Next year’s Tour de France, featuring new steep climbs and a large dose of time trialing, is expected to suit three-times champion Alberto Contador — if he takes part, that is.
Contador, who is awaiting a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling next month after a failed dope test last year, was beaten for the first time in a grand Tour since 2007 this year. However, with his mind now set only on the world’s greatest race, the Spaniard would be a tough nut to crack.
The next year’s Tour route, released by organizers on Tuesday, features three time trials, with a 6.1km prologue in Liege, Belgium, a 38km effort in the ninth stage and a potentially decisive 52km flat time trial on the eve of the Champs Elysees parade.
Contador is a seasoned time trialist, having won a Tour de France stage against the clock in Annecy that cemented his 2009 triumph, while his rival Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, a runner-up in the last three editions, has been weaker in the discipline.
Defending champion Cadel Evans, also a decent time trialist, will probably welcome the route, although new climbs with extremely steep parts should favor Contador over the Australian.
“There are new climbs featuring very steep parts with very high gradients,” Tour director Christian Prudhomme told reporters.
“It should make for a thrilling race. Those who will want to attack far from the finish will be able to do so,” he added, notably referring to the 11th stage, a 140km trek to La Toussuire featuring grueling ascents to the Col de la Madeleine, Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Mollard and the final climb to La Toussuire, with only about 15km of flat road to start the day.
Riders will also discover new ascents and they will be in for a big surprise if they thought the route was relatively flat compared with previous years.
The seventh stage finishes at the top of the Planche des Belles Filles, a 5.9km climb at an average gradient of 8.5 percent.
The Col du Grand Colombier, one of France’s toughest ascents (17.4km at 7.1 percent, with parts over 12 percent), will be on the 10th stage’s menu and has never been climbed on the Tour.
Another new climb will be the Mur de Peguere, with gradients sometimes reaching 18 percent, a rarity in Tour de France history.
The Tour will start on June 30 and end on July 22.
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