The 100th running of the Tour de France will start this weekend for the 3 week journey around France. Like always, the route is different, but the drama will be bigger this year than ever.
This year's tour entirely takes place in France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tour. The first 3 stages will be on the island of Corsica (first time ever the tour has been here), then Stage 4 features a Team Time Trial around Nice. The next few days will see the 190+ riders traveling along the Mediterranean Sea into the Pyrenees. Stage 8 will be the first real test for the mountain riders as they will be climbing the Col de Pailheres onto the finish on top of Ax-3 Domaines. Stage 9 features 5 mountain climbs including Col de Peyresourde going to the finish in Bagneres-de-Bigorre.
After the first rest day, the tour now heads to Western France for 2 stages, then heads east, will take 3 stages to get to Lyon and Stage 15 features the longest day on the road at 242.5 km. That stage will feature the climb of Mont Ventoux to finish the stage. The second rest day of the tour follows up and the riders approach the Alps. The big test will be Stage 18 where there will be 6 mountain climbs, including 2 on Alpe d'Huez. This marks the first time ever on the Tour in which Alpe d'Huez will be climbed twice on the same day, which means 42 hairpin turns instead of 21. Stage 19 features a starting point in Bourg d'Oisans to Le Grand-Bornard and features 5 mountain climbs including Col du Glandon and Col de la Madeleine. The penultimate Stage 20 is usually a short time-trial stage...not this year. Stage 20 starts at Annecy and ends on-top of the Annecy-Semnoz summit, another mountain climb at the finish, which could seed placements for the riders, depending on jerseys. Stage 21 goes from Versailles to Paris, for which it will be the first time ever the race, will end under the lights at dusk! This stage features 8 circuits on the Champs Elysses and a lap around the Arc de Trimonphe.
This year's tour features 3 time trial stages (2 of them individual), a few sprint stages (mostly in the first week and a half, plus Paris) and 6 mountain stages. Gonna be a fun race to watch. Now time for predictions.
Alberto Contador has won 2 tours and missed out on last year due to suspension from doping. Frank Schleck is also suspended this year for doping, however his brother Andy (2010 TDF Winner) is in contention. Cadel Evans won the event in 2011, but his teammate, American Tejay van Garderen is a favorite. Last year's tour winner Bradley Wiggins will skip the tour this year due to injury sustained at the Giro d'Italia, and his teammate and 2nd place TDF finisher Chris Froome is also a contender. Other overall winners could be Alejando Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez.
I'm going with a wild card this year in Van Garderen, although I think Valverde, Contador and Schleck all have a shot at the title of Maillot Joure (Yellow Jersey). For the Green Jersey (points) title, I'm going with Andre Greipel to beat out Peter Sagan & Mark Cavendish for the title. In the King of the Mountains (polka-dot Jersey) race, I'm going with Joaquim Rodriguez. For the White Jersey (young riders category), I'm taking Tejay van Garderen to repeat from last year.
The tour lasts 3 weeks starting this Saturday and ending on Sunday, July 21st.
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