Do Tour de France sprinters go to sleep at night and dream of the years either side of the millennium when Jean-Marie Leblanc was the race director, a time when they could count on a whole week of bunch gallops that were typically the prelude to a long time trial and, with the event already half-done, the first mountain stages? They were halcyon days for sprinters, typified by Mario Cipollini winning four consecutive stages and then swanning off to the beach without subjecting himself to anything more testing than a third-category hill.
Since Christian Prudhomme succeeded Leblanc as the Tour director in 2007, he and his technical director, Thierry Gouvenou, have made it their primary task to do away with all of the race’s established scenarios when it comes to route-planning. The prologue time trial has made only very intermittent appearances, stages above 230 kilometres have all but disappeared, and almost perennial attempts are made to lure the yellow jersey favourites into the open during the first week.
For this year, Prudhomme tasked Gouvenou with anew challenge, to programme in the earliest mountain summit finish in the race’s history, while at the same time making sure that this test wasn’t tough enough to scupper the hopes of some GC contenders within the first four days. The gamble paid off, the favourites almost all coming in together at Orcières-Merlette.
At the same time, Gouvenou has also been tinkering with other aspects of the Tour route, and with a great deal less fanfare. The result, it would be fair to say, wouldn’t please the likes of ‘Super Mario’ at all. His objective is to add some spice to stages that are likely to finish with a bunch sprint.
This story is from the September 10, 2020 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 10, 2020 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CLASSIC BIKE COLNAGO SUPER
A trailblazing bike immortalised by Merckx and Saronni
"Strava activities are the only way I know some of my friends are still alive"
...or that Bernard is doing his weekly shop
AN EXPERT'S TAKE ON... SADDLE SELECTION
Crucial advice to guide your next purchase
JUST A NUMB#R?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
RURAL PERIL
More UK cyclists are killed on rural lanes than on busy city streets. Rob Kemp investigates why and what can be done to keep us safe while riding in the countryside
A BLESSED RIDE THROUGH THE FOREST OF BOWLAND
Forgoing cloak, cassock and cross, Trevor Ward goes in search of the holy roads that helped make a Tour winner
Dame Sarah Storey claims road and 19th gold double
More success for Team GB's Paralympians in Paris, but Storey slams women's time trial course
Roglič matches Vuelta win record
Slovenian takes fourth Tour of Spain title after hunting down O'Connor's lead, writes Adam Becket
Williams crowned Tour of Britain champion
Welshman leads home resurgence at the stage race to crown an Israel-Premier Tech clean sweep, reports Tom Davidson in Felixstowe
CLASSIC BIKE CLAUD BUTLER OLYMPIC ROAD
Iconic British brand's Holdsworth-era road bike