Tour de France 2005

Le Tour, operated by ASO (Amaury Sports Organisation) announced the 2005 Tour de France today. Here are my initial thoughts without reading any other pundits or analysis by others "more informed" than I.

Great route to some parts of France regularly overlooked such as the Vosges mountains. They aren't the Alps, but its not easy. I remember a few years back when Laurent Jalabert and young Australian sprinters ran away with a stage into Alsace and put more than 30 minutes on the main pack making a lot of work for Armstrong to gain back.

Weird route going from Pau all the way back to St Etienne across the massif central which isn't easy riding either. Also, we seem to be without Alpe d'Huez, Mont Ventoux (again), as well as Tourmalet this year on the pro circuit. Also, one less individual time trial but at the same time more emphasis on the prologue time trial. The prologue has always been a time trial, but this year the distance is longer and on the island wind can be a factor. It will be very important for the contenders to go out very strong on day 1; as much more than a few seconds will separate the riders from day 1.

The team trial in Tours/Blois area of the Loire Valley is a great chance for people to see the TDF and take advantage of a beautiful region for cycling and visiting. The TTT is early in the race though, and on top of the early prologue will possibly put someone well out in front in yellow.

3 mountain climbing finishes in Courchevel, Ax les 3 Domaines, and St Lary gives some relief to less strong climbers to get over the last climbs and descend fast or make up ground over the last kilometers.

Best viewing points in my personal opinion for people wanting to go out and watch:
Tours/Blois/Troyes - easily reached from Paris by train and back in a day as well as lots of hotels in the area.
Grenoble/Montpellier - easy to reach by train
Col de Madeleine/Telegraph/Galibier/Lautaret - best mountain stage; huge stage with lots of miles of climbing and viewing; good access by highway and autoroutes. Don't expect to find much in the way of hotels around Briancon!

Tickets: for the unitiated; there is no such thing for sale. Tickets to Village du Tour as well as grandstands in Paris or for sponsors, press, and other people with contacts.

Best way to view: on a bike! Parking and walking are obligatory. So, find a hotel or place to stay where you can ride to the tour viewing point you want, and then home. Road closures make traffic hell; avoid it if you can. Another good tip is the train. In towns that are serviced by trains, park somewhere else and take the train to this town and walk!

Best overall viewing: on TV! BUT, you miss all the ambiance that the TDF is all about. There is nothing like being there, even if you don't follow it as well!

Our tours will be announced starting tomorrow, Oct 29.

L