The 2013 Tour de France Overview and Stage Outline
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This years Tour de France is upon us and this year is going to be one for the history books! Tour de France is celebrating its 100th anniversary in spectacular fashion with challenging stages complete with nail biting finishes complimented by breathtaking French scenery. TDF 2013 features 10 new stage towns, 6 mountain stages 4 of which are climb finishes and 3 time time trail stages. If that wasn't enough the Tour de France visits some old favorites such as Mont Ventoux mountain climb finish and the Alpe d'Huez is climbed twice! The race's total length is 3,403 kilometers across 21 stages with 2 well earned rest days, unlike previous years the entirety of the 2013 Tour de France is held in France to commemorate the occasion.
Stage Outline:
- 7 Flat Stages
- 5 Hilly Stages
- 6 Mountain Stages
- 2 Individual Time Trial Stages
- 1 Team Time Trial Stage
- 2 Rest Days
- 10 New Stage Towns
Change to Last Year's Race:
- No prologue
- Team time trial at stage 4
- The gruelling Alpe-d'Huez will be climbed twice this year
- 10 new areas to host the tour: Porto-Vecchio (start of 1st stage),Bastia (end of 1st stage and start of 2nd stage), Ajaccio (end of 2nd stage and start of 3rd stage), Calvi (end of 3rd stage), Cagnes-sur-Mer (start of 5th stage), Saint-Gildas-des-Bois (start of 10th stage), Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule (start of 14th stage), Givors (start of 15th stage),Chorges (end of 17th stage), Annecy-Semnoz (end of 20th stage)
** View the video of the 2013 stages on** BikeExchange TV
The Major 2013 Tour de France Contenders:
With an all-star team to support him and a great preparation in the lead in to the grand tour, Chris Froome from Sky could be a hard man to beat. This year alone he has won the Tour of Oman, the Criterium International, the Tour de Romandie, and the Criterium du Dauphine, as well as an overall 2nd placing in the Tirenno-Adriatico.
Froome could have climbing specialist Alberto Contador hot on his heels, who will still be hungry to take back his Tour De France titles after being stripped of his 2010 yellow jersey due to doping allegations. Alberto has also had a great season, taking this year's Vuelta (his 2nd Vuelta win). Has he been strategically slipping slightly below the radar in his recent events? This will be the event to unfold Contador's plans.
Another likely challenger will be our very own Australian legend Cadel Evans. After a slower start to the season, Cadel has been increasingly laying the pace on the line, securing himself a podium at the lead up event - the Giro d'Italia, and a top 3 spot at the Tour of Oman.
Vincenzo Nibali has also had a solid racing calendar for 2013 and secured himself a reputation as a strong climber, winning Tirreno-Adriatico and sealing himself the victory at the Giro. Whether he pushed too hard, too soon will soon be ours to witness!
Rodriguez is a another notable all-rounder and climber who has had a great season although opted out of the recent Giro, instead hitting the shorter of the classics in which he gained a top 6 positioning.
This year's lineup should see even the non-nail biters raise their fingers to their mouths in anticipation, and the crew at BikeExchange are certainly looking forward to watching the stages unfold!
Tour de France 2013 Stages
Stage 1, Sat June 29th
Location: Porto Vecchio to Bastia
Distance: 213km
Terrain/Type: Flat
Description No prologue this year as the boys commence their Tour de France journey from picturesque Corsica island. Picture undulating hills for the first 3rd of the race, then expect a sprint finish amongst the "sprinters". Cavendish, Greipel and Goss are hot contenders for this stage.
Stage 2, Sun June 30th
Location: Bastia to Ajaccio
Distance: 156km
Terrain/Type: High Mountain
Description: Riders begin with a steady climb, leading in to 2 harsher mountain passes (almost 5km in length each). A short descent will see the guys head into a short climb 12kms from the finish line.
Stage 3, Mon July 1st
Location: Ajaccio to Calvi
Distance: 145.5km
Terrain/Type: Medium Mountains
Description: A short yet sharp hilly stage. The riders will be faced with 2 climbs before taking on a 13km summit climb to finish.
Stage 4, Tues July 2nd
Location: Nice to Nice
Distance: 25km
Terrain/Type: Flat (Team Time Trial)
Description: The first and final team time trial which involves a short 25km team sprint.
Stage 5, Wed July 3rd
Location: Cagnes-Sur-Mer to Marseille
Distance: 228.5km
Terrain/Type: Low Mountains
Description: Stage 5 is the first of the longer stages where the riders will be taking on undulating hulls, potential strong crosswinds and a 12km summit climb finish.
Stage 6, Thur July 4th
Location: Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier
Distance: 176.5km
Terrain/Type: Flat
Description: Relatively flat terrain, although headwinds could be expected to blow through and threaten a seemlessly flat course.
Stage 7, Fri July 5th
Location: Montpellier to Albi
Distance: 205.5km
Terrain/Type: High Mountain
Description: After a week on their saddles, Stage 7 will introduce the first of the real climbs of the Tour De France, including 4 category climbs. Preservation and tactics are key.
Stage 8, Sat July 6th
Location: Castres to Ax-Trois-Domaines
Distance: 195km
Terrain/Type: Mostly Flat, Finishing in Steep Climb
Description: This stage is the first of the key stages for this year's Tour and the first of the Pyrenees. There are 3 steep climbs - the first commences at the 26.5km mark and is a 2.2 km climb at 5.4%, followed by a 15.3km climb at 8% at the 166km mark. The final climb is at the 193.5 km mark and is a 7.8km long climb at 8.2%, the first of the category 1 climbs.
Stage 9, Sun July 7th
Location: Saint-Girons to Bagneres-De-Bigorre
Distance: 168.5km
Terrain/Type: High Mountains
Description: The riders hit a relatively short stage today, yet four category 1 climbs and one category 2 climb will be a great spectator stage, as the lead group take formation and tactics unfold.
Stage 10, Tues July 9th
Location: Saint-Gildas-des-Bois to Saint Malo
Distance: 197km
Terrain/Type: Flat
Description: After a much needed rest day, the riders hit a relatively flat 197km course. A stage for the sprinters!
Stage 11, Wed July 10th
Location: Avranches to Mont Saint Michel
Distance: 33km
Terrain/Type: Flat (Individual Time Trial)
Description: The first of two individual time trials. Only potential winds and a tight bend compromises a relatively flat and simple stage.
Stage 12, Thur July 11th
Location: Fougeres to Tours
Distance: 218km
Terrain/Type: Flat
Description: Stage 12 contains no overly steep climbs and is another flat stage which should predictably be set up for the sprinters out there.
Stage 13, Fri July 12th
Location: Tours to Saint-Amand-Montrond
Distance: 173km
Terrain/Type: Steady Climb
Description: Only 1 climb in this stage, but it's a heavy duty category 4 climb.
Stage 14, Sat July 13th
Location: Saint-Pourcain-Sur-Sioule to Lyon
Distance: 191km
Terrain/Type: Medium Mountains
Description: A tricky stage consisting of many medium climbs and descents.
Stage 15, Sun July 14th
Location: Givors to Mont Ventoux
Distance: 242.5km
Terrain/Type: Low Mountains Finishing in Steep Climb
Description: This is the longest stage of the Tour de France. A slightly hilly stage the finishes in a very steep climb.
Stage 16, Tues July 16th
Location: Vaison-La-Romaine to Gap
Distance: 168km
Terrain/Type: Medium Mountains
Description: This stage favors attacking riders refreshed after a rest day allowing many riders to get back into contention.
Stage 17, Wed July 17th
Location: Embrun to Chorges
Distance: 32km
Terrain/Type: Medium Mountains (Individual Time Trial)
Description: The second of two individual time trials features 2 rolling peaks over a short 32km.
Stage 18, Thur July 18th
Location: Gap to Alpe d'Huez
Distance: 172.5km
Terrain/Type: High Mountains
Description: Stage 18 returns to the Alp's in a series of steep climbs and descents. This stage is another one for the attakking riders.
Stage 19, Fri July 19th
Location: Bourg d'Oisans to Le Grand Bornand
Distance: 204.5km
Terrain/Type: High Mountains
Description: Two initial steep climbs and descents dominate this stage followed my a few mediums peaks that will prove to make this a tricky stage.
Stage 20, Sat July 20th
Location: Annecy to Annecy-Semnoz
Distance: 125km
Terrain/Type: High Mountains
Description: A challenging stage that provides little chance of rest with an average gradient of 8.5% the podiums positions are sure to be determined in a final push for glory.
Stage 21, Sun July 21st
Location: Versailles to Paris Champs Elysees
Distance: 133.5km
Terrain/Type: Flat
Description: The final stage is a flat sprint to the finish.
