Off-season contest - My Tour de France
Hello everyone.

So, first I'll explain how I came into this.

Each year, in the past, me and gigilasegaperenne draw a tour - if you have PCM you may have played some of them.

Last month we went back tracking and we went back from where we started.

The past editions of the races from 2012 are here:
2010: maps/tours/view/23957
2011: maps/tours/view/23926
2012: maps/tours/view/137
2013: maps/tours/view/85
2014: maps/tours/view/34
2015: maps/tours/view/30
2016: maps/tours/view/1581
2017: maps/tours/view/3143
2018: maps/tours/view/6502

We are tracking now the 2019 edition but we want also put you to the very same challenge. You will have to draw the 2019 TDF taking into account that these are the previous seven editions.

It will up to you not repeating recently key climbs and visit unvisited french zones from these routes, but to make it easier for you, i'll add some constraints here explicitly
- Start must be in France as 2017 and 2018 both starts out of france
- Pyrenees must be facing after alps as in 2017 and 2018 both alps were done as second massif
- TDF must, of course, end in Paris. We want see real tracked Paris stages, no placeholders.

It will be also a strict point of evaluation the respect of the base UCI rules (here: contests/uci-rules-t7083.html)

This TDFs will not be voted, but will be evaluated by a jury. The contest is done jointly with the PCM Stage Making Community Server (https://discord.gg/RTRsJRU34H) with some of the admins non competing in contest being part of the jury.

The jury will make the final shortlist of 3 tours that will be then reviewed and evaluated by me.

NOTE ON EVALUATIONS
I will have absolutely small/zero tolerance on
- Forced finishes. That includes downhill finishes on small towns or bad roads. I am going to streetview every finish to check that there is enough space and, if there is a sprint, that the road is large enough.
- Finishes are good in towns that has a decent population (please don't end in 100-400-500 ppl towns just because you wanted to do the climb before, specially on massif central) and/or on a ski station / col with first preferable. Of course any place in which real TDF ended is not contestable.
- Long transfers. Ideally i won't tolerate more than 100 km car transfers from finish to start except rest day and before paris stage, but you have to motivate the transfer before paris taking into account where you finish (i.e. the TDF never do a s20 ending on top of a pyrenaic mountain)
- Route practicability. TDF is set in 2019 and that's the reference for route being or being not doable. Routes recently drawn are not doable.
- Please in the description be exaustive and let me understand your choices for both stage and overall route

The route must be presented here in the topic.

To have coherency in evaluation, please everyone use the TDF 2019 2d profile with the "large" options on X axis. Very large only if needed.

Deadline will be on december 23, h 23.59

IMPORTANT
- The rules for is/kom must be the rules of Tour de France 2019
- For points, the flat stages will be 50 pts, the hilly 30, the mountain and the TT 20 to the first. Rest of points according to the scale
- HC is 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-2, 1st Cat is 10-8-6-4-2-1, 2nd cat is 5-3-2-1, 3rd cat is 2-1, 4th cat is 1.
- In 2019, double points will be awarded at the top of passes or at the summit of climbs classified as super-category and above an altitude of 2,000 metres.
- Bonuses are 10'' - 6'' - 4'' at finish. Time bonuses sprints are 8'' - 5'' - 2''
- You must place time bonuses where you want considering that usually they were placed on the last classified climb or on the penultimate climb when there was a MTF - but not always. Check real life 2019 TDF and i expect this criteria to be used.

You can submit a max of three Tour de France as like in the other contest. Only one of them can anyway be in the top 3.

There are some things I didn't understand
1) Does the starting location have to be the same as the real Tour 2019?
2) Are we bound to the use of arrival locations and boarding stations? For example, can climbs like the Col de la Loze be included, having been climbed in 2020?

mauro wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 15:35 There are some things I didn't understand
1) Does the starting location have to be the same as the real Tour 2019?
2) Are we bound to the use of arrival locations and boarding stations? For example, can climbs like the Col de la Loze be included, having been climbed in 2020?

1) No, but you have to consider that the tour linked above took place in 2012-18 in the choices of your cities.
2) No, it's not bounded but anyway TDF doesn't use to end on cols unless very specific and occasional reasons. Having a tour in which basically all mountain stages ends on a col without a ski station or town it would be bad for evaluation.

Col de la Loze is a possible finish as they did Avenir in 2019 so it was likely available at the time.

emmea90 wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 16:03

mauro wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 15:35 There are some things I didn't understand
1) Does the starting location have to be the same as the real Tour 2019?
2) Are we bound to the use of arrival locations and boarding stations? For example, can climbs like the Col de la Loze be included, having been climbed in 2020?

1) No, but you have to consider that the tour linked above took place in 2012-18 in the choices of your cities.

In summary: what if I wanted to start the Tour from a municipality that has never hosted a stage finish in the period 2012-2018? For example Le Havre? Can I do it or can't I do it? Can I insert new arrival locations or do I have to take them only from that period?

mauro wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 16:11

emmea90 wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 16:03

mauro wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 15:35 There are some things I didn't understand
1) Does the starting location have to be the same as the real Tour 2019?
2) Are we bound to the use of arrival locations and boarding stations? For example, can climbs like the Col de la Loze be included, having been climbed in 2020?

1) No, but you have to consider that the tour linked above took place in 2012-18 in the choices of your cities.

In summary: what if I wanted to start the Tour from a municipality that has never hosted a stage finish in the period 2012-2018? For example Le Havre? Can I do it or can't I do it? Can I insert new arrival locations or do I have to take them only from that period?

Yes you can do it. You have to take 2012-18 only as reference for "ah they did plenty of stages in that area / they did not in that" and avoiding repeating key climbs.

For example, in 2018 TDF finishes on Col de Granon. Putting again a Col de Granon mtf would be considered a mistake.

emmea90 wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 16:29

mauro wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 16:11

emmea90 wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 16:03


1) No, but you have to consider that the tour linked above took place in 2012-18 in the choices of your cities.

In summary: what if I wanted to start the Tour from a municipality that has never hosted a stage finish in the period 2012-2018? For example Le Havre? Can I do it or can't I do it? Can I insert new arrival locations or do I have to take them only from that period?

Yes you can do it. You have to take 2012-18 only as reference for "ah they did plenty of stages in that area / they did not in that" and avoiding repeating key climbs.

For example, in 2018 TDF finishes on Col de Granon. Putting again a Col de Granon mtf would be considered a mistake.

Is it possible to trespass in Italy?

mauro wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 16:33

emmea90 wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 16:29

mauro wrote: ↑31/10/2023, 16:11

In summary: what if I wanted to start the Tour from a municipality that has never hosted a stage finish in the period 2012-2018? For example Le Havre? Can I do it or can't I do it? Can I insert new arrival locations or do I have to take them only from that period?

Yes you can do it. You have to take 2012-18 only as reference for "ah they did plenty of stages in that area / they did not in that" and avoiding repeating key climbs.

For example, in 2018 TDF finishes on Col de Granon. Putting again a Col de Granon mtf would be considered a mistake.

Is it possible to trespass in Italy?

Yes, it is.

Just grand depart must be in france, after Grand Depart is done (ideally after s3/s4) you can trespass

I thin I'll start with a depart in Lyon, then -> Loire Valley -> Cote-d'Or -> Swiss Jura -> Alps -> Pyrenees / Andorra.

Forgot to say, but TDF will take place of course in 2019 dates of real TDF.

Added 2011 route in the post, even if i don't think it have any influence as it will be 7 years prior to actual one.

So 14th of july stage is stage 9 (second sunday)

IMPORTANT
- The rules for is/kom must be the rules of Tour de France 2019
- For points, the flat stages will be 50 pts, the hilly 30, the mountain and the TT 20 to the first. Rest of points according to the scale
- HC is 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-2, 1st Cat is 10-8-6-4-2-1, 2nd cat is 5-3-2-1, 3rd cat is 2-1, 4th cat is 1.
- In 2019, double points will be awarded at the top of passes or at the summit of climbs classified as super-category and above an altitude of 2,000 metres.
- Bonuses are 10'' - 6'' - 4'' at finish. Time bonuses sprints are 8'' - 5'' - 2''
- You must place time bonuses where you want considering that usually they were placed on the last classified climb or on the penultimate climb when there was a MTF - but not always. Check real life 2019 TDF and i expect this criteria to be used.

IMPORTANT:
You can submit a max of three Tour de France as like in the other contest. Only one of them can anyway be in the top 3.

The last time La Grand Boucle departed from Strasbourg was 2006, and now 13 years later it has the rights again.
Stage 1

We begin our journey with a short flat 6km prologue. The event seems to be becoming a dying discipline, however i believe it is a fitting way to crown our first Maillot Jaune. The course has a mixture of fast and technical sections which may give an unsuspecting winner.
Stage 2

Stage 2 takes us into the Vosges starting with smaller climbs up North before coming to a crescendo on 4 simultaneous hard climbs in the last 65km, with the most challenging climb being the Route du Champ du Feu. Today is definitely one for a strong climber, however the long nature of the course and the lack of long passes could leave it up between a Journeyman, a Puncheur, or a GC leader.
Stage 3

Our next stage takes us briefly across the border into Germany where the riders face the Black Forrest's 2 hardest climbs the infamous Col de Kandel (the 1st Cat.1 climb) and the Col de Schauinsland. Despite the high denivel meters the flat finish could lead to a sprint between stronger sprinters, or again a break could thrive, no doubt interested in the 15 KOM points on offer.
Stage 4

We leave the Alsace region on our way onto the foot hills of the Jura to Besançon. The day is rather easy until a manic last 10km with 2 Cat.4 climbs the first with 8-5-2 bonus seconds, maybe luring out GC riders, and the second punch is not as steep or long but still will put the sprinters under pressure, however since there lack of opportunities thus far many will definitely have this stage outlined in there roadbook.
Stage 5

Stage 5 sets off from where we finished yesterday with the first 100% nailed on sprint stage with the only difficulty a Cat.3 in the last 1/3 of the stage.
Stage 6

Next up is a rolling TT which will be there first proper GC test before the alps, don't expect massive time gaps, however mentally it can give a massive advantage to the winner and drop the heads of those losing a minute before the roads seriously go uphill.
Stage 7

The first high mountain stage takes us from Bourg-en-Bresse into the pre-alps with the first ascent of Mont du Chat since 1974 and the First finish on Mont Revard since 1972, the stage should be one for the GC riders with the long steep climbs, and our first Hors Catagorie climb of the Tour.
Stage 8

Departing from Chambéry we head into the Alps proper taking in the Ski resorts of Portes des Soleil and the Grand Massif. The finishing combination of climbs takes place on Les Gets, to the Col de Joux Plane, with 8-5-2 bonus seconds, before the deathly steep Plateau des Saix at 10km, 9%, with sustained sections of over 14%. This would certainly be a stage to pencil into you calendar.
Stage 9

The End of the First week of racing is Bastille day, and there is an epic mountain stage on offer. Departing from Ugine the race heads down to Albertville before ascending the HC Cormet de Roseland. Now in the Vanoise we climb to Arc 1800, before transfering to Longefoy. Next is the Cat.1 climb the Méribel with 8-5-2 bonus seconds on top. Finally there is a descent down to the final punch to the finish to Champagny-en-Vanoise. Surely every frenchman will be wanting to take this epic stage home.

Rest Day: Grenoble
The rest day will be in Grenoble a midway point between the Vanoise and Lyon, and situated with good cycling areas for the athletes to ride and relax.

Stage 10

Stage 10 departs from Lyon with a hilly day to Vichy, one which should suit a breakaway rider, but if the peloton do come to the final climb in front, there are 8-5-2 bonus seconds which may draw out the GC riders, however they are probably saving legs for tomorrow.
Stage 11

Departing from Clermont Ferrand, we climb up in the shadow of the infamous Puy du Dôme up the Col de Ceyssat, before the rolling massif central terrain taking us to Falgoux 15km out. Then we climax on 2 climbs the Col de Néronne and then Puy Mary. Although on the face of it 6km 7% may not seem too hard, with sustained sections over 14% and in sweltering conditions in the French interior it is not a climb to be scoffed at.
Stage 12

A flat stage taking us to the wine making region of Cognac, famous for its eponymous brandy, and a fastman will most likely raise his glass on the Podium.
Stage 13

No real challenge to the sprinters today as we head down the west coast past Bordeaux to Biganos
Stage 14

The stage takes us from the sea side resort of Arcachon down to Peyrehorde where there will be a 700m 4% drag to the line favouring a sprinter with a bit of a punch.
Stage 15

The final stage of the second week enters the Pyrenees, with 2 HC climbs the Col de Errozate and the Col de Soudet, before having the Col de Marie-Blanque and it's devilish gradients with 8-5-2 seconds on top before a 7km run in to Laruns, the GC riders must be focused after 3 days of non activity.

Rest Day: Pau
ASO's favorite city hosts the 2nd rest day with some nice rolling hills for the riders as well as their esteemed gastronomic heritage as the culinary center of the Béarn region.

Stage 16

Climbing stays on the menu after the rest day with a Pyreneen challenge to Luchon Superbagnères, departing from Pau the route takes in 4 Cat.2+ climbs in the Col d'Aspin, Col d'Azet, Col de Peyresourde and the Luchon Superbagnères climb. GC should be contested here but it will not be too time gap heavy as Stage 17 is the big one.
Stage 17

Starting in Montréjeau, the Queen Stage is a mammoth denivel test taking in no less than 7 categorised climbs 4 cat. 1+ with a finish on the mythical HC climb of Plateau du Beille. Someones dreams could be crushed here on a bad day, yet it is not overly decisive that it will render the previous 16 days of racing useless, and the 4 to come no shows. TLDR this stage is not the easiest so far.
Stage 18

Stage 18, departing from Foix, takes in the Souvenir Henri Desgrange, the main altitude test of the tour has the Port d'Envalira at over 2400m on the way into Andorra before a hellishly steep ascent up the Col de Beixalís. After that we descend into Andorra La Vella for our first foreign arrivé of the tour.
Stage 19

To call Stage 19 flat would be a flat out lie, since it is mostly down hill, the sprinters should take this one as we descend out of Andorra down to Narbonne, they may be slight chance of crosswinds however it's not particularly likely.
Stage 20

The final and longest TT is mainly flat except the Mont Saint Clair climb midway through however winds will make this stage attritional and it is the one final chance for a GC shake up.
Stage 21

A celebratory stage into Paris as per Usual departs in Noisy-le-Grand once tipped to be an economic center to rival the La Defense region for eastern Paris, now is most famous for it's underground pod metro which has fallen into disrepair. The stage takes in the short shallow Col de Montreau before the cobbled test of Col de Montmarte, then makes way to the traditional circuit to finish off the Tour De France 2019.

Tour de France 2019
by adria.medina

Versailles. Château de Versailles > Paris. Champs Elysées

LINK ---> maps/tours/view/23933


PREVIEW
PARCOUR:

STAGE 1: Versailles. Château de Versailles > Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye


In order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Versailles (ending of WWI), Tour de France will start for the first time in Île-de-France since 2003. The start ramp will be inside the more than impressive Château de Versailles, where the famous Treaty was signed in 28th June 1919. After going through some hills and technical sections in the suburbs, the finish line is placed just in front of Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, celebrating as well 100 years since the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (ending WWI with Austria).
Just as previous years, it will be an ITT who decides who wears the first maillot jaune. But this time, the time trial itself is a little bit more challenging and longer, with 22kms in total and some hills towards the end of the stage that should provide some gaps between GC contenders.
Trap: 500m at 8,6% with slopes of more than 12% just a couple kms before the finish.


STAGE 2: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines > Chartres


Grand Départ will follow with a flat stage between the neighbouring Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and the pintoresque Chartres, just 15 years after the last finish there. Some hills in the first half of the stage, just before departing Île-de-France, will decide the first polka dot jersey. A mass sprint is expected in Chartres, famous for its incredibly well-preserved cathedral.
Trap: Last kms of the stage are a little bit uphill and positioning will be important for sprinters if they want to get the win.


STAGE 3: Châteaudun > Tours


The third stage of the Tour de France will be exclusively inside the Centre-Val-de-Loire region, really underused this last decade by the organisers, with a classic type stage ending in the capital of the already named region, Tours. Starting for the first time in Châteaudun, peloton will head south into the Loire valley, where they will climb up a series of hills and ride through some gravel sections famous for being part of Paris-Tours, one of the oldest cycling classics in France. After a bonification sprint in the last climb of the day, riders will have just 8kms flat kilometers that lead to the presumably reduced sprint in Tours.
Trap: The last 60kms are in narrow roads and have some small but challenging climbs that go upto 10%, so positioning will also be important to not get dropped. Gravel will also be a key that could provide some crashes or flat tires for the cyclists.


STAGE 4: Château de Chenonceaux > Bourges


Another flat stage in Centre-Val-de-Loire region starting in the iconic Château de Chenonceaux, well-known for being on top of a river. A second mass sprint is expected in the town of Bourges, that will hold a finish for the first time ever.
Trap: Due to it's short lenght barely 150kms, the stage will be paced strongly by the sprinter's teams since the start and could cause havok in the peloton with people dropping or crashing.


STAGE 5: Châteauroux > Guéret


We say goodbye to Centre-Val-de-Loire in big fashion, with the longest stage in this Tour de France between Châteauroux and the small town of Guéret, in Nouvelle-Aquitanie. Another stage reminiscent of a classic with 9 categorized hills and almost 3500m of positive climbing in total, something to be concerned about. With almost no flat between climbs, peloton will struggle to control the race and the margins could be much bigger than expected.
Trap: Côte du Maupuy, with an entire km at almost 10%, slopes of 16% and a bonification sprint at top could provoke some attacks of GC contenders and make the first important gaps between them.


STAGE 6: Limoges > Bergerac


Transition stage starting in Limoges, between the hills the day before and the first mountain contact in Massif Central. Meant for sprinters, the hills after Perigueux will difficult a massive sprint in Bergerac, although there is no reason to think that an attack could be successful.
Trap: There's a small hill just 10kms before the finish line called Côte de Pelissoux, it's road is narrow and has a gradient of almost 7% that could drop some sprinters.


STAGE 7: Sarlat-la-Canéda > Le Lioran


First medium mountain stage and it's a massive one in Massif Central. With a start in Sarlat-le-Canéda, cyclists will go east and climb several KOMs just before the four main climbs of the day take place. First Neronne, then the massive Pas de Peyrol, with it's crazy steepness and then Perthus (BS) will challenge riders that at this point of the stage would have riden more than 210kms. Col de la Font de Cère, not as hard as the previous ones, could be the nail in the coffin for some riders.
Trap: Last 2 kms of Pas de Peyrol at a whopping 11,7% will be decisive, as well as the total lenght of the stage, with 225kms and more than 4500m kms climbed.


STAGE 8: Saint-Flour > Valence


Another transition stage for sprinters. This time the peloton will start in Saint-Flour and, after climbing some long but shallow climbs, they will arrive at Saint-Agrève, where, after a long downhill and some flat kms, riders will fight for another stage win in a presumably massive sprint in the city of Valence.
Trap: Almost all of the stage will be raced in a type of terrain the peloton is not comfortable with.


STAGE 9 (Bastille Day): Romans-sur-Isère > Prapoutel-les-Sept-Laux


We will celebrate the Bastille Day with the first mountain stage of the race and the first MTF as well. With a total of 4500m of positiv climbing, it will start in the nearby town of Romans-sur-Isère, cyclists will have to go through the Parc naturel régional du Vercors before entering Grenoble, where an IS will be placed. After that, the mighty Col de Porte and the short but steep Col du Coq will follow a technical descent into the last climb of the day, or should I say climbs. Prapoutel will be climbed via Col du Prabert (BS) (9,2kms at 8,2%) after an almost 40 year drought.
Trap: Col du Porte, the hardest climb of Chartreuse, with more than 6kms at 9% average, if paced hard it will do a lot of damage in the peloton.


REST DAY: Grenoble/Chambéry


STAGE 10: Albertville > La Plagne


After a well earned rest day, we will start second week of racing with a banger, a really short stage with 0 to none flat kms between Albertville, home of the 1992 Winter Olympics and La Plagne ski station with almost 5000m of climbing. The peloton will begin climbing just at km0, with Col de la Forclaz followed by a long and steady ascent to Col des Saisies, just before the Col du Pré + Cormet de Roselend combo. Then, after a long downhill into Bourg-Saint-Maurice and a 8kms valley section, the highest climb of this Tour de France, and therefore Souvenir Henri Desgrange, will be climbed. The mighty La Plagne, that will return to the route after 17 years of absence.
Trap: Col du Pré, with 5kms at almost 10% average will be nothing compared to the long and steady ascent to La Plagne, almost 20kms of constant uphill at 7-8% average. Will see a few blow ups for sure.


STAGE 11: Môutiers > La Mure


Queen stage of this Tour de France for sure. It will be one of the hardest stages ever riden in a TdF, with a bonkers 5900m of positive climbing in just 183kms. This crazy stage will begin in the alpine village of Môutiers and riders will have to climb Madeleine at the very start followed by Col du Glandon, not bad at all. After 10kms of valley into Bourg d'Oisans, home of Alpe d'Huez, peloton will climb the undersed Montée de Villard-Notre-Dame, an incredible climb with awesome scenery and incredible slopes topped by just 2kms of gravel. A quick descent into the now protagonist Col d'Ornon will set them up for the discovering of a climb named Parquetout (BS), a wall of 7kms at 10% of average, with 5kms at almost 11% average. Crowned at just 20kms to go, a long downhill and a short and decisive climb towards La Mure will decide the winner of this mad stage.
Trap: Although Parquetout might be the jewel of the stage, peloton must not overlook Villard-Notre-Dame, just after climbing two long HC climbs, a short and steep one could be the ruin for many. The first 5 kms at 10% average is the main reason for it.


STAGE 12: Gap > Avignon


A much needed sprint stage after two insane alpine stages is what Tour de France needs. Starting in the traditional TdF city Gap, peloton will ride through Sisteron and just south of Mont Ventoux to end up after 50kms long pancake flat kms in the city of Avignon, that will host a finish for the first time since 1987.
Trap: Being after the queen stage peloton might not be up to full speed yet and it could be hard to control, especially in the middle part with 4 categorized hills.


STAGE 13: Apt > Draguignan


Another transition stage, this time a medium mountain one. Beginning in Apt, and going through Lac de Sainte-Croix, the mesmerizing Gorges du Verdon and the pintoresque village of Châteaudouble, a break is expected to become victorious in the village of Draguignan.
Trap: The combination of Vaumale and the next two climbs just over the Gorges du Verdon could be decisive for the stage win, it will go to the breakaway or to a reduced sprint in the peloton.


STAGE 14: Fréjus > Saint-Tropez


Another ITT in a Saturday, this time in the end of the second week and after two stages were the GC contenders would have saved some energy. The almost 40kms between Fréjus and Saint-Tropez are almost all flat and meant to be for pure time trialists, but two short climbs could break the rythm of some cyclists and should benefit climbers more.
Trap: Côte de Sémaphore in Sainte-Maxime is an 800m wall at 9,6% that, climbed with a TT bike, will decide the outcome of the stage.


STAGE 15: Brignoles > Le Ciotat


I always thought that long stages with 'muros' Vuelta or Tirreno-style work faboulous in stage races. I recently read that you cannot trace a good stage like this in France, so I decided to prove it wrong. Peloton will ride in another area often underused by the real Tour de France, and will make the most of it with almost 225kms in total and almost 4500m of climbing. After starting in Brignoles, there will be two soft but good to form the break climbs, then 50kms flat near the sea to enter the madness. Two real walls in the form of Mur d'Évenos and Montée de Vieux Camp will appear in the route, just before entering the final circuit of 35kms. The main attraction of the circuit is a 3km climb at 9,5% called Côte de la Route des Crétes that will have to be climbed twice (BS), along Côte de Saint-Croix, a narrow and explosive climb. Stage will end in Le Ciotat, also the first time finishing there.
Trap: Côte de la Route des Crétes will be the key of the circuit, with entire kms at almost 11% average and a false flat just on top to make it even worse. If the wind blows from the sea it could be even more spectacular.


REST DAY: Nîmes/Montpellier


STAGE 16: La-Grande-Motte > Perpignan


Long and flat stage to enter the last week of this Tour de France. Last mass sprint stage before Champs Elysées between La-Grande-Motte and the city of Perpignan, often underused by the organization.
Trap: For almost all of the stage the route is directly next to the sea, so the probability of crosswinds and some resonable differences between some GC guys is not zero.


STAGE 17: Céret > Ax-3-Domains


First high mountain stage of the Pyrenées and after some years of absence Northern Catalonia is back on the route with a start in Céret, going to Prades through two climbs perfect for making the breakaway, followed by the long and steady climb of Col de Mont-Louis and finishing in the combo of Pailhères (BS) (with Plagne the only climbs that will count double for the polka dot jersey) + Ax 3 Domains, with a total of roughly 4700m climbed
Trap: We all love endings like this. Hard HC + softer climb, normally a 1st cat or 2nd cat, almost always works. Peloton paces really hard in Pailhères, attacks are made for the BS and differences are made in Ax 3 Domains, a climb that is harder than it looks, at 8% average.


STAGE 18: Pamiers > Lourdes


Transition stage in the Pyrenées meant for a really interesting breakaway. Starting in Pamiers, near Foix and ending in Lourdes via L'Isle-de-Dodon, means that the route will flat the majority of the time, except for a really well placed 3rd cat climb just before Bagnères de Bigorre that could decide whether it's a stage for a solo attack, or for a reduced sprint.
Trap: Côte de le Hailla, crowned at almost 30kms to go, seems to be the key of the stage, with a kms just at the start at 9% average that could drop some cyclists. Eventhough it seems like the most important climb, the small hill leading to the BS of Coutecave might end up being just as decisive.


STAGE 19: Pau > Hautacam


Queen stage of the Pyrénees with 4500m climbed in just 150kms beginning in the also traditional TdF town of Pau and ending in Hautacam, after some years of absence. After some rolling and steep hills in the start for the breakaway, riders will climb the combo of Aubisque + Spandelles + Hautacam, really similar to 2022 stage which Vingegaard won.
Trap: Spandelles, although it's not an HC climb, contrary to Aubisque and Hautacam, just as we saw in 2022, race could be thrown into pieces at that climb, and with its technical descent afterwards where you could make or lose time to your competitors and wont recover anything.


STAGE 20: Montréjeau > Foix


I wanted to trace a medium mountain stage or a high mountain stage with the main climb long to go. But having used a lot of good combos in the last years, I decided to give Foix and Mur de Peguère some protagonism that they really much need. 4600m of climbing in 185kms is something that should not be overlooked by the final climb, especially the start. Beginning in Montréjeau the peloton will have to climb Menté and Portet d'Aspet in their tougher side from just the start. Then Col de la Core will acumulate more desnivel and unite with the combo of Latrape and Agnes, really underused by the Tour de France and similar to Spandelles. After 0kms of flat Mur de Peguère will be the last main climb of this Tour de France, crowned at more than 25kms to go, with a lot of false flat and not that many descent to recover.
Trap: As expected, the last kms of Mur de Peguère (3,6kms at 12%, with an entire km at 14%) are an absolute nightmare, especially in stage 20 after lots of accumulated desnivel.


STAGE 21: Cergy > Paris. Champs Elysées


After looking at some of the last TdF routes I discovered that except the start of Saint-Dennis there weren't any starts of the 21th stages in the north of Paris, so I decided that I will focus on that part, as the south-western part is covered by the Grand Départ. Riders will face for the first time Côte de Fôret de Carnelle, just before entering Paris and doing 7 laps at the Champs Elysées, were the winner of the 2019 Tour de France will be crowned.
Trap: Côte de Fôret de Carnelle could decide the result of the polka dot jersey, a climb with 600m at 12% just at the start of it.

Hello everyone,
Here I present my concept for the Tour de France 2019 in the Fantasy version. I tried to keep all the assumptions given in the theme of the competition, but it is up to the organizers to interpret them.

My Grand Depart was the beautiful city of Tours, which is one of the most important centers of French history. The city rarely visited on the TdF route now got a chance to show itself to the whole cycling world, by placing here the Grand Depart, as well as the start of the 2nd stage.

Key informations about Tour de France 2019:

Grand Depart: Tours
Finish: Paris
Distance: 3320,9 km
Longest Stage: Stage 3 - 209,4 km
Shortest Stage (without ITT): Stage 21 - 113,3 km
MTF: Stage 5, Stage 9, Stage 11, Stage 12, Stage 15, Stage 16, Stage 18
ITT: Stage 1, Stage 20 - summary 57,3 km

Mountain categories:

Total HC: 6
Total 1st Category: 14
Total 2nd Category: 10
Total 3rd Category: 8
Total 4th Category: 15

The route I designed is very different from the route in 2018. That edition did not promote too many MTFs and bypassed the Pyrenees. In this year’s TDF, I would like to draw attention to the yet undiscovered peaks and highlight the essence of the Pyrenean rooftops, which will be the main arena of TdF 2018. Of course, we can not forget about the Alps, which will arrange the second week of the race.

I'd like to invite you to the race presentations.

maps/tours/view/23954
Greetings everyone!

My route is inspired by the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo Da Vinci, which occurred in 1519 in Amboise. For this reason i included the passage in Italy with the arrival in Milan, where the famous Last Supper is located. I also chose to have the last stage conclude at the Louvre. The stage starting from Novi Ligure is dedicated to Fausto Coppi on the centenary of the birth of the Champion and to also remember his eternal rival Gino Bartali I have included a stage arriving in Lourdes (due to his religiosity the French nicknamed him "Gino the pious")


maps/tours/view/23959

For the first time in its history, the Tour de France is experiencing a major departure from Lorraine. The entire region is highlighted with three days (including the TTT) within it. The first week will also be punctuated by a difficult stage along the white paths of Champagne and by two stages of medium mountains in the Vosges and Haut-Doubs. Then will come the Massif Central at the start of the second week then the Alps with three difficult stages before resting in Montpellier. The Tour will end with an ITT in Toulouse before the Pyrenean marathon with three hard stages including two arriving at altitude before the traditional Parisian parade.




Stage 1 : Nancy - Place Stanislas - Metz // 194,85km // Hilly

A mini LBL between Nancy and Metz. First attack, first yellow jersey and first strong polka dot jersey.



Stage 2 : Verdun – Toul // 200,88km // Plain

First massive sprint after a 200km long stage even if the last climb is close enough from the finish to break the pursuit. The stage cross several battle sites of the WW1 in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Versailles Treaty



Stage 3 : Lunéville - Lunéville // 34,81km // TTT

An difficult and too rare exercise will return on this edition : the TTT. The stage is flat and crosses many straight road, it will be a day for specialists.



Stage 4 : Neufchâteau - Troyes // 165,96km // Plain

Second massive sprint stage in Troyes. No chance this time for anyone who isn't sprinter to win.



Stage 5 : Bar-sur-Aube – Châtillon-sur-Seine // 147,95km // Hilly with white roads sectors

The novelty of this edition is the use of 5 white roads sectors along Champagne and spiced up by many climbs. Many leaders could lose the Tour after this stage.



Stage 6 : Châtillon-sur-Seine - Langres // 185,13km // Plain with top finish

This plain stage will be a cool one as it is peacefull and flat. However, the finish is for the strongest sprinters or a man that could resist the pack on the last meters.



Stage 7 : Chaumont – Luxeuil-les-Bains // 182,99km // Plain

This time, this will be a straight road to victory for sprinters.



Stage 8 : Lure - Cernay // 153,62km // High Moutain

With the ambition of using each one of the five french moutain massifs, the journey begin in the Vosges with the Grand Ballon as the launching pad for leaders to conquer some seconds.



Stage 9 : Altkirch - Pontarlier - Refuge du Gounefay // 176,28km // Medium mountain with top finish

The end of the first week take the pack to the Jura massif with an explosive finish above Pontarlier. The finish is relatively simple but if climb at high speed, it could make damages to some.



REST DAY IN VICHY

Stage 10 : Vichy – Chastreix-Sancy // 170,31km // Medium mountain with top finish

We begin the second week as the close the first with a medium moutain stage, this time in Massif central. This could be a good opportunity for the breakway to put the peloton within several minutes



Stage 11 : Issoire - Le Péage-du-Roussillon // 192,21km // Medium Moutain

Not the hardest but far for the easiest, this stage could give the win to a group of breakaway or to a little pack. This could also be a lonely win for a strong man. Many possibilies for the win.



Stage 12 : Annonay – Meylan // 223,67km // Hilly

The longest day, kind of classic but not easy. Many little climbs among the road to spice up the day. Will it be a massive sprint in Meylan or another day for the barouders ?



Stage 13 : Le Pont-du-Claix - La Toussuire - Les Sybelles // 145,30km // High Moutain with top finish

One of the queen stage of the Tour. The Croix-de-Fer / Mollard / La Toussuire sequence will allow the best leaders to scrounge up time on their rivals



Stage 14 : Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Barcelonette // 184,12km // High mountain

Difficult to bet on the outcome of this stage. Certainly, the passes taken are among the hardest in France (Galibier, Izoard and Vars) but the Vars summit is undoubtedly a little far from the finish for a leader to try something. Unless there is fire in the pack.



Stage 15 : Gap – Mont Ventoux // 186,55km // High mountain with top finish

The legendary Mont Ventoux closes this second week with a stage which will be summed up (for the strongest men) in the final ascent in which they will have every opportunity to take time or make their rivals lose some.



REST DAY IN LA-GRANDE-MOTTE

Stage 16 : La-Grande-Motte – Carcassone - Cité médievale // 167,89km // Plain

The seaside and its pleasures. Only Mont Saint-Clair will stretch the peloton but the sprinters will not let this victory slip away.



Stage 17 : Muret - Toulouse // 26,18km // ITT

This second TT could surprise more than one! The distance is not incredible but this small bump 2/3 of the way could hurt the body.



Stage 18 : Toulouse – Guzet Neige // 156,88km // High Moutain with top finish

The Pyrenean triptych begins gently with a stage that could be described as an appetizer. The three passes are certainly not a piece of cake but even if the arrival at Guzet-Neige will crown a leader, it should not create insurmountable gaps.



Stage 19 : Saint-Girons - Val Louron // 181,14km // High Moutain with top finish

The real queen stage, here it is. More than 180 km, 7 passes with a Dantesque final sequence between Balès, Peyresourde and Val Louron which makes its comeback on the Tour, 18 years after its only appearance.



Stage 20 : Saint-Gaudens - Luz Saint-Sauveur // 149,95km // High mountain

The Pyrenean giants will be in the spotlight but the race will undoubtedly have to be played out on the last pass, the unprecedented Col de Trabaou, which is just the start of the Luz Ardiden climb.



Stage 21 : Paris - Parc des Princes – Paris - Champs Élysées // 131,07km // Plain

And here is the traditional Parisian parade. As usual, the start of the stage risks being skipped unless the polka dot jersey is very fragile. The final circuit will then undoubtedly offer victory to a sprinter.

Tour de France by Tycho

maps/tours/view/24015
7 Flat stage
6 Hilly stages
6 Mountain stages
2 Individual Time Trials
3446KM

The overall idea was to also use areas and climbs that are not used very often in real life and take approaches to regions other than the usual.

Here is my Tour de France, designed to force riders to attack where they don't want to. As opposite to the appoach of the past Tours to help cyclists finding opportunities to attack, here we make it a necessity to exploit any unlikely opportunity you have, because you won't get more of those.

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