2008 Tour de France Tour Route Unveiled

Whoopi - the 2008 Tour was revealed today. I did try to run the Youtube video and got an error message, and trying to check Velonews I see their site is down. Is everyone clamoring for the same things and crashing these sites? I doubt it. It must be my connection.

I'm being very cynical, I am excited to see the route and where it will go, but mostly because its my business. I know so many places in France that I'm curious to see where things will happen. I have not read any sports reporter comments yet, so here are my uninfluenced impressions of the Tour route:

No prologue - hmmm, curious given the ceremony and prestige it has gained over the years. It is rather inconsequential in the race outcome, but it has always been a source of pride for the victor. So, a road race for the opening stage with sprint finish uphill - kinda boring since the first week is pretty much all that.

More mountains - so, we won't have too many flat & 'sleepy' sections. We are to be more entertained with more climbing.

No Team Time Trial - again! This is supposed to be a team sport and I think it is a shame that an entire team can't put their mark on the race in another way than point accumulation. Oh well, the 2 time trials included are so far apart that the first one is almost meaningless and the last one decisive for final results.

Yeah - Hautacam and Tourmalet are back!! Thank you!

Galibier and Alpe d'Huez, on the same stage plus Croix de Fer. I like how they changed this a bit and really made it hard by going down to St Jean en Maurienne and then back up. That is a monster stage, and will set up the places for the final time trial.

New and challenging will be the Bonnette Restefond near the Italian border. I have no experience on this road, but it could prove very dramatic. Getting there will be another story for fans! That is one of those "out there" locations - great for scenic beauty and all that, but isolated and services limited.

For fans who will travel to watch the race, look out and avoid traveling by car on the days of July 12 and 13 weekend. Just before Bastille day; this will be one of the big travel weekends by vacationers; so if you want to see the first and important stages in the Pyrenees; get there early.

Who will be a contender to win in 2008? Who the heck knows. Better question - who will start on July 5?

L