sans other Countries, whe are big enough to host the damn thing...

This route is nuts!!!

I'm guessing "Grand Depart" is the starting point. Looks like it starts in some unknown island country, probably not cyclist-friendly.

Then it crosses a huge glacier into France.

The east coast stages look pretty fun.

Many stages later, it ends in some sort of tunnel/mine.

Good luck to Lance this year. You bikers are crayzay.


http://www.velopeloton.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/tour-de-france-route-map-2012.jpg

missing the massif central again-bummer. puy de dome this decade?-please! since prudhomme took over, i have generally enjoyed the routes he presents.
seems like he at least tries to balance innovation with tradition. doesn't always work but at least it doesn't feel rubber stamped every july. i do like the inclusion of a stage in the vosges.
hoping he includes (and it seems like he may have) 3-4 medium mountain dangerous mouncoutie-style breakaway stages as they animate the race outside of the alps/pyrenees.

missing the massif central again-bummer. puy de dome this decade?-please! since prudhomme took over, i have generally enjoyed the routes he presents.
seems like he at least tries to balance innovation with tradition. doesn't always work but at least it doesn't feel rubber stamped every july. i do like the inclusion of a stage in the vosges.
hoping he includes (and it seems like he may have) 3-4 medium mountain dangerous mouncoutie-style breakaway stages as they animate the race outside of the alps/pyrenees.

Yes , the Vosges, I grew up there, I'll be watching the July 7 stage with interest for my old stumping grounds and family!