The route of the 2008 Tour de France was memorable for its variety and its departure from certain traditional aspects of the race. Gone was the opening day prologue in favour of a normal road stage, in came a couple of early middle mountain finishes to shake up the peloton and a number of new or rarely visited climbs in the Alps. The result was a fantastic race that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the last day. And race director Christian Prudhomme was rightly lauded for his innovative route.
So, with the announcement of the 2009 route just weeks away, interest is mounting in what Monsieur Prudhomme has in store for 2009, particularly as the start point is already known and throws up a number of possibilities.
Monaco Prologue
It was announced a while ago that the 2009 Tour would start on 4th July 2009 with a prologue around Monaco, with the principality then hosting the start of Stage One a day later.
What is not known is where the race will head from there. It is especially intriguing this year because Monaco is so close to the two traditional battlegrounds of the Tour – the mountain ranges of the Alps and the Pyrenees. It is almost inconceivable that the Tour will head into one of these great theatres of attrition so early in the race. But with riders concerned at long transfers it will be interesting to see how the race's organisation deals with the issue.
Barcelona Link?
Speculation has been rife so far as to which way the race will go. The route traditionally alternates direction - following a clockwise route one year with an anti-clockwise one the year after. The 2008 route was anti-clockwise, with the Alps coming after the incursion into the Pyrenees. This means tradition dictates the Alps should come before Pyrenees in 2009.
However, we have already seen that Prudhomme is prepared to break with tradition when he thinks necessary and recent claims (so far unconfirmed by race organisers) by the Mayor of Barcelona that the Spanish city is set to host a couple of stages on the 8th and 9th of July would seem to suggest that the Alps will not be figuring early on in the race.
Provencal Possibilities
If Barcelona's claims are well founded then it would appear that the Tour is aiming to stay around the South of France for a few days before heading into Spain. This throws up the likelihood of at least one stage in Provence. A fascinating prospect could be an early stage up to the summit of the Giant of Provence – Mont Ventoux.
The Ventoux has not featured on the Tour's route for a number of years now, the last ascent coming in 2002, but it is legendary because its unique geography as well as the special demands it places on the riders. British rider Tom Simpson famously collapsed on its roads in 1967 losing his life. A memorial now stands to him just below the summit with riders traditionally paying their respects as they pass.
An early stage on the Ventoux would welcome back a legend and could break the challengers up early in the race and act as a springboard to a fascinating Tour, just as the early stages in the Massif Central did in 2008.
What is certain is that only the organisers now for sure where the stage will head on its way out nof Monaco on July 5th. Until the announcement comes in October, speculation over the most eagerly anticipated route in years will only continue to grow.
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