2005 Tour route revealed
ByReuters
Published 28/10/2004 at 11:19 GMT
Jean-Marie Leblanc, the director of the Tour de France, announced the 2005 route on Thursday. The race will start on Saturday 2 July with the prologue commencing at Fromentine in the Vendée and ending on the island of Noirmoutier. After a foray into Germa
With his record six victories, Lance Armstrong has proved he can win the Tour de France over any course. On Thursday organisers unveiled a 2005 route that suits his rivals rather than the American.
A single individual time trial on the penultimate day in St Etienne and fewer finishes at high altitude - July's Tour could be a little less demanding than in recent years and give the likes of Jan Ullrich and Joseba Beloki more recovery time.
However, organisers are not holding their breath over a fight to the finish for Armstrong, who preferred to stay in Texas for family reasons rather than travel to Paris.
"Don't count on me to make any predictions about the winner. We have been far too disappointed by Lance Armstrong's rivals in 2004," said Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc.
The 21 courses on the Tour menu will start with an prologue hors d'oeuvre on the Vendéen island of Noirmoutier, south of Brittany. From there the 200 riders will edge north-eastwards towards Tours, before heading towards Troyes and Nancy.
After a foray into Germany, the riders will move south to the Alps, then across to the Pyrenees, then on to the Massif-Central before finishing in Paris on 24 july.
Despite a tough stage to Courchevel in which the peloton will tackle the Cornet de Roselend climb which proved fatal to Miguel Indurain's chances in 1996, the Alps stages look less gruelling with two valley finishes, in Briancon and Digne.
The stage to Briancon will, however, include the most famous climbs of the region, the Galibier and Madeleines passes.
The Pyrenees look set to be more decisive with two finishes at high altitude in Ax Trois Domaines and a gruesome 17th stage to Le Pla d'Adet, involving five first category climbs.
CONSISTENT AND BALANCED
Climbers will also be in a position to shine before the Alps in the Vosges mountains, with a stage up the Ballon d'Alsace.
"I'm glad that the first big climb of the Tour will take place on the Ballon d'Alsace. It was the first ever climb in Tour history in 1905 and it revealed its first great climber, Rene Pottier," Leblanc said.
From the Pyrenees to Paris, riders will have to tackle the hilly roads of the Massif Central with a demanding finish in Mende.
As a result, the 2005 is a more balanced route than usual and will neither suit true climbers or sprinters, who will have only five flat stages to string out their rivals.
Time trial specialists will start the Tour with a longer prologue than usual over 19 km, but will have to wait for the day before the July 24 finish to express their power once more over 55 km in St Etienne.
"That last time trial in St Etienne will decide the final positions in the race. And I can tell you it'll be a tough one," said Leblanc.
On paper, the 2005 itinerary looks ideally suited for an all-rounder, a versatile rider equally at ease on all terrains.
That definition suits Armstrong perfectly.
ITINERARY
Saturday, July 2: First stage, individual time trial Fromentine-Noirmoutier (19 km)
Sunday, July 3: Second stage, Challans-Les Essarts (182 km)
Monday, July 4: Third stage, La Chataigneraie-Tours (208 km)
Tuesday, July 5 : Fourth stage, Team time trial Tours-Blois (66 km)
Wednesday, July 6: Fifth stage, Chambord-Montargis (179 km)
Thursday, July 7: Sixth stage, Troyes-Nancy (187 km)
Friday, July 8: Seventh stage, Etape Luneville-Karlsruhe (Germany) (225 km)
Saturday, July 9: Eighth stage, Pforzheim-Gerardmer (235 km)
Sunday, July 10: Ninth stage, Gerardmer-Mulhouse (170 km)
Monday, July 11: Rest day in Grenoble
Tuesday, July 12: 10th stage, Grenoble-Courchevel (192 km)
Wednesday, July 13: 11th stage, Courchevel-Briancon (173 km)
Thursday, July 14: 12th stage, Briancon-Digne les Bains (187 km)
Friday, July 15: 13th stage, Miramas-Montpellier (162 km)
Saturday, July 16: 14th stage, Agde-Ax Trois Domaines (220 km)
Sunday, July 17: 15th stage, Lezat/Leze-Saint Lary Soulan (205 km)
Monday, July 18: Rest day in Pau
Tuesday, July 19: 16th stage, Mourenx-Pau (177 km)
Wednesday, July 20: 17th stage, Pau-Revel (239 km)
Thursday, July 21: 18th stage, Albi-Mende (189 km)
Friday, July 22: 19th stage, Issoire-Le Puy en Velay (154 km)
Saturday, July 23: 20th stage, individual time trial in Saint-Etienne (55 km)
Sunday, July 24: 21st stage, Corbeil-Paris (160 km)
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