Voltage to the circuit, the organizers of the Tour de France 2020 want. The track is the template: On the penultimate day of a mountain waiting for the time to drive to the steep Planche des Belles Filles on the driver.
Decision on the Planche des Belles Filles: 2019 was the steep rise in already a taste
Tour Director Christian Prudhomme knew that he has saved the Best for last. With countless superlatives he had illustrated previously, the route of the Tour de France in 2020, and the audience at Paris ‘ Palais des Congrès will be presented. But now the decisive stage on the penultimate day followed the climax of his speech:. “The track is flat, then it will be wavy, and at the end of an incredible mountain comes”, said Prudhomme the 36-kilometre mountain time trial to the Planche des Belles Filles in the Vosges. It is the only individual time trial of the Tour de France – probably because the organizers of the ASO have detected a small number of time trial kilometres as the guarantor for an exciting, open race. For this fight against the clock is a special one. The final ascent to 1035 meters above sea level is steep and is a magnet for the public. “The Planche is a classic,” says the Tour boss, but made it clear that it is not unlike the mountain 2019 arrival on the gravel roads.
Demanding Start at the foot of the Maritime Alps
In addition to the Planche des Belles Filles 28 further increases in wait for the Peloton to the professionals. Among the 21 stages, five mountain arrivals, and thus, as in the previous years, less than at the Giro d’italia and the Vuelta are to be found. The 3470 kilometers long trail runs this year within France, and especially in the southern half of the country.
The start of the Tour is nice with challenging stages through the nearby Maritime Alps. “We hope to be an exceptional Start. Our goal is to show the world that you can live a different life in a city”, said Christian Estrosi, mayor of nice, at the presentation. The Tour Start will be accompanied by a series of actions in the direction of a Bicycle-friendly city. After the Grand Départ on the Côte d’azur for more challenging days to follow sections in the southern Alps and the Cevennes. And after only a transfer stage, the Pyrenees are already waiting with two mountain stages. The sprinters get to the beginning significantly less chances of victories of the day as you are used to from the Tour.
Returns Froome in winning form?
The dominant Team: Ineos won the last five editions of the Tour, Bernal (r.). in the previous year
On some of the flatter routes on the West coast of France, the Central follow then solid, and finally the crucial Part in the Alps. But it was only the time trial in the Vosges will provide clarity in the question of who may enter on the following day in Paris as the Tour winner. Favorites the driver of the team Ineos are once again the winners of the last five years, the British team is the dominant Team of the Tour. And the from injury returned Briton Chris Froome has already announced victory ambitions with the support of the young Colombian last year’s winner, Egan Bernal. Behind Ineos, with the winner of 2018, Geraint Thomas, still has one more card in the Hand. A luxury Problem, that would be the envy of the other Teams Ineos. France will hope to more great performances by Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot. From the German point of view, all hopes are in terms of the overall standings on Emanuel Buchmann. The silent mountain specialist from the Bora-Hansgrohe-team went into this year with very consistent performances on court four and seems to be at the age of 26 is ready for more.
Only a week after the arrival on the Champs-Elysées will be searched for in Tokyo on a mountainous course, the Olympic champion in the road race and some of the Tour riders will be among the favorites for the gold medal.