Dominator Tadej Pogacar, however, watched the presentation of the 109th Tour de France in the glamorous Palais des Congrès in Paris with an emotionless poker face. With the Grand Départ in Denmark, a cobblestone stage in the north of France, the return of the legendary Alpe d'Huez and four other mountain finishes, the Tour promises to be a grandiose summer spectacle from 1 to 24 July 2022. German cycling hopeful Emanuel Buchmann should also be pleased with the route with just one long time trial.
"It's going to be an incredible race"
"Alpe d'Huez, the cobblestones. That looks good. The cobbles are a challenge that appeals to me. I've never ridden it before," said Pogacar and enthused: "It's going to be an incredible race." With his victories in 2020 and 2021, the 23-year-old Slovenian is the man to beat. And with almost 20 kilometres of cobblestones on the fifth stage, the Tour organisers are presenting Pogacar with a new challenge.
This will also be the case on the three stages in Denmark, where wind edges are to be expected. The seventh stage will then see the first mountain finish on the ski slope of La Planche des Belles Filles - familiar terrain for Pogacar, Buchmann and the other Classement riders.
Preliminary decision in the Alps?
A preliminary decision could well be made in the Alps. Stage eleven ends on the 2413 metre-high Col du Granon, and one day later the riders will return to Alpe d'Huez for the first time since 2018. On both days, the 2642 metre-high Col du Galibier will have to be climbed. For lightweight Buchmann, fourth in the Tour in 2019, it's a course like a painting. The mountain finishes in the Pyrenees on the stages to Peyragudes and Hautacam should also appeal to the rider from Ravensburg.
The crux of the 3328 kilometres from Copenhagen to Paris, with detours to Belgium and Switzerland, is likely to be the 40-kilometre individual time trial on the penultimate day. Normally, battling against the clock is not one of Buchmann's strengths, but between Lacapelle Marival and Rocamadour, the route planners have included two tough climbs.
"Copenhagen and Denmark are a new frontier for the Tour. It will be the most northerly Grand Départ in history," said Prudhomme at the presentation, which was once again held as an in-person event. In addition to Tour winner Pogacar, British sprint star Mark Cavendish and French world champion Julian Alaphilippe were among the guests.
The route of the Tour de France Femmes was also presented. The women's race will experience its renaissance from 24 to 31 July 2022 and will cover eight stages and 1029 kilometres from Paris to the mountain finale in La Planche des Belles Filles. The race director is Marion Rousse, Alaphilippe's partner.
The stage plan for the 109th Tour de France
Stage, Lille - Arenberg (155 km)Thursday, 07 July 20226th Stage, Binche - Longwy (220 km)Friday, 08 July 20227th Stage, Tomblaine - La Planche des Belles Filles (176 km)Saturday, 09 July 20228th Stage, Dole - Lausanne (184 km)Sunday, 10 July 20229th Stage, Aigle - Chatel (183 km)Monday, 11 July 20222nd Rest dayTuesday, 12 July 202210nd Stage, Morzine - Megazine (183 km)Monday, 11 July 20222nd Rest day. Stage, Rodez - Carcassonne (200 km)Monday, 18 July 20223rd rest dayTuesday, 19 July 202216th stage, Carcassonne - Foix (179 km)Wednesday, 20 July 202217th stage, Saint-Gaudens - Peyragudes (130 km)Thursday, 21 July 202218th stage, Lourdes - Hautacam (143 km)Friday, 22 July 202219th stage, Castelnau-Magnoac - Cahors (189 km)
Saturday, 23 July 2022
Stage 20/Individual time trial, Lacapelle Marival - Rocamadour (40 km)Sunday, 24 July 202221st stage, Paris La Défense Arena - Paris Champs-Élysées (112 km)
© dpa-infocom, dpa:211014-99-595264/4
