Jake Latham
The Route for Le Tour de France has been revealed in Paris overnight when the organisers, ASO, presented the course to a myriad of top performers and teams that are willing to give one of the toughest races another try.
For the 103rd anniversary of the race it will begin on July 2 in Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, and make its way along the windy English Channel to Utah Beach.
Following these scenic stages the sprinters will be able to control the race if they can handle the breakaways as Le Tour heads south towards Angers and Limoges.
Stage 5 presents a taste of what’s to come with a slight climb before heading toward the Pyrenees.
The mountain stages here will be brief but expect long breakaways and hilltop finishes to excite the French crowds. A Finish in Lac de Payolle followed by a start in the Col de la Tourmalet this will be where the climbers begin to strive.
The first rest day comes after 9 days of action when the riders visit Andorra.
Mont-Ventoux will be making an appearance, hosting a hilltop finish on Bastille day July 14.
With no Team Time Trial presented the first Time Trial comes on stage 13 where individuals will race the 37km TT from Bourg-Saint-Andeol to La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc. This could be a decisive stage for riders in the GC before they head into the Alps.
The Swiss mountains will test the riders before their next rest day after stage 16 in Berne.
One of the biggest climbs comes on stage 17 with a new finish in Emosson dam after ascending the 1960m high Gueulaz with a pitch of 8.4% over 10.4km on the 184km stage.
Mont Blanc will shadow some of the final climbs before a 17km uphill Time Trial from Sallanches to Megeve. With a gradual gradient, it will suit Grand Tour riders and we may see more changes to the GC during this stage.
One last uphill battle to fight for the yellow jersey comes in stage 20 where riders will ascend to Morzine on a 146km stage.
The riders will then make the scenic ride into Paris and the Champs-Elysees on July 24.
All up the race is 3,619km long, including only 54km of TT and takes just under 4 weeks.
Riders that are hungry to take home the yellow jersey from the Grand Tour are Contador, Froome and Quitana, but there will surely be many more in contention to battle it out of the entirety of the race.
