WorldTour Race Schedule for 2015

List of the biggest baddest pro bike races in the world!

This year, the list of UCI WorldTour races is long and familiar, all races remain the same as in 2014, except the Tour of Beijing which is no longer part of the UCI WorldTour. The names are the same, but most of the routes differ year to year. For the next few months your Sundays will be busy.

This weekend Paris-Nice begins! It is promised to be big. Who will be there - all the usual main season suspects: Carlos Betancur, Romain Bardet, Tejay van Garderen, Fabio Aru, Michal Kwiatkowski, Tom Dumoulin, Richie Porte, Gerraint Thomas, Michael Matthews, John Degenkolb, Alexander Kristoff, and Bradley Wiggins (in a supporting role).

We can watch the Paris-Nice race Live starting at 14:00 CET (5:00am. EDT, 7:00am MDT), simply check in for links at Steephill.TV or CyclingFans. And then do the same for all the other races listed below.

Dates of 2015 UCI WorldTour Races (27)

January 17-25, 2015 - Santos Tour Down Under (Australia)
March 8-15, 2015 - Paris - Nice (France)
March 11-17, 2015 - Tirreno-Adriatico (Italy)
March 22, 2015 - Milano-Sanremo (Italy)
March 23-29, 2015 - Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (Spain)
March 27, 2015 - E3 Harelbeke (Belgium) 
March 29, 2015 - Gent - Wevelgem (Belgium)
April 5, 2015 - Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres (Belgium)
April 6 - 11, 2015 - Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco (Spain)
April 12, 2015 - Paris - Roubaix (France)
April 19, 2015 - Amstel Gold Race (The Netherlands)
April 22, 2015 - La Flèche Wallonne (Belgium) 
April 26, 2015 - Liège - Bastogne - Liège (Belgium)  
April 28-May 3, 2015 - Tour de Romandie (Switzerland)
May 9-31, 2015 - Giro d'Italia (Italy)
June 7-14, 2015 - Critérium du Dauphiné (France)
June 13-21, 2105 - Tour de Suisse (Switzerland)
July 4-26, 2015 - Tour de France (France)
August 1, 2015 - Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian (Spain)
August 2-8-2015 - Tour de Pologne (Poland)
August 10-16, 2015 - Eneco Tour (The Netherlands)
August 22-Sept 13, 2015 - Vuelta a España (Spain)
August 23, 2015 - Vattenfall Cyclassics (Germany)
August 30, 2015 - GP Ouest France - Plouay (France)
September 11, 2015 - Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec (Canada)
September 13, 2015 - Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal (Canada)
October 4, 2015 - Il Lombardia (Italy)

Let's look at the planned routes (parcours) for some of the WorldTour races:

2015 Paris - Nice route map: Sunday, March 8-15, 2015

Official website route description: The 73rd edition of Paris-Nice will set out from Maurepas in the Yvelines district on Sunday after a series of events dedicated to cycling on Saturday. The race will then begin its southbound journey towards its first ever date with the col de la Croix de Chaubouret near Saint Etienne. The action will be beamed to 170 countries across the globe.

Route of 2015 Paris-Nice

2015 Milan-San Remo route map: Sunday, March 22, 2015

CyclingNews route description: RCS Sport published the route map and profile of the 293km route on Friday, confirming that no extra climb will be added to tip the race in the favour of the climbers. RCS Sport was hit by a backlash of criticism by riders and fans who made it clear they preferred the finely balanced traditional race route. Via Roma will again host the likely sprint finish after a seven-year absence.

Route of 2015 Milano Sanremo

2015 Ronde van Vlaanderen route map: race time table: Sunday, April 5, 2015

Official website route description: Bruges Perfect Starting decor remains ' Flanders' Most Beautiful ' . After passing through the center of Kortrijk and Zwevegem , the village of 'De Ronde ' course is being put towards the Flemish Ardennes. After 100 kilometers follows the first pass through Oudenaarde. The capital of the Flemish Ardennes, in recent years demonstrated its value as a point of arrival. (gotta love translated text)

2015 route of Ronde van Vlaanderen

2015 Paris - Roubaix route map: Sunday, April 12, 2015

Official website route description: With a total distance of 253 kilometres between Compiègne and the Roubaix velodrome, the 113th edition of the Queen of the Classics, which will take place on 12th April, holds 52.7 km of cobbles in store for the riders (1.6 km more than in 2014). The cobbles will be spread over 27 sections, three of which will also be on the programme for the 4th stage of the Tour de France

The cobble sections included in both Paris-Roubaix and the 4th stage of the Tour de France 2015:
Quiévy (after 107.5 km – 3,700 m)
Saint-Python (after 112.5 km – 1,500 m)
Verchain-Maugré (after 130 km – 1,600 m)

 - - - final route map not yet released - - -


2015 Giro d'Italia route map: 3-weeks, starting Saturday, May 9-31, 2015

Official website route start description: The 2015 Giro d’Italia will kick off on the 9th of May, with an 18km team time trial along the coast between San Lorenzo al Mare to San Remo. The 98th edition of the Corsa Rosa will run over 21 stages to the 31st of May and the organisers, RCS Sport/La Gazzetta dello Sport, have announced all three opening stages will take place in the picturesque region of Liguria, which sits on the Italian Riviera.

Route of 2015 Giro d'Italia

2015 Critérium du Dauphiné route map: Sunday, June 7-14, 2015

 - - - final route map not yet released - - - 


2015 Tour de France route map: 3-weeks, starting Saturday, July 4-26, 2015

Official website route description: Running from Saturday July 4th to Sunday July 26th 2015, the 102^th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,344 kilometres (before ratification). This 21st Grand Départ from abroad will also be the 6th from the Netherlands which is a record. The Tour will then spend two days in Belgium before reaching France.

Read more, Pedal Dancer: Route of the 2015 Tour de France announced.

Route of 2015 Tour de France

2015 Vuelta a España route map: 3-weeks, starting Saturday, August 22-Sept 13, 2015

Official website route description: Running from Saturday August 22nd to Sunday September 13th 2015, the Vuelta will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,374.4 kilometres.  The first four stages will take place on Malaga territory.

2015 route of Vuelta a España

Who won the WorldTour Races in 2014?

Looking at who won the key races last year, will quickly tell you the type of rider that will likely win in 2015. It is clear the same riders do not always win, but Gerrans, Valverde, Contador, and Kristoff were all in the news a lot in 2015. Alejandro Valverde easily won the most overall points for the 2014 WorldTour.

The winners:

Santos Tour Down Under - Simon Gerrans (AUS)
Paris-Nice - Carlos Betancur (COL)
Tirreno-Adriatico - Alberto Contador (ESP)
Milano-Sanremo - Alexander Kristoff (NOR)
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Joaquim Rodriquez (ESP)
E3 Harelbeke - Peter Sagan (SVK)
Gent - Wevelgem - John Degenkolb (GER)
Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres - Fabian Cancellara (SUI)
Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Alberto Contador (ESP)
Paris - Roubaix - Niki Terpstra (NED)
Amstel Gold Race - Philippe Gilbert (BEG)
La Flèche Wallonne - Alejandro Valverde (ESP)
ALiège-Bastogne-Liège - Simon Gerrans (AUS)
Tour de Romandie - Chris Froome (GBR)
Giro d'Italia - Nairo Quintana (COL)
Critérium du Dauphiné - Andrew Talansky (USA)
Tour de Suisse - Rui Costa (POR)
Tour de France - Vincenzo Nibali (ITA)
Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian - Alejandro Valverde (ESP)
Tour de Pologne - Rafal Majka (POL)
Eneco Tour - Tim Wellens (BEL)
Vuelta a España - Alberto Contador (ESP)
Vattenfall Cyclassics - Alexander Kristoff (NOR)
GP Ouest France-Plouay - Sylvain Chavanel (FRA)
Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec - Simon Gerrans (AUS)
Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal - Simon Gerrans (AUS)
Il Lombardia - Dan Martin (IRL)
Tour of Beijing - Philippe Gilbert (BEL)  *no longer in the WorldTour

Team Time Trial at the 2014 World Championships: BMC Racing Team

See also: Pedal Dancer Spring Classics Schedule for 2015
More race dates at: Pedal Dancer CALENDAR OF RACES AND EVENTS Guide Page

How to Watch the Tour de France

Time to watch and read about the Tour de France in 2013

Have you been curious how to watch the Tour this year? 

The Tour de France begins tomorrow, Saturday June 29 through Sunday July 21, 2013. Time to watch the competition, scenery and tradition that is that Tour de France. Find access to watching the Tour de France in a way which best suits you: TV, online, apps, or facebook. Unfortunately if you are an American citizen and want to watch the race live you are going to have to pay NBC (cable TV, online or app),

If you cannot watch the race live, then read about the results and stories or watch video clips to keep up on results. See resources listed under Live Text updates, Video Libraries, Social Media, and Reading below.

But the main point is this - GO RIDE YOUR OWN BIKE. The Tour de France is meant to inspire us cyclists. There will be no sacrificing ride time by sitting around watching le Tour. That is why I am here to save you time by focusing your attention on exactly where to watch or find your news on the race. 

TV

Europe - TV Schedule for the 2013 Tour de France 

See the Eurosport TV Schedule.

See the France TV 3 TV Schedule

See the itv Tour de France TV schedule and itv website pages for the race.

Or find other broadcast TV schedules at the bottom of Steephill.TV page for Sporza, Raj, France TV 2, iTv 4, rtve, rtv, espn international, tsn2, rds, j sports, super sport, Rai Sport 2, Rai 3, nos, rtbf, rtl, sf zwei, 2 sportin, rmc.

United States - TV Schedule for the 2013 Tour de France 

NBC Sports Network Live (and taped) TV coverage schedule (cable) (EDT times: New York). Commentating by Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen.
 
Saturday, June 29 - Tour de France, Stage 1: Porto-Vecchio to Bastia, 7:30 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Sunday, June 30 - Tour de France, Stage 2: Bastia to Ajaccio, 7:30 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)
Tour de France, Stage 2: Bastia to Ajaccio, 12:30 p.m., NBC (Re-air)

Monday, July 1 - Tour de France, Stage 3: Ajaccio to Calvi, 6:30 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Tuesday, July 2 - Tour de France, Stage 4: Nice to Nice, 9 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Wednesday, July 3 - Tour de France, Stage 5: Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseille, 8 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Thursday, July 4 - Tour de France, Stage 6: Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier, 8 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Friday, July 5 - Tour de France, Stage 7: Montepellier to Albi, 8 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Saturday, July 6 - Tour de France, Stage 8: Castres to Ax 3 Domaines, 8 a.m., NBC (LIVE)

Sunday, July 7 - Tour de France, Stage 9: Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre, 6:30 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Monday, July 8 - Tour de France Rest Day, 8 a.m., NBCSN

Tuesday, July 9 - Tour de France, Stage 10: Saint-Gildas-des-Bois to Sain-Malo, 8 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Wednesday, July 10 - Tour de France, Stage 11: Avranches to Mont-Saint-Michel, 8 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Thursday, July 11 - Tour de France, Stage 12: Fougères to Tours, 8 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Friday, July 12 - Tour de France, Stage 13: Tours to Saint-Amand-Montrond, 8 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Saturday, July 13 - Tour de France, Stage 14: Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule to Lyon, 8 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Sunday, July 14 - Tour de France, Stage 15: Givors to Mont Ventoux, 8 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Monday, July 15 - Tour de France Rest Day Show, 8 a.m., NBCSN

Tuesday, July 16 - Tour de France, Stage 16: Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap, 8 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Wednesday, July 17 - Tour de France, Stage 17: Embrun to Chorges, 8 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Thursday, July 18 - Tour de France, Stage 18: Gap to Alpe-d'Huez, 6 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Friday, July 19 - Tour de France, Stage 19: Bourg-d'Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand, 6 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Saturday, July 20 - Tour de France, Stage 20: Annecy to Annecy-Semonz, 7:30 a.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Sunday, July 21 - Tour de France, Stage 21: Versailles to Paris Champs Élysées, 11:30 p.m., NBCSN (LIVE)

Sunday, July 28 - Tour de France Recap Show, 12:30 p.m., NBC

Live Online

Online Live Video Coverage - 2013 Tour de France
 
Eurosport Player Paid fee, find a promotional discount through Bike Radar, code TDF2013 (UK) or TDF2013-DEIR (Ireland) and you'll get 12 months subscription for the price of 11 (£32.88/€36.57). 280 hours of cycling, including 87 hours of live coverage. Not available for US citizens.

Online NBC TDF Live Tracking: Paid full access to Live and recorded video and features in the U.S. All Access $29.99 for entire tour, $4.99 for 1 Stage/1-Day Access. Must register and pay for service. Poorly pixeled image quality depending on laptop or desktop. (registration problem was corrected). (I could not find a "promotional code" being offered anywhere). Don't use Firefox with the site - Safari or Chrome okay. NBC coverage and commentary. Also you will be able to watch delayed tape on demand after the stage is complete.

Live Video at Cycling Central (SBS.com) in Australia only, not in the U.S. They also have a Tour de France app.

Live Video and taped interviews at itv.com Tour de France in Britain, not in the U.S. If you live in the UK, you can watch the Broom Wagon cleaning up on course, Live on itv during the stage at: Tour de France Broom Wagon Live. They also have a Tour de France app.

Steephill.TV Update: Free Eurosport links are no longer being provided in the USA via Steephill.
Steephill.TV has always been an invaluable resource for cycling fans. I visit Steve's site maybe 3 to 6 times a day looking for historic and current details. See the full list and links to live video or TV schedules at Steephill.TV in other countries around the world (scroll to the bottom of the page) Steephill.tv/tour-de-france/. Plus their links to news and video.
*Warning Live links: you may run the risk of placing malware on your HD if you click to download the software that blocks these live link screens, do not, it is not necessary, you can wait and hit the small x to get out of those ads. Beware. Sites for free viewing exist on the internet.

Race News and Daily Predictions Video

My favorite is back!! Tour Talk with Frankie Andreu and James Startt for Bicycling. This very entertaining and accurate race strategy preview is back for another year. Set in a backdrop fitting for each day's stage, these two banter and make you feel like you are there with them in France.

Behind the Scenes with the Teams

Orica GreenEDGE offers their quick 3 minute videos: Backstage Pass.

Also see team photos albums and videos shared on Facebook: List of team facebook pages.

Videos Libraries

A good source of highlight videos to catch up on any live race viewing you may have missed. Scan for the clips of the final kilometers or key interviews. These will save you tons of time which you may then put towards riding your own bike.

Very good Free pre-recorded videos for view at Global Cycling Network

Lots of Free daily pre-recorded videos added in the right column at CyclingFans.comhttp://cyclingfans.com/. Including interviews, interest stories, and race highlights.

More prerecorded Free videos highlights available at Steephill.tv/tour-de-france, also news links from the 4 or so standard cycling news sources. I especially appreciate the links to race recaps of the last 3-5km of the race. This is a good site to short cut to the news you may have missed.

Library of video interviews and features: Bicycling

Live Text Updates

I sometimes read live text updates to clarify who is in the breakaway or understand what is happening on the entire route when the TV cameras are focused only on the breakaway. They offer in the moment updates from the leaders to the team cars, plus additional race insights.

Official Live ASO Ticker by LeTour

Live blogging today by Michael O'Reilly at the Sydney Morning Herald. It goes live as the TV coverage does, on smh.com.au, theage.com.au and brisbanetimes.com.au home pages. Light-hearted, entertaining and informed. Free

Team SKY offer a full media presentation on the website with videos & photos, news and LIVE coverage. Free

CyclingNews Live Text Updates (online, and app below) Free 

Brian Holcombe et al, at VeloNews, is also doing Free Live Text Coverage of every stage of the TDF. Check their Facebook page daily for the link to Live Coverage, it is hard to find on their website.

Live Update Guy Charles Pelkey, Free but he asks for donations (frequently) to cover costs and has a small following of regulars who chime in. A bit of a distraction.

Apps

Apps can be a good if you are out on the road. They are a good source to check on time gaps and which riders are in the breakaway, but they can lag behind real race updates. 

Official le Tour app powered by Skoda app, Paid, read more and download.

CyclingNews Tour Tracker - a Free App, read more at that link and download to your device. This is live text updates, no video available on this app.

Social Media

Twitter

I am not a big fan of reading Twitter during the race, it just takes up time and distracts from watching the real race. I would much rather get timely accurate news from real news sites. I do like to look through Twitter before and after a stage for tweets directly from the riders or team staff rather than the same 12 Twitter personalities. But this can be a huge suck on your time, and again, you need to be out riding your bike!

If you must, then focus in on the best: @MarkCavendish  @PhilippeGilbert  @MattRabin  @letour   @OnevePhoto  ‏@TDWsport  @DanWouri  @albertocontador  @bikeworldnews  @theRaceRadio  and that is about all you need along with your few favorites. Here is a public list of all teams and riders at the 2013 Tour de France. Easily select the teams and riders to follow from this list.

Facebook

A great place to see photos and read other interest stories. See a list I created of the teams' FB pages at: 2013 Pro Teams, and Social Media links (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, websites).

Also my Pedal Dancer Facebook page.

Reading

Riders

There are several riders competing in the Tour who will be writing about their experience at the Tour de France.

Riders Richie Porte and John Degenkolb will be blogging for CyclingNews.com during the Tour de France.

Andrew Talansky will be journaling for VeloNews during the Tour de France

Jens Voigt writes his Hardly Serious column occasionally for Bicycling.com.

Ted King writes in his own blog I am Ted King, but also King Me for Bicycling.com

Training Peaks gives a review of How to Analyze a Tour de France Power File

Journalists

Peloton
Bicycling
Cycling News
Velo News
Pez Cycling

Gear Reveiws

Bike Radar

Blogs

Cycling Tips 
Twisted Spoke
Ciclismo

Pedal Dancer ! - Time for self promotion, I am after all a cycling blog on the Tour de France and France and Colorado, plus more. I will be writing almost daily on interest topics, travel, race result ponderings, sharing photos or news and whatever else catches my interest between 6:00-9:30 a.m.

Pedal Dancer recommended reading:

STAGE & RACE HIGHLIGHTS & PREVIEWS
Preview of the centenary edition of 'La Grande Boucle', By Team SKY
Climbs in the 2013 Tour de France, By Climb By Bike
Tour de France - 21 Brief Stage Previews, By The Cycle Seen
Tour de France 2013: The race preview, By CyclingNews standard format
Why the 100th Tour Will Upstage the 2003 Centennial, By Wilcockson/Sunada
Tour de France: five classic mountain climbs By Giles Belbin
RACE PREDICTIONS
Five key stages of the 2013 Tour de France, By Tom Fish
Froome and co. perfectly prepared for the Tour, By Tim Kerrison for Team SKY
Tour de France 2013: Alberto Contador has the experience to rival tyros, By The Gaurdian
Tour de France 2013: team leader special – part I, By Tim Renowden
Tour de France 2013: team leader special (part II), By Tim Renowden
Tour de France 2013: team leader special (part III), By Tim Renowden

Fans and Cyclists

Dave Roscoe is a cyclist who is out riding every stage of the 2013 Tour de France to raise money for his cause. He is part of the Tour de Force group of cyclists riding all of the stages one week prior to the pros. Dave is posting on his facebook page as he pedals the route.

I like following the Bike Tour Companies or cyclists who live in France on Facebook as they bring their clients or themselves through France and live the tour is real life. In Situ Travel, Thomson Bike Tours, VeloClassic, Bikestyle, Velo Peloton, Cycling Languedoc.

Also I just joined the band wagon and started placing my blog posts on Facebook in May, so give me a follow since I am NEW and my Mother plus a few friends are following at this point: Pedal Dancer facebook page. 

My photos of some of the Media from the 2012 Tour de France!  click any image to enlarge

Photographers at the 2012 Tour de France.  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Everything is news at the Tour de France.  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

James Startt (the big kid) waiting to interview the Maillot Jaune outside the team bus.  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Mobile Media Central at the Tour de France, where TV announcers hide inside these portable trailers.  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

And nearby leading Photographers for the Tour de France gather.  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Where TV cameramen loom overhead.  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

And other journalists and photographers jam into position at the finish line.  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Cyclists (here Rui Costa) are interviewed immediately after a tough stage.  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

And before they barely have time to dress and eat (here Sylvain Chavanel). Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Camera TVs are perched high on mountain tops.  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

And moto cameramen chace after any stage leader (Here Alejandro Valverde).  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

And especially after the yellow jersey (here Bradley Wiggins).  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

But in the end, the only opinion that really matters is what the fans thought of the race!  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

And that the Tour de France inspired you to get out and ride your own bike!  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

How will I be watching the Tour de France in 2013?

NBC Live tracking (on my second desktop screen)
VeloNews Live Text Updates
CyclingNews Tour Tracker iphone app text updates
Bike Radar Fantasy Team Tour de France
Facebook pages
Reading the individual rider columns
Scanning my google reader (homepage) for interesting title lines from all those news and blog sources listed above.

The 100th Tour de France

Otherwise known as the year the boucle did not boucle

The Tour de France begins this Saturday and for anyone claiming they cannot eke out even a brief moment in time to peek in on the race over the next 3 weeks, or that doping has forever damaged their view of this Grand Tour - I say, fine. An estimated 3.499999 billion other people will be there to cover your absence by viewing this event; 11.999999 million other people will take your place curbside to watch this race live in person.

They don't need you. 

That is a nice way of saying "The race will go on" with or without you. Thank goodness, because I love the Tour de France. Anything that has hung around since 1903 deserves some respect. The Tour de France is a tradition which never becomes stale, it adapts and changes and will be around for a long time to come. Evident by the fact that a race called the Grand Boucle (Word of the Day at the TDF: Boucle) in no way resembles a circle loop, and that seems perfectly okay with just about everyone. It is a sporting game afterall!

This year's route zigs and zags all over the fine country of France as if it were a tourist on a 9-day all-inclusive tour of the French countryside without a map, finally finding Paris on the last day.

It's another zig-zag for 2013! Definitely NOT a circle.  Map by Pedal Dancer®

STAGE & RACE HIGHLIGHTS

You could read these 6 recommended race previews:

Preview of the centenary edition of 'La Grande Boucle', By Team SKY
Climbs in the 2013 Tour de France, By Climb By Bike
Tour de France - 21 Brief Stage Previews, By The Cycle Seen
Tour de France 2013: The race preview, By CyclingNews standard format

Why The 100th Tour Will Upstage the 2003 Centennial - See more at: http://www.pelotonmagazine.com/Wilcockson/content/21/2340/Why-The-100th-Tour-Will-Upstage-the-2003-Centennial#sthash.LgGeeyMm.dpuf

Why the 100th Tour Will Upstage the 2003 Centennial, By Wilcockson/Sunada
Tour de France: five classic mountain climbs By Giles Belbin

Why The 100th Tour Will Upstage the 2003 Centennial - See more at: http://www.pelotonmagazine.com/Wilcockson/content/21/2340/Why-The-100th-Tour-Will-Upstage-the-2003-Centennial#sthash.LgGeeyMm.dpuf

Why The 100th Tour Will Upstage the 2003 Centennial - See more at: http://www.pelotonmagazine.com/Wilcockson/content/21/2340/Why-The-100th-Tour-Will-Upstage-the-2003-Centennial#sthash.LgGeeyMm.dpuf

Or just go with mine:

Stage 1-3  - We are on the French island of Corsica (which is not part of Italy) for the first time in Tour history. Napoléon Bonaparte was born on Corscia. Which reminds me that I cannot look at a tiny cobbled lane or a plane tree in France without thinking of Napoléon (Tour Travel - Tour de France, Stage 11).

Stage 4 - We cross the Ligurian Sea (not the Mediterranean Sea) for the Team Time Trial in Nice.  Time to appreciate the pageantry and the time gaps a TTT creates.

Stage 5-7 - We are skipping across the Côte d'Azur and Provence which should highlight the tourist epicenter of the universe.

Stage 8-9 - We head south into the Pyrenees and straight west over any mountain that crosses our path plus a few which do not just because it is week number two of the TDF and the point is to start tiring somebody out of contention. This year the Tour doesn't even touch the slopes of the Col du Tourmalet, which is a shame, but also quite good luck since horrendous floods have wiped out the road.

Rest Day - They call it a "rest day" but really it is a "travel day" because the next stage starts way up in the northwest corner of France.

Stage 10-11 - We're in the northwest of France now so that the riders can complete an ITT with a finish in Mont-Saint-Michel - for photo ops. At least I am pretty sure that is why we came all the way up north.

Stage 12-15 - Time to ride back across the entire country and through some vineyards and by some chateaus into the huge city of Lyon and all the way back to Provence (well technically the Vaucluse) and ride up Mont Ventoux, which was a few kilometers away from Stage 6 just 10 days ago prior to the photo op.

Rest Day - On paper this looks like a "rest day," yet because the riders rode 242.5 km yesterday and will have to ride 168km tomorrow, they will certainly be out riding the roads in Vaucluse on this "recovery day".

Stage 16-18 - Now we spend a couple days to ride all the way up to the Alps. Throw in an ITT, and then ride up Alpe d'Huez not once, but twice! This is also the day that the French Senate anti-doping commission will release their statement on findings. Unusual timing.

Stage 19-20 - We'll get to see some of the most beautiful terrain imaginable on a bicycle as the race covers the Grand Bornand and comes really close to Switzerland to add a couple more million fans into the mix, even though Fabian Cancellara is not riding this year!

Stage 21 - The Stage will start in opulent style in the gardens of the Château de Versailles and end in opulent style in the evening on the Champs-Élysées. With a big party or parade expected since it is the 100th Tour de France and they have all that printed material, costumes and props to reuse from 2003 when it was the 100th year of the TDF.

2013 Tour de France route - this is the best map I have yet seen (from About-France.com)

RACE PREDICTIONS

You could read these 4 recommended race predictions 

Five key stages of the 2013 Tour de France, By Tom Fish
Froome and co. perfectly prepared for the Tour, By Tim Kerrison for Team SKY
Tour de France 2013: Alberto Contador has the experience to rival tyros, By The Gaurdian
Tour de France 2013: team leader special – part I, By Tim Renowden
Tour de France 2013: team leader special (part II), By Tim Renowden
Tour de France 2013: team leader special (part III), By Tim Renowden

Or just go with mine:

This year for the 100th Tour de France it will be all France all the time. There will be no going outside the country's border for this edition of the Tour. Although it is unlikely that a Frenchman will win, the French people admire true hardship and endurance in any athlete. Supposedly they seriously do not care about the nationality of the winner, except that only French riders get airtime on French TV, even if they are in 175th place. But now that Vinokourov has retired, I am willing to act like The only thing that matters is that the best man wins.

There is something thrilling about watching the grueling schedule of the Tour de France and seeing the direct affects it has on everyone. And I mean every one. The race is torturous and that is exactly what makes it such great entertainment.

As fans, I predict we will spend the first 6 stages watching for crashes. By Stage 8 the teams will have to remember which riders have abandoned and stop calling them back to pick up more water bottles for the guys at the front; as fans will be left to adjust our fantasy teams. By Stage 9 the Bike Tour Companies will be lucky to have all their clients accounted for after a very brief visit to the Pyrenees. By Stage 11 we should have a good idea of who might take the General Classification, but more importantly which team cars get priority in the massive line-up of vehicles into Lyon. By Stage 14 the journalists will begin to forget where they are and which stage they are reporting on. By Stage 15 the Caravan staff, who have been partying for 2-weeks straight with long hours in the sun out on the road, will be so exhausted it is clear why there is good reason to strap them onto those "floats," especially going up Mont Ventoux. By Stage 16 everyone is really tired of eating croissants and filling up the car with diesel but we have finally made it into the Alps. By Stage 17 don't be so sure you know who the top three are after the ITT because tomorrow a double dose of Alpe d'Huez is on the menu. By Stage 18 every rider will have to dig deep to make it to the top of Alpe'd'Huez or miss the cut-off time and lose their chance to spin the pedals three days later in glory over the cobbles of the Champs Elysees. This is not the day to go home! Stage 19 is hard hard hard. By Stage 20 we'll know the winner after a final brutal day of climbing and a long transfer sure to guarantee a funny walk onto the podium after the final 133.5 km long "ceremonial ride" into Paris.

By Stage 21 we can enjoy the big celebration in Paris and be so happy we flew in for the big day. But wait, I didn't! Darn it. This is my year off from traveling where I will instead be writing about le tour. By July 22nd I expect to be in deep TDF withdrawals. The 2013 Tour de France will be over. The 2014 Tour de France is set to begin in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England on July 5th! Velo Peloton is already working on route rumors. I am working on my itinerary! (I wish.)

RACE FACTS

The Tour de France is the largest sporting event in the WORLD

Velo News has rights to publish the official guide to the TDF on U.S. soil and today online they released these super impressive facts - read: 100th Tour de France, by the numbers for lots more facts.

Of special interest:

• Medical Service - "10 emergency doctors, 1 anaesthetics nurse" (proof that pain is not a concern at the TDF)
• The race is broadcast in 190 countries on 60 live broadcast channels (proof why I still end up watching the race online with annoying ads).
• 23,000 Police Officers are used to secure the race (proof why I tend to meet as many Gendarmmes as fans when I go to the TDF)
• 560 media outlets and 2,000 journalists or photographers cover the race (proof why Getty Images owns every great shot of the TDF and why we need to view the best photos and video footage straight from the team websites)
• "1,450 beds reserved every day for the organizers and teams", and there are "4,500 participants among organization, teams, media, partners, publicity caravan, service providers" (proof that there are not enough beds in France, or something else...)
• There are 925,000 fans on Facebook, and 800,000 related apps for download on the Tour de France (0.86 app per FB fan). While the official letour.com website had 11.5 million unique visitors, in one month, last July (proof that websites rock!).

2013 ROUTE

Le zig-zag - the route of the 2013 Tour de France

Stage	Date	Day’s route (towns, regions) and terrain	Length in Km.
1st Stage	Sat 29th June	Corsica: Porto-Vecchio -  Bastia  - relatively flat coastal plain	200 km
2nd Stage	Sun 30th June	Corsica: Bastia - Ajaccio - across the mountains of central Corsica	155 km
3rd  Stage	Mon 1 July	Corsica: Ajaccio - Calvi - hilly terrain along Corsica's rocky northwest coast	145 km
4th Stage	Tues 2 July	Nice - Nice - time trials (French Riviera)	25 km
5th Stage	Wed 3 July	Cagnes sur Mer - Marseille (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region) - hills and valleys	219 km
6th Stage	Thur 4 July	Aix en Provence - Montpellier (Languedoc-Roussillon) - flat with some hills	176 km
7th Stage	Fri 5 July	Montpellier (Languedoc-Roussillon) to Albi  (Midi-Pyrénées)	205 km
8th Stage	Sat 6 July	Castres - Ax-trois-Domaines  (Midi-Pyrénées)	194 km
9th Stage	Sun 7 July	Saint-Girons - Bagnères-de-Bigorre.  (Midi-Pyrénées) Pyrenean mountain stage	165 km
Rest day	Mon 8 July	Saint Nazaire	none
10th Stage	Tue 9 July	Saint-Gildas-des-Bois (Pays de la Loire) - Saint-Malo (Brittany)	193 km
11th Stage	Wed 10 July	Avranches - Mont St Michel, (Normandy)  individual time trial, 33km	33 km
12th Stage	Thur 11 July	Fougères (Brittany) -  Tours   (Région Centre)	218 km
13th Stage	Fri 12 July	Tours - Saint Amand Montrond  (Région Centre) A generally flat leg, terminating in the town known as the centre of France.	173 km
14th Stage	Sat 13 July	Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule (Auvergne)  - Lyon (Rhône-Alpes)  Hilly stage across the Forez mountains -	191 km
15th Stage	Sun 14 July	Givors (Rhône-Alpes) - Mont-Ventoux - finishing with one of the classic climbs of the Tour de France.	242 km
Rest day	Mon 15 July	Rest day	none
16th Stage	Tues 16 July	Vaison-la-Romaine - Gap  Hilly stage in the foothills of the Provence Alps and Luberon	168 km
17th Stage	Wed 17 July	Embrun - Chorges  - Time trials	32 km
18th Stage	Thur 18 July	Gap - Alpe d'Huez  - Mountainous. Summit finish in the Alps	168 km
19th Stage	Fri 19 July	Bourg d'Oisans - Le Grand Bornand - another Alpine stage	204 km
20th Stage	Sat 20 July	Annecy - Mont Semnoz   (Rhône-Alpes) -  mountainous course in the foothills of the Alps, with a summit finish.	125 km
	Sun 21 July	Versailles– Paris (Ile de France) - Evening finish on the Champs Elysées	133.5 km

 This great chart was created by About-France.com

Are you ready for the 2013 Giro d'Italia?

The Giro starts tomorrow May 4th!

Here is my list of recommended fan viewing and reading to get you prepared for the race. I have tried to gather a sampling from various sources across the internet, rather than the typical leading cycling magazines. But if you want those typical articles, you can find them listed on this page. I think this selection below should nicely prepare you to watch the race as a fan.

Facts

Learn about the time bonuses, mountain top finishes, history, prize money and more. Read: Giro d'Italia 2013: 10 things you need to know, By Simon Richardson and Gregor Brown in Naples for CyclingWeekly. Did you know, the winner of the Giro will earn €90,000.

Map

2013 Giro d'Italia Percorso

Route / Percorso

Read a 2013 Giro Route Preview: Giro d'Italia 2013: Stage-by-stage guide, By Peter Scrivener, BBC Sport

Or clink the stage link for details of each stage with a preview by CyclingNews.com:

Stage 1	May 4	Naples	130 km
Stage 2	May 5	Ischia - Forio (TTT)	17.4 km
Stage 3	May 6	Sorrento - Marina di Ascea	222 km
Stage 4	May 7	Policastro - Serra San Bruno	246 km
Stage 5	May 8	Cosenza - Matera	203 km
Stage 6	May 9	Mola di Bari - Margherita di Savoia	169 km
Stage 7	May 10	San Salvo - Pescara	177 km
Stage 8	May 11	Gabicce Mare - Saltara (ITT)	54.8 km
Stage 9	May 12	Sansepolcro - Firenze	170 km
Rest day	May 13
Stage 10	May 14	Cordenons - Montasio	167 km
Stage 11	May 15	Tarvisio - Vajont (Erto e Casso)	182 km
Stage 12	May 16	Longarone - Treviso	134 km
Stage 13	May 17	Busseto - Cherasco	254 km
Stage 14	May 18	Cervere - Bardonecchia	168 km
Stage 15	May 19	Cesana Torinese - Col du Galibier	149 km
Rest Day 2	May 20
Stage 16	May 21	Valloire - Ivrea	238 km
Stage 17	May 22	Caravaggio - Vicenza	214 km
Stage 18	May 23	Mori - Polsa (ITT)	20.6 km
Stage 19	May 24	Ponte di Legno - Val Martello	139 km
Stage 20	May 25	Silandro - Tre Cime di Lavaredo	203 km
Stage 21	May 26	Riese Pio X - Brescia	197 km

View video preview of the route, featuring Daniel Lloyd:



Mountains

2013 Giro d'Italia - Mountains Preview, By Podium Cafe

Riders

Twenty-three teams of 9 riders each representing 54 nations. See the Team Roster list of riders Giro d'Italia 2013: An Overview & Team lists, By Ciclismo

View Riders at the 2013 Giro d'Italia (photos), By Pedal Dancer

Top Contenders

For a list of the usual suspects, read: Giro d'Italia. Contender short-takes. By Twisted Spoke.

Or read Giro d’Italia 2013 - Preview & Favorites, By C-Cycling.

Jerseys

2013 Giro Classification jerseys by Paul Smith  
(Red: sprint; Pink: general; Blue: mountain, White: best young)

History

Read: Great Moments in Giro d'Italia History, By Cycling Tips

Photos

Think Pink! By adamblythe89

View the Garmin-Sharp team gallery of photos from the team presentation

Ryder Hesjedal, last year's winner

Giro Promo Video:

The Italian's have a way with their promotional videos, I half giggle and half get shivers down my spine. No denying it, I love bike racing!



And here is one for the Fans



Get connected

Facebook - giroditalia
Twitter - @giroditalia  #GIRO
Google plus - Giro d'Italia
Instagram - @giroditalia
Official website: http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2013/en/

Watch the race LIVE

According to Steve at Steephill.TV, we can begin watching the race tomorrow online. Visit Steephill.TV daily for LIVE links to watching the race.

Stage 1 start time: Saturday 14:20 CET (6:20:00 AM MDT); Weather for Napoli, Italy
Earliest live video: 14:00 CET (6:00:00 AM MDT); Live/delayed coverage options
Approximate finish: 17:14 CET (9:14:00 AM MDT); Weather for Napoli, Italy

Italian cycling terms

And to round out your cultural education, learn a new vocabulary of Italian cycling term PEZ Speak: Italian For Cyclists, By PezCycling News.

Terms to know:

Grand Tour - The Giro d'Italia is one of the 3 Grand Tours together with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana.
Maglia Rosa - the Leader's jersey (yes it's pink!)>
Percorso - route
Corso Rosa - the affectionate name for the race route
Giro Rosa - the women's version of the Giro race
Gruppo compacto - everyone is back together, no gaps
Gruppo - peloton
Grupetto - the group in the back
Nella scia - in the wake (slipstream) - Team Time Trial!
Arm Warmers - Manicotti (!)
Tifosi - fans
Dai - go!

Related posts by Pedal Dancer:
Word of the Day: Passista, Scattista, Velocista
Word of the day: tifosi

The Grand Tour Jerseys (Maglia) - a comparison of colors

Grand Tour classification jerseys

Advertisement for the 2013 Giro d'Italia were in big lights in Times Square during my recent visit to New York in April 2013.

The Giro d'Italia advertised in Time Square, New York.  Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®