A tough start beckons for the Tour de France, and for the first week, we don't actually make it to France.
Instead, Czechia takes centre stage. A prologue in Prague, before a long first road stage, out to Karlovy Vary and all the way back again. Then we have three challenging hill stages. Two uphill finishes, one not.
It is then just over the border to Plauen in Germany in Stage 6, for a flat stage that runs largely parallel to the border, into Bavaria. The Bayern region has a big history of time trialling in the MG, so it is only fitting that Stage 7 recognises that, with a team time trial.
Week 2: Home roads
We enter France in style, racing from Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles for the first mountain stage of the race. And after a flat stage to Besancon, a long time trial, and the 4th nation of the race. Starting in Belfort, it comes to an end in Porrentruy, Switzerland.
Another flat stage to Bourg-en-Bresse signals the approach of the Alps, which receives just the two stages this season. A downhill finish into Morzine, before a summit finish at La Toussuire. Towards Nimes then on Stage 14, for the first of four stages that feature a start or end in the general area around Nimes.
Week 3: Ventoux and the Pyrenees
The final week starts by heading into reverse, back north-east from Nimes to the famous climb of Mont Ventoux. A transfer back to Arles then for the next stage, striking out south east this time to Toulon - and the Mont Faron climb which was the key point of the former Tour Mediterraneen race, one last hill test for the race. Another reversal of direction after that, from Toulon to Orange.
We can then anticipate the race overall to be decided in the Pyrenees with three back to back challenges. It's not quite a summit finish at the Tourmalet on Stage 18 with a short downhill to La Mongie, but very much a summit the next day - ending at Plateau du Beille.
That marked the 5th 200km+ stage of the race, but the final test is significantly shorter. Only 68km, but 3 big climbs, culminating at the Col de Portet. And that's the end of the Tour, with just the usual Champs Elysses finish to follow.
Note: Mont Faron stage currently has a narrow finish. Route may change slightly, if the stage needs to be recreated, but will remain as similar as possible, certainly with Mt. Faron hill finish.
Note 2: Stage 20 needs to be tested for the time limit effect - we may look at measures to guarantee the survival of all riders who start Stage 20.
Edited by SportingNonsense on 04-07-2018 00:42
As expected the hills have been planted on the Tour, really loving the start in Czech and moving to Germany for the 1st week!
Very good parcours indeed, Plateau de Beille may be the most decisive stage of the race, also curious to see what the final mountain stage can do as it's not normal to have a race with that distance
Would be interesting for Spilak to go for this one again. He should have every bit of chance as he did last season. Obviously Taaramäe is the big favorite, like with almost all routes including mountains and TT's, but I believe this is very suitable for Spilak.
