ASO presented today in Paris at the Palais des Congrès the route of the Tour de France 2020. Here are some details on each of the stages.
Image: @ASO
An original route in more ways than one, firstly because of the location from the Grand Departure, around Nice the weekend of June 27 and 28. The event promises to be particularly difficult with a hilly course from the first week of racing, a slight lull going up from the Pyrenees to the Center West before concluding in style in the Alps and then in the East of France with an unprecedented time trial to the summit of the Planche des Belles-Filles the day before the finish.
If the Tour de France is brought forward by a week compared to usual, it is because of the Tokyo Olympic Games, which will take place from July 24 to August 9. The event on route The men's individual race is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, and the time trial for July 29, six and ten days after the finish of the Tour.
The Route of the Tour de France 2020
June 27 – 1st stage: Nice – Nice (156 km)
A first hilly stage in the Nice hinterland, but which could end in a sprint.
June 28 – 2nd stage: Nice – Nice (187 km)
A quick introduction to the heart of the matter, with a step from mytagwhich will accumulate almost 4000 m of positive elevation gain. The runners will tackle the Col de la Colmiane (16 km at 6,3%), then the Col du Turini (15 km at 7,4%) and finally the Col d'Eze (7,8 km at 6,1%). Note that this will also be theThe route of the Tour cyclo stage, which will take place on July 5.
June 29 – 3rd stage: Nice – Sisteron (198 km)
Another slightly hilly stage as we leave the shores of the Mediterranean to head into the hinterland and before going back down to Sisteron, where the most resilient sprinters should be able to compete for victory. Unless a group of adventurers who started from far away reshuffle the cards of the general classification established the day before.
June 30 – 4th stage: Sisteron – Orcières – Merlette (157 km)
The stage that could be described as average mytagThe crossing of the Dévoluy Massif should be nervous, with an arrival at more than 1800 m altitude at Orcières – Merlette after 7 km at 6,7% average gradient.
July 1st – 5th stage: Gap – Privas (183 km)
The Tour riders will turn their backs on the Alps before returning to them a little later, crossing the Rhone Valley, which could expose them to the wind. A sprint finish is likely, on one of the rare stages favorable to sprinters.
July 2 – 6th stage: Le Teil – Mont Aigoual (191 km)
Almost unprecedented arrival at Mont Aigoual, only used once by the Tour de France in 1987. The finale consists of an average gradient of 4% over 14 km, preceded by the difficult Col de la Lusette (11,7 km at 7,3%) for a total of 34 km of climbing.
July 3 – 7th stage: Millau – Lavaur (168 km)
A hilly stage like those found on the Tour de France when it runs in the southern part of the country, but which could be called a transitional stage. It should end in a sprint after a long breakaway of a few riders.
July 4 – 8th stage: Cazères-sur-Garonne – Loudenvielle (140 km)
The Pyrenees will rise up in front of the peloton at the end of the first week of racing. The Col de Menté, the Port de Balès and the Col de Peyresourde will follow one after the other before the dive towards Loudenvielle on a short and nervous stage.
July 5 – 9th stage: Pau – Laruns (154 km)
A second day in the Pyrenees that should sting, after a very intense first week and just before the rest day in Charente – Maritime. The Hourcère (11 km at 8,8%) and Soudet (3,8 km at 8,5%) passes will follow one after the other, before a finale passing through the Marie Blanque pass (7,7 km at 8,6%).
July 6 – REST
July 7 – 10th stage: Oléron Island (Oléron Castle) – Ré Island (Saint-Martin-de-Ré) (170 km)
A completely flat stage normally intended for sprinters, but watch out for the wind.
July 8 – 11th stage: Châtelaillon-Plage – Poitiers (167 km)
After the first week of the Tour full of difficulties, a second stage in a row which should be promised to the sprinters.
July 9 – 12th stage: Chauvigny – Sarran (218 km)
The longest stage of the 2020 Tour will take the peloton towards Sarran, on a slightly uneven terrain that could suit the adventurers who are quite far behind in the general classification.
July 10 – 13th stage: Châtel-Guyon – Puy-Mary (191 km)
The stage will present a profile of average montagnot very leg-breaking all in climbs and descents, with 4400 m of positive elevation gain. Among the difficulties, the Col de Ceyssat, the Col de Guéry, the climb of the Stèle, the Côte de l'Estiade, the Côte d'Anglards-de-Salers will precede the Col de Néronne and its 3,8 km at an average of 9,1% just before the final climb of the Pas de Peyrol, and its 5,4 km at an average of 8,1%, with the last two kilometers at 12%.
July 11 – 14th stage: Clermont-Ferrand – Lyon (197 km)
Another bumpy stage with some difficulties not tough enough to disturb the leaders of the general classification, but enough to allow the escapees to impose themselves strongly.
July 12 – 15th stage: Lyon – Grand Colombier (175 km)
The Grand Colombier will be presented as a justice of the peace (17,4 km at 7,1%) with its irregular and difficult slopes from Culoz, but also spectacular with its bends in places very tight and which should give us very beautiful images seen from the sky. This climb will conclude a difficult day with the Fromentel saddle (11 km at 8,1%, including slopes between 11,5 and 22% on the last three kilometers) and the Col de la Biche (7 km at 8,9%).
July 13: REST
July 14 – 16th stage: La Tour-du-Pin – Villard-de-Lans (164 km)
The Tour de France begins its final bouquet in the Alps the day after the rest day, with a mid-altitude stage through the Chartreuse and the Vercors, with a climb through Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte before the final climb at Villard-de-Lans. On a final stage that saw Laurent Fignon win solo during the famous 1989 Tour, which he ultimately lost by 8 seconds to Greg Lemond.
July 15 – 17th stage: Grenoble – Col de la Loze (168 km)
The one that is considered the Queen stage of this Tour de France 2020 will cross the Madeleine and will end at the top of the Col de la Loze, an unprecedented climb. A route only opened last spring, and which ends at an altitude of 2300 m. At the end of the 21,5 km of ascent at an average of 7,8%, the runners will face a succession of walls at almost 20% which should give us an epic finale. And why not decide the final winner in Paris.
July 16 – 18th stage: Méribel – La-Roche-sur-Foron (168 km)
A stage which should once again be very difficult with a long series of passes: Cormet de Roselend (1968 m), Saisies (1657 m), Aravis (1486 m), Plateau des Glières (1425 m), with relatively modest altitudes which in no way indicate their difficulty.
July 17 – 19th stage: Bourg-en-Bresse – Champagnole (160 km)
A bumpy stage, but one that could benefit the sprinters.
July 18 – July 20: Lure – La Planche des Belles-Filles (36 km)
The only time trial of this 2020 Tour de France will be contested over 36 km with a finale at the top of the difficult climb of the Planche des Belles-Filles in the Haute-Saône department, but without the spectacular last part taken on a road stage in the 2019 Tour de France. It is the first time that a single time trial will decide the overall victory and the podium in Paris.
July 19 – 21st stage: Mantes-la-Jolie – Paris (122 km)
A classic final stage, in the form of a parade up to the entrance into Paris on the Champs-Elysées, before a grand finale which should not escape a sprinter.
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