New twists in 2009 Tour de France

by flying dog on Oct 4, 2008 10:42 AM EDT

As mentioned in the open thread of 10/3 ( yesterday) and found at www.steephilltv/2009/tour-de-france/, le Tour may take on an unexpected shape. One of the first things that people noticed was that there is very little time trialing with only the short prologue and then a longer race in the third week. What struck me as especially extraordinary was that the next to last stage was a mountain top finish not the typical TT. I find this to be an extremely exciting variation as the last stage of this amazing race will be an all or nothing race up a truly legendary climb. No one will be saving themselves for a time trial to be contested later, no one will be wheelsucking except perhaps someone with an overwhelming lead but I doubt that will be the case with the diminished importance of individual time trials. Basically, I think anything can happen on a climb of this length and this stage has got to be on every short list of races to watch in '09. What do you guys think?

2 recs | Comment 15 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Hey I'm excited!

The rumors look delicious to me!

Now I wonder if the Giro is gonna do something to respond. At least look into the long transfers.

by ursula on Oct 4, 2008 11:08 AM EDT 0 recs

They need to do something about the transfers

Not just for the riders, but also for the rest of the staff. Funky Mark the Mechanic put up a piece a couple of weeks ago about doing backstage stuff at the Tour of Britain for Rock Racing. They were dropping the riders off an hour early at the start in order to get to the hotel at the end of the stage with enough time to prepare everything.

by Monty. on Oct 4, 2008 2:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

I agree about the Ventoux TT

It’s been much too long (IMO) since they visited Ventoux. And to have it be for all the marbles… wow. I wish I could go…

I do find it interesting that it seems to be the “Tour de France Sud” this year, as I think the farthest north they get is Paris. Also, they seem to be departing from the normal clockwise or counterclockwise course. Someone mentioned in the other thread that it’s unusual in that they’re doing Pyrenees before Alps just like last year.

I had thought at first that it’s something of an anti-HWWNBN course, but that Ventoux TT seems right up his alley…

by Le Comte on Oct 4, 2008 11:55 AM EDT 0 recs

The Ventoux stage is not a TT

That’s I found so exciting, if someone wants to win they have to make their final statement on the mountain. They can’t pace and hope for the TT to pull them through. Pure climbers will be able make up significant time, I think the potential for top ten carnage is real.

I googled it, it must be true.

by flying dog on Oct 4, 2008 12:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Perhaps I'm twisted but

isn’t this the French way of saying “we do not like you Cadel”? j/k.. perhaps

by OctaBech on Oct 4, 2008 12:13 PM EDT 0 recs

It says, "We want a climber, not a TT specialist, to win GC"

Now, besides Cadel Evans, who else will be riding le Tour in ’09 who is likely to be great in the time trials but not the best (maybe not even the best on his own team) when it comes to mountaintop finishes?

Hmmm.

MJB

by MJB on Oct 7, 2008 1:19 AM EDT up 0 recs

Armstrong? I’m not sure, he became a rather good climber beating the specialists again and again.

by OctaBech on Oct 7, 2008 12:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

the route was set before HE announced his un-retirement

by lyne on Oct 7, 2008 1:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Always spoiling the fun with mere facts.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Oct 7, 2008 2:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

not sure as the route still isn't set. .. is it?

FYI – Any TT around Lake Annecy can be either flat (directly beside lake) or extremely nasty (via for example Col de la Forclaz de Montmin) depending on route.

by cyclingchallenge on Oct 7, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up 0 recs