TdF 2009 -- Monaco

[Frenchie]

Prologue route in Monaco.

Stade 2 France 2

Roche is really more French than Irish...

[Paul D]

I'm confused. If they start in Monaco, where is the second stage going to be? Either a massive transfer up north, or the old clockwise/anticlockwise route on alternate years is for the bin.

On a more personal note, my friends who normally ride over for the first few stages won't be too happy if it never gets further north than Paris.

Monaco is a horrible place too (I drove a car round it this summer ).

[JT]

The first week weaves along the South of France towards Spain and then down to Barcelona. Allegedly.

Here's the rumoured route:

http://www.steephill.tv/2009/tour-de-france/

The official route announcement is on Wednesday.

[Paul D]

Thanks for that. My friends will indeed be a bit annoyed that it's running entirely in the south half of France. I'm annoyed that I'll be in bed in prep for the start of LEL when I should be on top of Ventoux.

[rafletcher]

And here's the actual one..

www.cyclingnews.com presents the 96th Tour de France

[Pingu]

Mont Ventoux as the last day of racing - hopefully it'll be close by the time they get there.

[αdαmsκι]

A map and the stage profiles are on www.LeTour.fr. Having Mnt Ventoux as the last proper stage could prove to be fantastic

[robgul]

Hmm - shame it's all down in the south .... much further to go to see it in these straitened times ... slight upside that the TTT has been reinstated, although only 38km

Rob

[pcolbeck]

Wow, this will be a different tour.

[Aidan]

It will be, looks good.

And guess who's got a hotel booked in Barcelona on the 8th 9th and 10th

[woollypigs]

Tour de France - 2009

Look very different.

[gonzo]

I'm down near Monpellier for 3 months this winter. I think I might be riding lots of the routes!

[JT]

Well we've made our plans. 6 nights camping in the Alps ending with the TT at Annecy and from there we'll head up to Paris for 3 nights to do some sightseeing before catching the final stage.

[Paul D]

I haven't spoken to my usual TdF partner yet, but I fancy a chase along the south coast in the first week, with a chance to catch up for the Andorra finish or maybe the Tourmalet stage whilst they're sightseeing in Spain.

[Frenchie]

A bit too southward for my liking, but an interesting route. The prologue will be boring though.

[Jakob]

They should run the prologue on the F1 'route'.

[Frenchie]

They should run the prologue on the F1 'route'.

I think they are and in Stade 2 some of the riders were moaning about it. Check the link I posted... But it is "glamour".

In Monaco, 150 registered cyclists.

[Riggers]

Watch the 3D video from Woolies's link, and by golly, it looks a jolly long lonnnnggg way.

[Jakob]

They should run the prologue on the F1 'route'.

I think they are and in Stade 2 some of the riders were moaning about it. Check the link I posted... But it is "glamour".

In Monaco, 150 registered cyclists.

Ah, my bad!. I think that course will be a bit of a challenge for the Peleton. Downhill and around Rascasse should be fun to watch.