Tour De France 2012 Guide

Prologue: Saturday, June 30 - Liege to Liege (6.4-kilometres)
Do not bet against Spartacus. Fabian Cancellara will fancy the yellow jersey on a route which favours power and includes plenty of straight sections, plus some tricky turns.

Stage one: Sunday, July 1 - Liege to Seraing (198km)
The first road stage finishes at the top of the day's fifth fourth category climb, a 2.5km rise to the finish which will favour explosive riders such as Philippe Gilbert of Belgium, rather than the likes of sprinter Mark Cavendish.

Stage two: Monday, July 2 - Vise to Tournai (207.5km)
A flat stage which is likely to favour the mass sprint finish in which Cavendish thrives. The likes of Andre Griepel, Tyler Farrar and Peter Sagan will also seek success.

Stage three: Tuesday, July 3 - Orchies to Boulogne-sur-Mer (197km)
Another day for Gilbert and his ilk, with six short, sharp climbs in the final 60km, including a 700m ascent to the finish line.

Stage four: Wednesday, July 4 - Abbeville to Rouen (214.5km)
The route follows the coast, where the winds could cause disruption for the peloton. The overall contenders will need to be aware of the potential for time losses.

Stage five: Thursday, July 5 - Rouen to Saint-Quentin (196.5km)
A day which the sprinters will relish after a challenging first week for the fast men of the peloton.

Stage six: Friday, July 6 - Epernay to Metz (207.5km)
Cavendish and co will seek further success in Metz on another day across the flat.

Stage seven: Saturday, July 7 - Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles (199km)
The overall contenders will be whittled down as the first major changes in the general classification standings occur on the 6km long finishing ascent at an average gradient of 8.5%.

Stage eight: Sunday, July 8 - Belfort to Porrentruy (157.5km)
A medium mountain stage features the Cote du Passage de la Douleur and the Col de La Croix, with the final climb, coming around 20km from the line, set to be decisive.

Stage nine: Monday, July 9 - Arc-et-Senans to Besancon (41.5km individual time-trial)
'The City of time' will host the Tour's first time-trial where Bradley Wiggins will seek to enhance his prospects of becoming the first Briton on the Paris podium.

Rest day: Tuesday, July 10

Stage 10: Wednesday, July 11 - Macon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (194.5km)
Following a day's rest, the Tour climbs again, with the first hors categorie (beyond category) ascent of the 2012 race, the Col du Grand Colombier.

Stage 11: Thursday, July 12 - Albertville to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles (148km)
The host city of the 1992 Winter Olympic Games is the starting point for a potentially momentous day in the Alps, featuring the Col de la Madeleine, the Col de la Croix de Fer and the Col du Mollard before the first summit finish of the Tour.

Stage 12: Friday, July 13 - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Annonay Davezieux (226km)
A day which begins with two category one climbs could end in a sprint unless an early breakaway opens up a commanding lead.

Stage 13: Saturday, July 14 - Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Le Cap d'Agde (217km)
The peloton must again be wary of the wind as the race heads towards the Mediterranean, with the sprinters again expected to be active.

Stage 14: Sunday, July 15 - Limoux to Foix (191km)
The first Pyrenean day takes place with some challenging climbs, including the Mur de Peguere, where riders face gradients nearing 14%.

Stage 15: Monday, July 16 - Samatan to Pau (158.5km)
Two category four and a category three climb towards the end of the day's racing should not present too many difficulties for the sprinters.

Rest day: Tuesday, July 17

Stage 16: Wednesday, July 18- Pau to Bagneres-de-Luchon (197km)
The race for the maillot jaune is sure to accelerate with the fabled climbs of the Tourmalet, the Aubisque, the Aspin and the Peyresourde.

Stage 17: Thursday, July 19 - Bagneres-de-Luchon to Peyragudes (143.5km)
Another challenging day in the mountains could shake up the overall rankings further with climbs of the Col de Mente, Col des Ares and the Port de Bales, as well as a bumpy finish.

Stage 18: Friday, July 20 -Blagnac to Brive-la-Gaillarde (222.5km)
If they have survived the Pyrenees, the sprinters will seek success in Brive as the yellow jersey hopefuls get their breath back.

Stage 19: Saturday, July 21 - Bonneval to Chartres (53.5km, individual time-trial)
The Tour will be decided in the final time-trial and if the climbers will be hoping they have made enough gains to hold on to their positions.

Stage 20: Sunday, July 22 - Rambouillet to Paris Champs-Elysees (120km)
The traditional finale favouring the sprinters and a celebration for the maillot jaune. Will it be Wiggins?


Contenders for the yellow jersey

CADEL EVANS
Age: 35
Team: BMC Racing
Previous appearances (finishes): 2005 (8), 2006 (4), 2007 (2), 2008 (2), 2009 (30), 2010 (26), 2011 (1)
Stage wins: One (2011: stage four)
After twice finishing runner-up, Evans became the first Australian winner of cycling's most prestigious race in 2011 with a supreme display. Will be highly fancied to succeed once again.

BRADLEY WIGGINS
Age: 32
Team: Team Sky
Previous appearances (finishes): 2006 (124), 2007 (withdrawn after stage 16), 2009 (fourth), 2010 (24), 2011 (abandoned during stage seven)
Stage wins: None
The three-time Olympic champion turned himself from track thoroughbred to mountain goat to equal the best finish by a Briton in 2009 with fourth place. After winning Paris-Nice, the Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine in 2012, he is in the form of his life.

FRANK SCHLECK
Age: 32
Team: RadioShack-Nissan Trek
Previous appearances (finishes): 2006 (10), 2007 (17), 2008 (6), 2009 (5), 2010 (abandoned during stage three), 2011 (3)
Stage wins: Two (2006: stage 15; 2009: stage 17)
With brother Andy, the 2010 champion, absent through injury, Frank Schleck is poised to assume leadership of the RadioShack-Nissan Trek team. Will have to make his gains in the mountains due to inferior time-trialling ability.

VINCENZO NIBALI
Age: 27
Team: Liquigas-Cannondale
Previous appearances (finishes): 2008 (20), 2009 (7)
Stage wins: None
An outside bet, but proficient in the mountains and against the clock, the Italian has won the Vuelta and twice placed third in the Giro d'Italia.

Source: Daily Mail

Come on Wiggins

Don't think brother Frank is a contender. He will lose way too much time in the TT's

cheers for doing that nando! Oo I can't wait for this now.

Olly - agree with you re: Frank. I prefer him to Andy but do think his TT's will let him down.

And I can't see passed Cadel Evans really for winning it, just not sure Wiggins has what it takes in the mountains but really, really hope he proves me wrong

For me Rugby it boils down to how well Sky can handle the mountain stages. If they can negate most attacks and keep it at a high steady pace I think Wiggins has a real shot

I agree Olly. So often it comes down to how the teams cope in the mountains and I think Sky have got a lot of work to do on this to catch up with Radioshack and BMC. Will be interesting how Cav goes in a new team too.

If you look at Sky's team they have a very strong line up for the mountains. Rogers, Froome, Porte, Siutsou are all very good domestiques and Knees and Eddy Boss are not to be scoffed at either.

Cav I think will be looking for stage wins and not the green. I don't think Sky will look to control flat stages, mainly leave that to sprinters teams.

think you're right Olly and I'll take your word for it on Sky's team! Sadly don't get to watch too much cycling although I always keep an ear out for news on the likes of Wiggins, Thomas and Cavendish.

I think Cav's already come out and said he doesn't think he'll get green again this year, but you never know, bag himself some stage wins and he'll be in the running.

Rugby the team has already been announced!

Here it is:
Bradley Wiggins
Mark Cavendish
Michael Rogers
Richie Porte
Chris Froome
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Christian Knees
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Bernie Eisel

ah I do have a bit of a soft sport for EBH I've got to say.

Thomas is concentrating on the Olympics, isn't he? interesting call from him, but the right one I think.

Yeah Thomas is concentrating on the Olympics which I can understand. He could have been helpful for Wiggins but not that much of a miss considering the squad they have

I'm looking forward to seeing Boasson-Hagen again this year. He had a really good tour last year.

Zander
EB-H will probably not get as much licence to ride for himself this year - last year after Wiggins crashed out early, Sky were just after stage wins and didn't have a sprinter who was quite fast enough for the bunch sprints.

This time, Cav will clearly be competetive in the bunch sprints for as long as he stays in the race, while Wiggins is a clear contender overall. EB-H's best chances of a stage will probably be stages 1, 3 and perhaps 7, which are too tough for the sprinters but perhaps not tough enough for the GC guys.

Having said that, I do wonder if Evans might have a serious attack on one of these days, to try and gain a significant lead over Wiggins (1 to 2 minutes) - Cadel and Schleck have both had success in Ardennes Classics, where Wiggo has struggled. The reason they might look to gain time is two-fold:
1 - Protect themselves from the likely time losses to BW in the ITT on stage 9
2 - Make it so Brad has to attack in the mountains rather than letting his team just set a high tempo as they did in the Dauphine.

dummy_half wrote:Zander
EB-H will probably not get as much licence to ride for himself this year - last year after Wiggins crashed out early, Sky were just after stage wins and didn't have a sprinter who was quite fast enough for the bunch sprints.

This time, Cav will clearly be competetive in the bunch sprints for as long as he stays in the race, while Wiggins is a clear contender overall. EB-H's best chances of a stage will probably be stages 1, 3 and perhaps 7, which are too tough for the sprinters but perhaps not tough enough for the GC guys.

Having said that, I do wonder if Evans might have a serious attack on one of these days, to try and gain a significant lead over Wiggins (1 to 2 minutes) - Cadel and Schleck have both had success in Ardennes Classics, where Wiggo has struggled. The reason they might look to gain time is two-fold:
1 - Protect themselves from the likely time losses to BW in the ITT on stage 9
2 - Make it so Brad has to attack in the mountains rather than letting his team just set a high tempo as they did in the Dauphine.

However it turns out, I can't wait for the Tour de France!

Anyone catch the Prologue? some amazing riding and a great start for Bradley and of course fab Fab!

rugbydreamer wrote:Anyone catch the Prologue? some amazing riding and a great start for Bradley and of course fab Fab!

Yes, I saw it.

Great time trial from Wiggins and a good bit of time gained over his main competitor Evans. Bad luck Tony Martin, as I think he could have won if he didn't have a problem with his bike.

I know, he was 2nd fastest going through the mid point too, just such bad luck for him to have gear trouble

Hopefully he'll be luckier in the next time trial.