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Saturday 7 July 2007,
prologue
London > London - 8 km
Thierry Gouvenou, regulator, 7 Tours de France: "A route
without any real difficulty in the heart of the city, which
passes in front of some of the most beautiful buildings in
London. Expect to see a high-speed feud between the specialists
of the discipline over a distance equivalent to two pursuits."
Sunday 8 July 2007, stage
1
London > Canterbury - 203 km
Thierry Gouvenou, regulator, 7 Tours de France: "After
leaving the heart of London and setting off the timers as it
passes by the Greenwich Meridian, the peloton will speed off
across Kent. A flat route through the English countryside which
should favour the sprinters hoping to win the green jersey."
Monday 9 July 2007, stage
2
Dunkerque > Gand - 167 km
Jean-François Pescheux, Competition Director, 3 Tours de
France: "This second stage will mark the return of the Tour to
the land of cycling, along the roads of the great Flanders
classics: Tour of Flanders, Het Volk, Gand-Vevelgem, etc. There
should be many spectators at the roadsides along which the
riders will be passing. Things will start to get more serious
during this stage, with the wind and the risk of hitting the
kerbs definitely playing an important role."
Tuesday 10 July 2007,
stage 3
Waregem > Compiègne - 236 km
Jean-François Pescheux, Competition Director, 3 Tours de
France: "The longest stage in this year’s Tour de France. After
Flanders, the peloton will enter France along some of the roads
used for the Paris-Roubaix race - Wallers, Denain, Solesmes -
before crossing Fontaine-au-bois, the land of Jean-Marie
Leblanc. The slightly hilly route will not present any major
difficulties. Therefore, we should be able to enjoy a huge
sprint at the end of a magnificent straight stretch of road."
Wednesday 11 July 2007,
stage 4
Villers-Cotterêts > Joigny - 190 km
François Lemarchand, regulator, 10 Tours de France: "After
Champagne and the plains of Brie, the peloton will cross the
valleys of Yonne. Once again, it will be the sprinters who will
fight it out to decide the winner of the stage."
Thursday 12 July 2007,
stage 5
Chablis > Autun - 184 km
Jean-François Pescheux, Competition Director, 3 Tours de
France: "Things will start to get slightly more difficult. The
peloton will cross Morvan, following a winding and hilly route,
offering a mixture of rises and inclines, on their way to the
finish line, where, this time the terrain could favour the
fighters. Therefore, in Autun, we may see a small breakaway
group battle for first place."
Friday 13 July 2007,
stage 6
Semur-en-Auxois > Bourg-en-Bresse - 200 km
Jean-Michel Monin, regulator, Olympic team racing champion:
"After the first few hilly kilometres, the peloton will cross
the Mâconnais to reach the plains of Bresse. This stage will be
the last opportunity for the specialists in the final sprint to
shine before the peloton sets out to take on the mountains."
Saturday 14 July 2007,
stage 7
Bourg-en-Bresse > Le Grand-Bornand - 197 km
Thierry Gouvenou, regulator, 7 Tours de France: "The first
mountain stage and the start of the real difficulties for the
peloton. The first kilometres through Ain will be a sturdy, but
gradual, introduction for the riders, before they tackle the
Alps and the first real mountain pass of the Tour, the Col de la
Colombière (16 km at 6.7%), lying 15 kilometres from the finish
line. Those who are looking for overall victory may start to
reveal themselves here."
Sunday 15 July 2007,
stage 8
Le Grand-Bornand > Tignes - 165 km
Laurent Bezault, assistant competition director, 1 Tour de
France: "This will be a short but very tense stage. From the
outset, the peloton will have to pass a first small hill before,
from 75 kilometres out, tackling the Cormet de Roseland (19 km
at 6%), the Montée de Hauteville - the start of the Col du Petit
Saint-Bernard - and the climb up to Tignes (18 km at 5.5%) for a
very difficult finish. By the evening in Tignes, the favourites
will have made themselves known."
Monday 16 July 2007
Rest day in Tignes
Tuesday 17 July 2007,
stage 9
Val-d’Isère > Briançon - 161 km
Laurent Bezault, assistant competition director, 1 Tour de
France: "The riders will make a cold start to the climb up to
the Col de l’Iseran (15 km at 6%), followed by Télégraphe -
Galibier (12 km at 6.7% and 17.5 km at 7%). One thing is
certain, the front runners will be very present, and the others
will find the going hard."
Wednesday 18 July 2007,
stage 10
Tallard > Marseille - 229 km
François Lemarchand, regulator, 10 Tours de France: "A long
stage which, after crossing the Alps, could conclude with a
full-blown fight. Expect a large number of attacks and the
possibility of one rider distinguishing himself at the finish
line in front of the Stade Vélodrome."
Thursday 19 July 2007,
stage 11
Marseille > Montpellier - 180 km
François Lemarchand, regulator, 10 Tours de France: "This
stage, which follows the Mediterranean, should also give rise to
a spectacular contest. No doubt, the wind will play an important
role and will favour initiatives taken by the fighters. Those
who will have lost the Tour already will have a wonderful
opportunity to make their presence felt."
Friday 20 July 2007,
stage 12
Montpellier > Castres - 179 km
Gilles Maignan, pilot for Christian Prudhomme, two-time
French time trial champion, 4 Tours de France: "Although the
terrain may offer some opportunities for the attackers, the
leaders and their teams will have to be particularly attentive
in order to favour a sprint at the finish line. Because, the day
before the Tour’s great time trial, it will be out of the
question to let anybody take the slightest advantage."
Saturday 21 July 2007,
stage 13
Albi > Albi - 54 km
Gilles Maignan, pilot for Christian Prudhomme, two-time
French time trial champion, 4 Tours de France: "Although the
first few kilometres will be relatively hilly, above all, this
time trial will be an affair for the specialists in solitary
effort. However, more technical riders should not be at too much
of a disadvantage, because the final descent is very sinuous.
Therefore, in order to make one’s mark here, the riders will
have to be able to press down hard on the pedals and also show
finesse in the more technical parts of the route. An attractive
and very complete time trial."
Sunday 22 July 2007,
stage 14
Mazamet > Plateau-de-Beille - 197 km
Gilles Maignan, pilot for Christian Prudhomme, two-time
French time trial champion, 4 Tours de France: "A small incline
to welcome the riders first thing, then a relatively calm route
via Carcassonne, Limoux and Quillan before taking on the Port de
Pailhères (17 km at 7.2%) and the climb up towards the Plateau
de Beille (16 km at 7.9%). The end of the stage will be very
difficult and should only leave room for the very fittest riders
in the peloton."
Monday 23 July 2007, stage 15
Foix > Loudenvielle - Le Louron - 196 km
Thierry Gouvenou, regulator, 7 Tours de France: "Without a
doubt, this will be one of the major stages of the Tour, with no
fewer than five referenced mountain passes - including the Port
de Balès (19.5 km at 6.2%), a first for the Tour. A tense stage,
which will be reserved for the true mountain specialists, with
many points to be taken for the polka dot jersey."
Wednesday 25 July 2007,
stage 16
Orthez > Gourette - Col d’Aubisque - 218 km
François Lemarchand, regulator, 10 Tours de France: "This
will be the second part of the Pyrenees, with four formidable
climbs and a finish at the summit of the Col de l’Aubisque,
possibly the object of stiff competition, all the more serious
because this stage will mark the end of the mountains. The
leaders will have an opportunity to confirm their domination,
whereas the others will be trying to seize their last chance to
change the classification."
Thursday 26 July 2007,
stage 17
Pau > Castelsarrasin - 188 km
Jean-Michel Monin, regulator, Olympic team racing champion:
"he fighters, the sprinters, those who have lost the Tour and
who are looking for an opportunity to make up for lost time…
Many riders will be hoping for victory when they set out for
this slightly hilly stage, favourable for attacks. The riders
will need to be vigilant if they do not want to be caught out."
Friday 27 July 2007,
stage 18
Cahors > Angoulême - 210 km
Jean-Michel Monin, regulator, Olympic team racing champion:
"This will be a long stage, slightly uneven, meaning that there
could be some surprises. The terrain should provide some great
opportunities for the attackers to shine, whereas the leaders
will apply themselves to strengthening their position. Watch
out, it promises to be tense."
Saturday 28 July 2007,
stage 19
Cognac > Angoulême - 55 km
Gilles Maignan, pilot for Christian Prudhomme, two-time
French time trial champion, 4 Tours de France: "Long straight
stretches, some beautiful sections of unbending road, some
slight inclines… The specialists of solitary effort will be the
favourites for this time trial, although a rider in good shape,
with a good overall position and spurred on by the challenge
could also distinguish himself."
Sunday 29 July 2007,
stage 20
Marcoussis > Paris Champs-Élysées - 130 km
Laurent Bezault, assistant competition director, 1 Tour de
France: "A grand finale across the Chevreuse Valley before
entering Paris to complete the eight laps of the traditional
circuit around the Champs-Elysées. In short, a long victory lap
for all the survivors of this 94th Tour de France."
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