By Bruce Hildenbrand
Photo: Javier Soriano/
AFP/Getty Images
At first, the route of the 2007 Tour de France appears to be a real snoozer. Missing are such Tour landmarks as Alpe d'Huez and the Col du Tourmalet, replaced by the likes of Port de Bales and Tignes. But if you peel back the exterior, this route will produce all the excitement and drama that we have come to expect in France each July. And with three mountain-top finishes and and two time trials—both over 30 miles in length—this course will produce a worthy wearer of the coveted maillot jaune.
It all begins in London on July 7, the first-ever start on British soil, and finishes on the Champs-Elysees on July 29—and there are a few key stages that should shape the final podium.
The first real test is found on Stage 3, from Waregem to Compeigne, where the riders will traverse some of the same cobbled goat paths as the legendary Paris-Roubaix. As we saw in 2004 when pre-race favorite Iban Mayo surrendered over three minutes to Lance Armstrong, you can't win the Tour on this stage, but you can certainly lose it.
The next test comes on Stage 7 to Le Grand-Bornand, where the 3,300-foot climb of the Col de la Colombiere will shake up the overall standings. A small breakaway devoid of the race favorites will probably dice it out for the stage win, but the real race will be fought a few minutes back as the true players all come to the front of the main peloton. Because the first time trial comes after the first climbing stages, look for the group of overall hopefuls to be larger than normal. Having the first time trial before the mountains usually dashes the hopes of those who performed poorly against the clock—that won't happen this year, giving added incentive to some of the dark horses.
Next day's Stage 8 features more climbing. Monte de Hauteville and Tignes, rarely visited by the race, are featured and should see one of the race favorites first across the line. Stage 9 completes the traverse of the Alps with the monstrous 6,500-foot ascent of the Galibier as the main course. After three days of hard climbing, the heirs to Lance Armstrong's throne should be whittled down to a select few.
The first time trial of the 2007 Tour is a 34-mile test around Albi on Stage 13. Anybody superstitious? The route is not particularly hilly, so look for a time-trial specialist like Dave Zabriskie to post the fastest time with the overall contenders bunched one to two minutes back.
The Pyrenees commence on Stage 14 to Plateau de Beille, where Lance won twice (2002 and 2004). This brutal, 4,000-foot climb over 10 miles is a true test and has become one of the new classics of the Tour. Stage 15 is, on paper, the most difficult stage, crossing the Port, Portet d'Aspet, Mente, Port de Bales and the Peyresourde in an epic death march. The Port de Bales is new, only recently paved, and features steep climbing and technical descending. The final mountain stage, 16, finishes near the top of the Col d'Aubisque at the ski station of La Gourette after crossing briefly into Spain. This is another tough stage with lots of climbing.
Stage 19's 34-mile time trial from Cognac to Anguoleme provides the final test for the riders. Again, the course is not particularly hilly, which favors the more complete riders rather than the pure climbers. But, a flat tire, crash or inclement weather could throw the form charts out the window.
So if you still think this Tour lacks excitement, then you'd probably sleep though a magnitude 7.5 earthquake. For Tour junkies, the 2007 route has it all—from brutal climbing stages to lengthy time trials. Without a doubt, the yellow jersey will end up on a very worthy pair of shoulders.