TravelMole’s guide to the best bits of the Tour de France
THE 100th Tour de France, which began in Corsica at the weekend, is almost as much a travelogue as a bike race. Here’s TravelMole’s guide to the Tour highlights you shouldn’t miss.
The 3404km-long bike race takes place over 21 stages and two rest days and finishes in Paris on Sunday, July 21.
HIGHLIGHTS
The 100th edition of the Tour de France will see riders climb the famed Alp d’Huez twice on Stage 18 and ride onto the Champs Elysees under lights at 9.45pm for the stage’s first ever night finish on Stage 21.
JERSEYS
Yellow: The Maillot Jaune is worn by the leader of the Tour de France as determined by the general classification (2012 winner Bradley Wiggins).
Green: Also known as the sprinter’s jersey, it is worn by the leader of the points classification based on finishing positions on each stage and in intermediate sprints.
Polkadot: Awarded to the best climber of the Tour who acquires the most points over each of the designated climbs during the race.
White: The youth classification is awarded to the best-placed rider aged 25 or under on general classification.
STAGES NOT TO BE MISSED
Saturday, July 6
Stage 8 – 195km Castres to AX-3-Domaines
After a testing opening week, the first summit finish of the Tour arrives with both a Hors Categorie and Category 1 climb awaiting the peloton where the yellow jersey is expected to change hands.
Sunday, July 7
Stage 9 – 168.5km Saint-Girons to Bagneres-De-Bigorre
Four Category 1 climbs in just 168km of racing means there will be fireworks. Whoever is at the front of the race after the final climb faces a nervous 30km descent to the finish. Can they hold on?
Sunday, July 14
Stage 15 – 242km Givors to Mont Ventoux
Anytime Mont Ventoux is on the Tour de France route it’s worth watching. The stage is mostly flat until the final 20km which goes uphill at an average gradient of 7.5% and will sort the men from the boys.
Wednesday, July 17
Stage 17 – ITT 32km Embrun to Chorges
In a significant change from recent years, the final individual time trial of the Tour will be held before crucial stages in the Alps. It doesn’t mean the outcome of the TT is any less significant but it’s only the entree to the next day’s main course.
Thursday, July 18
Stage 18 – 168.5km Gap to Alp d’Huez
Alp d’Huez not once but twice which has the ability to decide the yellow jersey. Riders hit the famed climb after 118km then ride another 30km before tackling it again all the way to the finish.
Sunday, July 21
Stage 21 – 133km Versailles to Paris
The battle for the yellow jersey might be over but don’t miss the first ever night finish on the Champs Elysees.
Ian Jarrett
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