today 20:05
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The organizers of the 108th edition of the famous Tour de France bike race have turned to a more traditional program this year and have given more sprints a chance.
On the 3417.5 km long route from Brest to Paris, the competitors will have eight flat stages, two time trials and only three finishes in the mountains. In addition to the twelve stage triumphs so far, the only Slovak at the start, Peter Sagan, wants to add more to the collection.
This year’s Tour, which will take place again under strict medical measures and in a “bubble” due to a coronavirus pandemic, will start on Saturday 26 June in Brest. The first four stages will take place in Brittany. The first two have a wavy profile and a chance will be given especially to strong classicists, who can wear the famous maillot jaune right at the beginning. The biggest favorites will be the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix), the Belgian Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) or the home team Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck QuickStep), but Sagan also has a chance. The next two days will belong to purebred sprinters, but conditions can be significantly aggravated by crosswinds.
The first of the two time trials will take place in the 5th stage, the track from Changé to Laval has a flat profile and a length of 27.2 km. In the 7th stage, the first longer climbs await the peloton, and in particular the 249.1-kilometer-long route from Vierzon to La Creusot, where the peloton is expected to fight with more escapes. However, there may also be attacks by adepts on the overall standings. It will be the longest stage on the Tour in 21 years. The next two days will belong to climbers, first with three first category climbs, including the Col de la Colombire (7.5 km, 8.5%) and next Sunday on the 144.9 km route from Cusese to Tignes up to five difficult hills and for the first time, the premium of the highest category at the Col du Pré (12.6 km, 7.7%).
The first day off is followed by a flat tenth stage, but the next one will again be extremely challenging, as cyclists have to overcome the legendary Mont Ventoux twice during it. First from the “milder” side of Sault (22 km, 5.1%) and then from the steeper (15.7 km, 8.8%). The “Provencal giant” is followed by two days, in which sprinters are fought for stage laurels again and stage 14 is suitable for escape. The second week of the race will end with a 191.3 km long mountain track with a finish in Andorra, which offers four challenging climbs and will be among the most difficult in the program. At the same time, the peloton will cross the highest point of the 108th year – Port d´Envalira at an altitude of 2408 meters above sea level.
After the second day off, there is a chance for an escape in the 16th stage and in the following two the biggest favorites will compete to win the yellow jersey. The stage from Muret to Saint-Lary-Soulan will not bring any climb during the initial 113 km, but in the final 60 km there will be two first categories and a premium of the highest category in the finish (16 km, 8.7%). The organizers prepared the legendary Col du Tourmalet (17.1 km, 7.3%) at the end of the mountain program in the 18th stage, followed by the finish at the top of Luz Ardiden (13.3 km, 7.4%).
In the 19th stage, attention will be focused on sprinters again, and in the 20th stage, the second time trial will take place. On the 30.8 km long route from Libourne to Saint-Émilion, he will fight for the yellow jersey for the last time. The race will culminate on July 18 with a traditionally exhibition stage with the goal of the Champs Elysees in Paris.
Program of the 108th Tour de France
June 26 – Stage 1: Brest – Landerneau, 198 km, undulating
June 27 – Stage 2: Perros-Guirec – Mr-de-Bretagne, 183.5 km, wavy
June 28 – Stage 3: Lorient – Pontivy, 183 km, flat
June 29 – Stage 4: Redon – Fougres, 150,5 km, rovinatá
June 30 – Stage 5: Changé – Laval, individual time trial for 27.2 km
July 1 – Stage 6: Tours – Châteauroux, 161 km, rovinatá
July 2 – Stage 7: Vierzon – Le Creusot, 249.5 km, hilly
July 3 – Stage 8: Oyonnax – Le Grand-Bornand, 151 km, horská
July 4 – Stage 9: Cluses – Tignes, 145 km, mountain
July 5 – Free day in Tignes
July 6 – Stage 10: Albertville – Valence, 191 km, flat
July 7 – Stage 11: Sorgues – Malaucne, 199 km, mountain
July 8 – Stage 12: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux – Nîmes, 159.5 km, rovinatá
July 9 – Stage 13: Nîmes – Carcassonne, 220 km, rovinatá
July 10 – Stage 14: Carcassonne – Quillan, 184 km, hilly
July 11 – Stage 15: Céret – Andorra la Vella (Andorra), 191.5 km, horská
July 12 – Free day in Andorra la Vella
July 13 – Stage 16: El Pas de la Casa (Andorra) – Saint-Gaudens, 169 km, kopcovita
July 14 – Stage 17: Muret-Saint-Lary-Soulan, 178.5 km, horská
July 15 – Stage 18: Pau – Luz Ardiden, 130 km, mountain
July 16 – Stage 19: Mourenx – Libourne, 207 km, rovinatá
July 17 – Stage 20: Libourne – Saint-Émilion, individual time trial for 30.8 km
July 18 – Stage 21: Chatou – Paris, 108.5 km, flat
* total: 3417.5 km
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