Originally Posted by LesDiablesRouge

Unfortunately the tour organizers have dropped the ball. Each year this race gets easier and easier. They keep dropping the total distance. The Tour started out as 2428 KMs and increased steadily to an all time high of 5745kms in 1926 sicne then the tour averaged about 4500kms from 1930-1970. From 1971-87 to the tour average dipped below 4000 kms to about 3800kms to about 3500kms from 88 to present.

2002 was the worst at 3282 kms.

There years course is horrible. There was no point to the Pyranees as what's the point when a mountain stage finishes on a flat after a long decent. They neutered the Tourmalet.

The race needs to go back to being a 4k km+ race preferably 4.5k kms.

This years tour is basically going to be decided on one stage ratehr than on multiple stages.

Absolutely a travesty ...