chattanoogamocs
July 1st, 2005, 05:24 PM
I do his preview for a couple of sports sites and in past years I have been in the studio for questions on the local sports radio show (one of the broadcasters is a friend, but they don't normally delve much past football, basketball, and nascar). So here is my little preview
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/bsp/hi/image_maps/05/6/1119975105/img/image.gif
The route (as in all even years) will be in a clockwise manner around the country of France, with a stay over one night in the Black Forest of Germany (Stage 7) and a slight mid-stage incursion into the Spain (Stage 15).
21 stages, 2,236 miles (3607km)
9 flat stages, 3 medium mtn stages, 6 mtn stages, 2 individual time trials, 1 team time trial
20 climbs of cat 2, cat 1 and Hors Categorie.
(climbs are rated from category 5, easiest, to category 1, hardest...plus the dreaded "Hors Categorie"...climbs to tough to even categorize, literally "off the chart")
The Contenders:
Lance Armstrong, Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile), Ivan Basso (Team CSC)..."long shots" Iban Mayo, former Postal rider Roberto Heras..."long(er) shots"Joseba Beloki
Stage 1:
This year has a little different start. Typically you have a very short prologue (less than 5 miles) and 2 inividual time trials. This year, they have dropped the prologue and made Stage 1 a time trial, though in the grand scheme, 19k (11.78 miles) is still not long, it is important. You don't win the Tour on the first day, but you can lose it.
Stages 2 and 3:
Will take the riders away from the coast and into the Centre and Loire regions of France...the area will be flat and hot. The contenders will be happy to just stay in the pack and avoid the early race crashes...this is the time for the sprinters to shine. Stage 1 is 112.5 miles (181.5km) and Stage 2 is 132 miles (212.5km).
Stage 4:
The Individual Time Trial will be the first step for the "new" Team Discovery to put their imprint on the race. Lances' teams have been so strong in the past that the Tour organizers instituted a "3 minute" rule...no team can lose more than 3 minutes on the stage. It actually gives the lesser team almost a day off because they can take it easy and just take the 3 minute loss. The time for the "team" is when the 6th rider crosses the finish line. Length: 42 miles (67.5km)
Stage 5 and 6:
These stages are again more for the sprinters, though they do start to have some "bumps". Stage 5 is 113 miles (183km) and has one small category 4 climb (about 500 feet) in the middle. Stage 6 is what Tour organizers would consider "rolling" with four cat 4 climbs over the 124 miles (199km)
Stage 7 and 8:
Though both stages are pretty flat, these will be the two longest stages and after a week of riding, will start to separate the pretenders from the contenders. Stage 7 is 142 miles (228.5) and has one cat 4 and one cat 3 (about 1,200 feet) early in the day before a long slow downhill into the Black Forest region of Germany (one of two brief forays outside of France). Stage 8 is the longest of this years Tour at 144 miles (231.5km) and will has three cat 3 climbs at the beginning, a long flat stretch, and then a nice little cat 2 (Col de la Schlucht) near then end. The Schlucht is not vrey high (less than a 1,000 feet) but is very steep.
Stages 9:
The shake out begins as the sprinters start to lose big chunks of time...or just abandon the Tour all together (having had their "fun"). Stage 9 is 106 miles (171km) begins with three cat 3 climbs, followed by the cat 2 Le Grand Ballon. After a long descent and another cat 3, the climbers will tackle their first cat 1 ascent...up the Le Ballon d'Alsace. The stage continues with about 40 miles of downhill before the finish. For those who are weak climbers, the rest day aftre Stage 9 will be a welcomed sight.
More tomorrow (Alps preview)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/bsp/hi/image_maps/05/6/1119975105/img/image.gif
The route (as in all even years) will be in a clockwise manner around the country of France, with a stay over one night in the Black Forest of Germany (Stage 7) and a slight mid-stage incursion into the Spain (Stage 15).
21 stages, 2,236 miles (3607km)
9 flat stages, 3 medium mtn stages, 6 mtn stages, 2 individual time trials, 1 team time trial
20 climbs of cat 2, cat 1 and Hors Categorie.
(climbs are rated from category 5, easiest, to category 1, hardest...plus the dreaded "Hors Categorie"...climbs to tough to even categorize, literally "off the chart")
The Contenders:
Lance Armstrong, Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile), Ivan Basso (Team CSC)..."long shots" Iban Mayo, former Postal rider Roberto Heras..."long(er) shots"Joseba Beloki
Stage 1:
This year has a little different start. Typically you have a very short prologue (less than 5 miles) and 2 inividual time trials. This year, they have dropped the prologue and made Stage 1 a time trial, though in the grand scheme, 19k (11.78 miles) is still not long, it is important. You don't win the Tour on the first day, but you can lose it.
Stages 2 and 3:
Will take the riders away from the coast and into the Centre and Loire regions of France...the area will be flat and hot. The contenders will be happy to just stay in the pack and avoid the early race crashes...this is the time for the sprinters to shine. Stage 1 is 112.5 miles (181.5km) and Stage 2 is 132 miles (212.5km).
Stage 4:
The Individual Time Trial will be the first step for the "new" Team Discovery to put their imprint on the race. Lances' teams have been so strong in the past that the Tour organizers instituted a "3 minute" rule...no team can lose more than 3 minutes on the stage. It actually gives the lesser team almost a day off because they can take it easy and just take the 3 minute loss. The time for the "team" is when the 6th rider crosses the finish line. Length: 42 miles (67.5km)
Stage 5 and 6:
These stages are again more for the sprinters, though they do start to have some "bumps". Stage 5 is 113 miles (183km) and has one small category 4 climb (about 500 feet) in the middle. Stage 6 is what Tour organizers would consider "rolling" with four cat 4 climbs over the 124 miles (199km)
Stage 7 and 8:
Though both stages are pretty flat, these will be the two longest stages and after a week of riding, will start to separate the pretenders from the contenders. Stage 7 is 142 miles (228.5) and has one cat 4 and one cat 3 (about 1,200 feet) early in the day before a long slow downhill into the Black Forest region of Germany (one of two brief forays outside of France). Stage 8 is the longest of this years Tour at 144 miles (231.5km) and will has three cat 3 climbs at the beginning, a long flat stretch, and then a nice little cat 2 (Col de la Schlucht) near then end. The Schlucht is not vrey high (less than a 1,000 feet) but is very steep.
Stages 9:
The shake out begins as the sprinters start to lose big chunks of time...or just abandon the Tour all together (having had their "fun"). Stage 9 is 106 miles (171km) begins with three cat 3 climbs, followed by the cat 2 Le Grand Ballon. After a long descent and another cat 3, the climbers will tackle their first cat 1 ascent...up the Le Ballon d'Alsace. The stage continues with about 40 miles of downhill before the finish. For those who are weak climbers, the rest day aftre Stage 9 will be a welcomed sight.
More tomorrow (Alps preview)