Tour de France 2010 Live Dashboard
2010 will mark 100 years since the French Pyrénées were first used by Tour de France. Here's our Col du Tourmalet report, our most popular touring report to date. |
The day after we did Col du Tourmalet, we cycled jaw-dropping Col d'Ausbisque... two of the greatest days we've ever had on a bike. |
News and Updates for Tour de France 2010
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Also follow steephill on Twitter for the latest race info and video updates. |
The organizers will add to more two teams this coming year going from 20 to 22 — versusNovember 14 update:
2008 Tour champion Carlos Sastre says he'll be back next year — velonewsNovember 9 update:
Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck have signalled each other as the favourite for the overall title — cyclingnewsNovember 4 update:
Sánchez to target Tour podium in 2010 — cyclingnews2010 Tour de France Route Analysis
A Climbers Delight: a celebration of the famous French Pyrénées colsOctober 14 update: It’s a Tour for the climbers this year as the Tour de France celebrates the hundred year history of the race in the Pyrénées. The 2010 edition of the French grand tour finishes with four straight days in the iconic mountains that demarcate the border of France and Spain, and the riders will make two ascents of the Col du Tourmalet. The final mountain stage finishes on high at the summit of the Tourmalet. Only one long time trial of 51 kilometers interrupts the climbers’ rhythm and it comes the day before the traditional finishing stage in Paris. In all, the course includes twenty-three categorized climbs and three mountain-top finishes, the most climbing in a Tour de France since 2005.
| Comparing 2010 to previous years... | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
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| Flat Stages | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 |
| Medium Mountain Stages | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Mountain Stages | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| # of Categorized Climbs (Cat 2, 1 and HC) | 23 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 22 |
| Mountaintop Finishes | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Individual Time Trialing | 59k | 55k | 82k | 117k | 116k |
| Team Time Trial | 0 | 39k | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Overall Distance | 3596k | 3435k | 3554k | 3547k | 3657k |
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• 2010 will have 13 km of cobbles • 2010 has no time bonuses again • See the race summary table (right) for the 6 mountain stage profiles. • July 18 is the Etape du Tour day using stage 17 Pau to Col du Tourmalet (as expected) | |||||
Cobbles and Croswinds
The Tour begins in the Netherlands, crosses into Belgium, then follows a clockwise trace around France. Rotterdam hosts the opening stage, a prologue of 8 kilometers. As the race passes through Belgium, it celebrates the Spring classics with a tribute stage to Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which includes the Côte de Rosier, and stage between Wanze and Arenberg Porte du Hainut which includes 13 kilometers of pavé and finishes outside the trouée d’Arenberg of Paris-Roubaix fame. General classification riders, beware! In 2004, Iban Mayo said adieu to his Yellow Jersey hopes after a crash on a short sector of cobbles outside Erre. Prior to 2004, the pavé had not appeared in the Tour de France in more than 20 years.Crossing into France, the Tour travels south over the course of three flat stages. The first stage entirely in France runs between Cambrai and Reims along the border with Belgium where crosswinds and wet weather could make this stage more difficult than the profile indicates. Two more stages for the sprinters follow, between Epernay and Montargis and between Montargis and Guegnon. The Tour is now halfway down the hexagon near the border with Switzerland and ready for the first round of mountain stages.
Alps Before Pyrénées
The Tour makes a brief foray into the Jura mountains which run along the French border with Switzerland. The Jura host a stage between Tournus and the ski resort village of Station des Rousses and provide the first mountain-top finish of the 2010 Tour. The climb to the Station des Rousses runs 14 kilometers and finishes at a relatively low 1140 meters in elevation. Though the Station des Rousses hosts the Tour for the first time, the Côte des Rousses commonly serves as a prelude to the col de Faucille, which has appeared in the Tour on more than 40 occasions since 1911.
Then, it’s into the Alps for three stages. The first Alpine stage runs between Station des Rousses and Morzine-Avoriaz. It ascends the Col de la Ramaz and finishes on high at the ski station at Avoriaz. During the 1970s, uphill time trials to Avoriaz were all the rage, and Lucien Van Impe twice celebrated victory at the ski station. Lucho Herrero won the first road stage to finish there in 1985. With only two major climbs, this first Alpine stage serves as a prelude to the more difficult day that follows it. Four categorized climbs enliven the stage between Morzine-Avoriaz and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne: Col de la Columbière, Col des Aravis, Col des Saisies, and Col de la Madeleine. The Col de la Madeleine climbs a lengthy 25 kilometers at an average gradient of 6.5%. This stage is not a mountain-top finish, instead descending to the town of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, which hosts a stage finish for the first time in 2010. After the succession of difficulties in this stage, only a small group should survive to contest the victory in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. The final stage in the Alps runs over bumpy terrain between Chambèry and Gap, and includes two categorized climbs, the Côte de Laffrey and the Col du Noyer. It’s a descending finish to Gap over small and sinuous roads. Though the climbing is less severe, this stage offers an invitation to risk. Gap has hosted stage finishes on 19 occasions its winners including Gémiani, Nencini, Bernard, and Vinokourov.
Transition Stages
Exiting the Alps, the Tour begins its westward course toward the finale in the Pyrénées. Three stages serve as the transition between France’s two major mountain ranges. This Tour avoids the Meditérranean coast, which figured so prominently in the opening week of the 2009 edition, and doglegs northward passing through Bourg-lès-Valance, Bourg-de-Péage, and Mende. A relatively flat stage between Sisteron and Bourg-lès-Valence will please the sprinters, while the bumpy course between Bourg-de-Péage and Mende, which includes the Suc de Montivernoux climb, should bring a breakaway winner. The final transition stage runs south over flat roads from Rodez to Revel, and comes to rest in the shadow of the Pyrénées.
One Hundred Years in the PyrénéesThe Tour comes now to its finale with four stages in the Pyrénées. The Pyrénéen adventure begins innocently enough with a stage running between Revel and Ax-3 Domaines. This first stage includes two main cols, the Porte de Pailhères and the finishing climb to Ax-3 Domaines. Though the Tour celebrates the 100 year history of the Pyrénées in the race, these first two climbs only joined the la Grand Boucle since the turn of the 21st century. The finish arrives at the Plateau de Bonascre, which first appeared in the Tour de France in 2003. Carlos Sastre celebrated his first Tour stage win that day.
2010 Official Route Map
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The second Pyrénéen stage mixes the old and the new with a course running between the new stage city of Pamiers and Bagnères-de-Luchon, which has hosted the Tour on 50 occasions. Two of the Originals from the 1910 Tour appear in the this stage: Col du Portet d’Aspet and Col des Ares. The Porte de Balès, first added to the Tour in 2007, rises to 1755 meters over 19.2 kilometers and provides the final climb of the day before the course drops precipitously to the finish in Bagnères-de-Luchon.
Picking up where it left off, the Tour departs Bagnères-de-Luchon for a four-climb romp to Pau. It’s another descending finish, and the final summit lies nearly 60 kilometers from Pau. That’s not to say that there is anything easy about this stage which connects the Col de Peyresourde, Col d’Aspin, Col de Tourmalet, and Col d’Aubisque, by way of the Col du Soulor. The riders climb the Tourmalet from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan by way of La Mongie, a 17.1 kilometer ascent with an average gradient of 7.4%. The first rider to reach the summit of the Tourmalet receives a special prime, the Souvenir Jacques Goddet. This stage marks the first of two visits by the 2010 Tour to the iconic climb, whose unforgiving gradients forced the riders of the Tour’s 1910 edition to carry their derailleur-less bikes on their backs as they trudged the unpaved road on foot. A rest day in Pau follows this stage.
The climbing finale of the 2010 Tour de France finishes on the Col du Tourmalet. The stage begins in Pau and back-tracks. The Col de Marie-Blanque and the Col du Soulor provide the hors d’oeuvres for the final climb of this year’s Tour. The Col de Marie-Blanque climbs 9.5 kilometers at 7.5%, while the Col du Soulor, by way of Ferrières, climbs 22 kilometers at 4.9%. But this is all just prelude for the grand finale. This final mountain stage climbs the Col du Tourmalet by way of Barèges and finishes at 2115 meters in elevation about 4.5 kilometer from La Mongie. Though the Tour has passed over the Col du Tourmalet on 73 occasions, the climb has served as a stage finish only once previously in the history of the Tour. Jean-Pierre Danguillaume won the stage in 1974. At only 174 kilometers, this stage will all come down to the final climb. No doubt the race organizers hope that the battle for the Yellow Jersey will be decided high on the Tourmalet.
Wine Country Time Trial
Two stages, including the Tour’s only long time trial, follow the finish on the Tourmalet before the Tour reaches its traditional finish in Paris. The Tour turns northward and passes into the wine-growing regions of Aquitaine and the Gironde. A flat stage running between Sailes-de-Béarn and Bordeaux offers the sprinters a chance to stretch their legs before their big appointment on the Champs Elysées. Bordeux has hosted the Tour on 79 occasions. Only Paris has welcomed the Tour more often. The following day comes the only long time trial of this year’s Tour de France. The stage runs 51 kilometers between Bourdeaux and Pauillac. Pauillaac hosts the Tour for the first time this year. Wine provides the theme for this long time trial, and Pauillac is one of the most prestigious appellations in the Médoc. This time trial offers the final chance for the Yellow Jersey contenders to win the magic shirt.
Only the final stage in Paris is left, and the caravan rides France’s high-speed rail system to the northern city. The Tour follows tradition, and the final stage finishes with a circuit on the Champs Elysées, a tantalizing prize for the sprinters. With this year’s mountainous course, the final sprint victory will not come easily.
Contrary to the last few editions, this year’s Tour is climber-friendly and heavy on the mountains. There is no team time trial to advantage the stronger teams, but the early stages through the Ardennes and the cobbles and crosswinds of Northern France will privilege the contenders with strong team support and tactical smarts. Three mountain top finishes offer the chance to make up for early mistakes, and the climbers will be frothing at the succession of difficulties the Tour encounters as it marches from Alps to Pyrénées. A bad day on the long time trial could undo days of efforts in the mountains, so while the clock holds less influence over this year’s race, the serious contenders will not take it for granted. Fifty-one kilometers is a long day out. One thing is certain, this Tour is stacked in its third week, and the suspense should hold until the race reaches Paulliac. If the Tour slighted the Pyrénées in 2009, this edition pays fitting tribute to the race’s signature mountains who stand ready for a new generation to write its stories onto their slopes. — Gavia
3D fly over of the 2010 route— lelour.fr The entire official route presentation from Paris — cyclingtvPrudhomme presents 2010 Tour de France weighted with Pyrenean stages — cyclingnews
Presentation photos2010 Tour de France to climax in the Pyrenees — APRider Reactions — velonews Slick move, Bert— eurosportCW's analysis of the 2010 Tour de France route — cyclingweekly.co.uk Prudhomme explains unforgiving route (02:22) — eurosportA little intrigue returns for 2010 Tour — sports.espn.go TDF '10: The Parcours Announced! — pezcyclingnewsArmstrong/Contador rivalry simmering — bikeradarCadel Evans gets boost from 2010 Tour de France route — theaustralian Armstrong fears opening week (03:10) — eurosport Schleck worried by Benelux stages (02:23) — eurosport Contador: A tour for climbers
(04:37) — eurosport... more to come...
The Live presentation of the 2010 route
October 13 update: The presentation starts Wednesday at 11:30 AM CEST (5:30 AM ET) and it will be broadcast live on Cycling.tv and Versus at 11:30 CEST (5:30 AM ET). Eurosport (delayed?) coverage starts at 12:00 CEST with summaries and interviews at 17:30 CEST.update: The france3.fr link below is now playing...
| media source | tv or internet | comments/restrictions |
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live video live video (english, direct player) | the official site coverage starts at 11:30 CEST |
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live video |
Worldwide; English commentary; free. Start coverages at 11:30 CEST (5:30 AM ET) |
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live video tv schedule |
Versus live online coverage starts at 5:30 AM ET |
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delayed video (english) delayed video (french) delayed audio (english) tv schedule |
Europe; delayed? coverage starts at 12:00 CEST |
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 live video (french) tv schedule |
French; France 3 unrestricted coverage starts at 11:30 CEST |
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 steephill text updates #tdf twitter group |
short text updates from any and everyone | check back at race time for more and updated links;  send a comment or a new live link |
The complete but unofficial 2010 route
October 6th update: Thanks to the hard work of individuals like Paddy Sweeney of Velo Peloton Vacances cyclisme and Thomas Vergouwen we now have a complete, but unofficial outline of all the 2010 stages. See the interactive map (left) and race summary table (right). Paddy is calling for the July 22nd, stage 18: Pau - Col du Tourmalet, to be the Etape du Tour stage.
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Also follow steephill on Twitter for the latest race info and video updates. |
Tourmalet still in twice but not as a ITT
October 6th update: New update from Paddy Sweeney of Velo Peloton Vacances cyclisme. "Given newspaper reports in the last week I have revised my prediction to this"17 July: Stage 14, Rodez - Revel 18 July: Stage 15, Revel - Ax-3 Domaines 19 July: Stage 16, Pamiers - Luchon/Super Bagnéres (Portet d'Aspet, Col de Menté, Port de Balès) 20 July: Rest Day 21 July: Stage 17 Luchon - Pau (Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet, Soulor & Aubisque) 22 July: Stage 18 Pau - Col du Tourmalet (Marie Blanque, Aubisque, Soulor, Bordéres, Tourmalet) This will also be the Etape de Tour. 23 July: Stage 19 Salies de Béarn - Bordeaux 24 July: Stage 20 Bordeaux - Pauillac ITT 25 July: Stage 21 Rambouillet - Paris Champs ElyséesL’Hebdo is a local newsletter in Pau, here is my translation of a notice from last week. -- Paddy
“TOUR DE FRANCE – Le Béarn particulièrement gâté La Grande Boucle va fêter les cent ans des montées mythiques vers les cols pyrénéens, avec une présence en Béarn sur 4 jours. Du jamais vu ! Pau sera ville arrivée le mardi 20 juillet, avant une journée de repos sur place. Le 22, les coureurs s’élanceront pour un Pau-Tourmalet particulièrement alléchant. Le 23 juillet, Salies donnera le départ de l’étape en direction de Bordeaux. Le 24, ce sera un contre-la-montre dans le vignoble bordelais, en direction de Pauillac.”
“TOUR DE FRANCE - The Bearn region will be particularly spoiled. The Great Loop will celebrate the Centenary of the legendary Pyrenees climbs, with a presence in Bearn for 4 days. Unheard of! The tour will arrive in Pau on Tuesday, July 20, before a rest day on 21st. On the 22nd, riders line up for Pau-Tourmalet will be particularly attractive. On July 23,stage start in Salies and finish in Bordeaux. On 24, it will be against the clock from Bordeaux, through the vineyards of bordelais to Pauillac.”
Sources:
ladepeche.fr (Oct 7)
ladepeche.fr (Oct 5)
ladepeche.fr (Oct 3)
sudouest.com
france3.fr
Rumour: Tourmalet from both sides on different stages including a ITT
September 22 update: New update from Paddy Sweeney of Velo Peloton Vacances cyclisme. "Hi Steve. I had heard a rumour 3 times in the last week, it seemed a bit far fetched to be honest but in the last few days I have heard it from a source at the top of pro cycling. But it is this, the tour will climb Col de Tourmalet from both sides. The east on the stage from Luchon to Col d’Aubisque but also a ITT from Luz to the summit. Sounds mad I know but It is a very good source."
Revised last week.
17 July: Rodez - Revel 18 July: Revel - Luchon 19 July: Rest Day 20 July: Bagnéres de Luchon - Col de Aubisque 21 July: Tourmalet ITT 22 July: Pau - Arette 23 July: Pau - Bordeaux 24 July: Bordeaux ITT 25 July: Paris
La Depeche reports Revel and Luchon are slated for Saturday July 17 and Sunday July 18
September 18 update:Le Tour de France 2010 fera étape à Revel et Luchon
(english-translation) — ladepeche.frOfficial 2010 route announcement is October 14th
September 16 update: The route presentation of the Tour de France 2010 will be officially announced on Wednesday, October 14th 2009. Until then, please feel free to pass along any concrete details or rumours. — SteveFour Mountaintop finish in the Pyrenees for 2010?
September 15 update: Paddy Sweeney of Velo Peloton Vacances cyclisme has in sent some new 2010 Tour de France route scoop: "Stage finish on Col d’Aubisque on 21st July after crossing Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Soulor. Tour crossed same mountains on 21st July 1910. The week will look something like this."revised see above..."That's 4 mountain top finishes in the Pyrenees. Others still talking about Luz Ardiden and Col du Spandells and Argeles-Gazost. A lot of hotel bookings for 20, 21 , 22 in and around Pau. I would not be surprised if the stage to Col d’Aubisque is also the Etape de Tour." If you know more then let me know. — Steve
Recon report of the proposed Col du Soulor and Col d'Aubisque finish — steephill.tv
August 25 update: According to this article in La Depeche and submitted to us by Paddy Sweeney of Velo Peloton Vacances cyclisme, the 2010 Tour de France will pass through Rodez:Le Tour de France passera par Rodez en 2010 (english translation) — ladepeche.fr
July 27 update: Now that the 2009 Tour is over, it's time to look ahead to 2010. We are one of the sites, that will provide you with a first glance of the 2010 route which is tradionally announced at the end of October each year. We'll start posting the facts and rumours about the 2010 route as they are announced and gleaned. Feel free to pass along anything you might know. — Steve
Lance Armstrong a favorite for 2010 Tour de France — latimes
July 4 update: July 4-26th 2009 Tour de France
ITV4 will broadcast the 2010 Tour de France live
January 8 update: ITV Sport announced yesterday a new deal brokered with Tour de France organisers ASO, granting ITV the rights to broadcast live coverage of the race between 2010 and 2013.ITV4 to Broadcast Live Tour De France Coverage — cyclingweekly.co.uk
Official unveiling of the Rotterdam prologue details
December 11 update: As officially unveiled today, the 2010 Tour de France will start with a 9k prologue on July 3rd 2010 through the streets on the south side of Rotterdam. Incorporating the Erasmus Bridge (seen above), the course (see map right) will be flat and likely "wind swept". The next day, stage 1 will head south, crossing the Netherlands-Belgium border 20k from Antwerp. The stage one finishing city is not known. That's all we'll know officially until next October but feel free to chime in with some inside scoop if you have it. — Steve.Official Unveiling of Rotterdam Grand Depart — letour.fr
View in Google Earth 
View in Google Maps
Rotterdam start information with more route details as they unfold
December 9 update: On Thursday, December 11th, a press conference will take place from the Nieuwe Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam to officially announce the details of the 2010 Tour de France Grand Départ. Traditionally, the host area of the first few stages is announced well in advance of the rest of the route and on November 20th the press was informed of the choice for the 2010 Tour de France Grand Départ:
The 97th Tour de France will start from Rotterdam in Netherlands on July 3rd, 2010. Never in the past has the organisation been confronted with such a dilemma: To have to choose between two cities - Rotterdam and Utrecht - whose applications were both of a very high level. Each of them had the trumps to welcome a wonderful Grand Depart. Therefore we sincerely hope that Utrecht will once again apply as a candidate for a future Tour.
The decision was made in favour of Rotterdam for two main reasons: Firstly, because in the wake of the Grand Depart from London, Rotterdam embodies a kind of continuity by using the image of the Tour de France in a metropolis to promote cycling as an important means of transport in the heart of the city. Secondly, because its geographical situation adheres perfectly to the route we have imagined for the 2010 Tour. — letour.fr
Rotterdam in 2010 will be the fifth time the Tour de France has started from a Dutch city. The Tour has previously started from the Netherlands on four occasions with Amsterdam, in 1954, being first non-French starting point. Other Dutch cities that have hosted the Grand Depart include Scheveningen (1973), Leiden (1978) and Hertogenbosch (1996). Stay tuned for information from Thursday's official announcement. — Steve.
About Rotterdam — en.wikipedia.org
