Support NeoGAF

[bjaelke]

The top two contenders from last year's Tour de France...

...are not participating in this year's edition.

RACE OVERVIEW

Running from Saturday June 30th to Sunday July 22th 2012, the 99th Tour de France will be made up of 1 prologue and 20 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,497 kilometres.

These stages have the following profiles:

• 9 flat stages
• 4 medium mountain stages - one with a summit finish
• 5 mountain stages - two with a summit finish
• 2 individual time-trial stages
• 1 prologue
• 2 rest days

THE ROUTE

THE STAGES

STAGES TO WATCH*
*You should be watching them all, but in case you don't have the time here are my recommendations:

• Liège - Liège (June 30th)
• Orchies - Boulogne-sur-Mer (July 3rd)
• Tomblaine - La Planche des Belles Filles (July 7th)
• Albertville - La Toussuire - Les Sybelles (July 12th)
• Bagnères-de-Luchon – Peyragudes (July 19th)
• Bonneval - Chartres (July 21st)
• Rambouillet - Paris Champs-Élysées (July 22nd) - Last 20 km

PODIUM CONTENDERS

• Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
• Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling)
• Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas - Cannondale)
• Andy Fränck Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan)
• Robert Gesink (Rabobank)

LINKS
List of riders and teams
Stages: Individual description and time schedule
News and interviews

I might add/change something later on. Just wanted to have it ready for the team presentation tomorrow.

 

[Chris R]

Can't wait. No Andy or Thor sucks, but whatever. Just hope Evans doesn't win

 

[bjaelke]

I completely forgot about big Thor. Such a nice guy. He'll surely be missed!

 

[shira]

They should make the drug test part of the show with reality tv/Maury povich reveals

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Can't wait for the start of the Tour. Always my favorite time of the year. I'm going to miss Thor more than Andy this year. Always loved cheering for the big guy, but Schleck's lack of ability in the time trial always does him in.

 

[FStop7]

No Andy
No Thor
No Alberto
No Bruyneel

Kind of a downer.

 

[GimMick]

Thor's not in ? He is one of my favourite racers

Will still be following regardless.

 

[Broder Salsa]

Don't know why I keep watching it, I really don't enjoy it... But it's on for so many hours each day.

 

[Kurtofan]

Don't know why I keep watching it, I really don't enjoy it... But it's on for so many hours each day.

Same for me lol

 

[Hanmik]

Don't know why I keep watching it, I really don't enjoy it... But it's on for so many hours each day.

You know why: rolf sørensen and jørgen leth.. Oh my.. I'm watching again..

 

[bluehat9]

Why did the preview show make it seem like it was so time trial heavy? Anyway, don't know why I like it, but I'll be watching.

 

[bjaelke]

Why did the preview show make it seem like it was so time trial heavy?

Because it is compared to previous years. They're doing 2 individual time trials this year (95 km in total).

 

[Kabouter]

Oh sweet, hadn't seen this OT. Love the Tour de France, never quite as good as the Giro in terms of route, but can't beat that media circus .

Edit: Oh, and convenient for today, up to date times here

 

[olore]

Wiggins or Hesjedal or Evans plz

 

[navanman]

Wiggins being talked up loads by the British press which means he is going to fail spectacularly.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Waiting for NBC Sports to release their iPad/iPhone app. Mobile Tour de France is aweseome stuff. Not sure why it's taking them so long to get it out this year.

Edit: And it's up, just couldn't search for it in the App Store just yet. Downloaded and watching the Prologue on my iPad!

 

[questionmark]

Last year was amazing for Norway, with only two riders we got 4 stages, and the yellow jersey for a week. Obviously not happening this year. Not only is Thor out, but Boasson Hagen is stuck playing second fiddle to Cavendish and Wiggins. Still looking forward to it. He will probably get an opportunity or two. Also, I'll root for Hesjedal, who has Norwegian roots, which the Norwegian commentators point out every 5 minutes.

 

[Kabouter]

Impressive time by Chavanel just now.

Last year was amazing for Norway, with only two riders we got 4 stages, and the yellow jersey for a week. Obviously not happening this year. Not only is Thor out, but Boasson Hagen is stuck playing second fiddle to Cavendish and Wiggins. Still looking forward to it. He will probably get an opportunity or two. Also, I'll root for Hesjedal, who has Norwegian roots, which the Norwegian commentators point out every 5 minutes.

Hagen has been given a free role in the first few days.

 

[chicko1983]

Michael Rogers to win it. As an aussie, I'd prefer him to win than Cadel, he would have a couple years ago until he crashed.

Rogers just left for his tt now!

 

[Nevasleep]

The official Tour De France on iPad is great too.
Here's the map of the Liege prologue.

I know Liege, as it's a TNT hub.

 

[Joni]

Fuck; I feel really bad that I didn't go there. It is so close and the track looks awesome. Oh well, just gonna cheer on Omega Pharma-Quick Step from here.

 

[FStop7]

Fuck; I feel really bad that I didn't go there. It is so close and the track looks awesome. Oh well, just gonna cheer on Omega Pharma-Quick Step from here.

I loved when they were Omega Pharma Lotto. A pro cycling team sponsored by gambling and drugs. My kinda outfit.

 

[bjaelke]

Wiggins being talked up loads by the British press which means he is going to fail spectacularly.

Wiggings just set a new fastest time. Could very well be what gets him the yellow

Spoiler

for a day

.

Edit: Cancellara might just win this one.

 

[Leonsito]

Cancellara, bitches.

Rooting for Valverde this year, and waiting for La vuelta a España, it's going to be amazing.

 

[GimMick]

7-second lead :lol

Beast !

 

[bjaelke]

Analysis of the stage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wntyXBuGgA4

Profile of the stage:

Profile of the final climb:

Live pictures from: 14:00 CET

Tune in at: 16:30 CET

La vuelta a España, it's going to be amazing.

It'll probably have one of the strongest line ups in recent years. Hopefully the riders wont drop out halfway through and "focus" on the World Championship. It's been the only thing holding back the Vuelta in comparison to TdF and GdI.

 

[Wes]

So 6 people broke away but they had to stop for 45 seconds because of a level crossing as a train went past. Cut their lead in half.

 

[Kurtofan]

Can't wait for next year when the Tour starts in Corsica, the Tour never went to Corsica.

 

[Joni]

So 6 people broke away but they had to stop for 45 seconds because of a level crossing as a train went past. Cut their lead in half.

Doesn't matter. They'll have the lead for another 110 kilometers.

 

[Wes]

Doesn't matter. They'll have the lead for another 110 kilometers.

True but it amused me anyway.

 

[Firemind]

Ah, man, no Andy? Hype decreased. I cannot stand Evans and his apathy.

 

[Wes]

Damn rogue photographers. They're pegging it now.

 

[LayLa]

getting dangerous out there, hope everyone finishes ok

 

[Wes]

I like these little climbs on the finish, gives opportunities for attacks like this.

 

[i_am_ben]

Ah, man, no Andy? Hype decreased. I cannot stand Evans and his apathy.

relax the best Schleck is still there.

 

[Kabouter]

That was a fun finish, Cancellara like a boss, but it was obvious Sagan was going to take the stage win.

 

[bjaelke]

Peter Sagan got the perfect lead out from Fabian.

 

[LayLa]

great finish, Fab is a mensch

 

[Divius]

Ha, tuned in just in time to watch the finish. I'm not really a fan of the Tour de France, but when it's on I enjoy watching it.

 

[MetatronM]

Cavendish winning a sprint stage finish with virtually no team support. What a boss.

 

[LayLa]

Yeh that was a really good win, took on all his rivals in a straight up race & beat them

 

[Hana-Bi]

Bit lazy... So when will the real Tour de Force start?

 

[LayLa]

First mountain stage on Sat 7th, should be the first big test for GC

 

[Hana-Bi]

Thanks. Not hyped yet, hope the first mountains will change that.

 

[bjaelke]

Bit lazy... So when will the real Tour de Force start?

I posted the interesting dates in the OP. Tomorrow's been included because it has a promising finish (700 m @ 7.4%).

 

[itwasTuesday]

Thanks for reminding me.
Didn't realize it was on nbc sports this year.

 

[FStop7]

Haha, Cavendish destroyed Peter Sagan and Kenny van Hummel at the mid sprint.

Sagan's kind of a douche, anyhow.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Haha, Cavendish destroyed Peter Sagan and Kenny van Hummel at the mid sprint.

Sagan's kind of a douche, anyhow.

Being a douche seems to be a thing with sprinters. Cavendish is a huge douche as well.

 

[Kabouter]

Being a douche seems to be a thing with sprinters. Cavendish is a huge douche as well.

Erik Zabel always seemed pretty nice though, and Tyler Farrar seems really nice as well.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Erik Zabel always seemed pretty nice though, and Tyler Farrar seems really nice as well.

True on both accounts. I just thought it was funny for someone to be calling Sagen a douche while mentioning Cav in the same sentence.