THE 100th Tour de France kicks off this weekend with 11 Aussies participating. But is it worth staying up for this year? We give you the lowdown. WHAT IS IT?
A 3404km-long bike race that takes place over 21 stages and two rest days.
HOW LONG IS THAT?
That's almost precisely the driving distance between Melbourne and Perth.
Guide to Le Tour lingo
WHERE
Starts on the island of Corsica and finishes in Paris three weeks later.
WHEN
Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, July 21.
Every team on the start line
HIGHLIGHTS
The 100th edition of the Tour de France will see riders climb the famed Alp d’Huez twice on Stage 18 and ride onto the Champs Elysees under lights at 9.45pm for the stage’s first ever night finish on Stage 21.
AUSSIES
Simon Gerrans, Matthew Goss, Stuart O’Grady, Simon Clarke, Brett Lancaster, Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEDGE), Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp), Cadel Evans (BMC), Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol), Richie Porte (Sky), Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff).
The Aussies in this year's tour
TV COVERAGE
Every stage live on SBS1.
BETTING
Overall winner: $1.70 Chris Froome, $3.60 Alberto Contador, $19 Joaquin Rodriguez, $23 Richie Porte, $26 Nairo Quintana, $29 Cadel Evans.
JERSEYS
Yellow: The Maillot Jaune is worn by the leader of the Tour de France as determined by the general classification (2012 winner Bradley Wiggins).
Who are the yellow jersey contenders?
Green: Also known as the sprinter’s jersey, it is worn by the leader of the points classification based on finishing positions on each stage and in intermediate sprints (2012 winner Peter Sagan).
Who are the green jersey contenders?
Polkadot: Awarded to the best climber of the Tour who acquires the most points over each of the designated climbs during the race (2012 winner Thomas Voeckler).
White: The youth classification is awarded to the best placed rider aged 25 or under on general classification. (2012 winner Tejay van Garderen).
STAGES WORTH LOSING SLEEP OVER
Chaotic opening in store
Sunday, June 30
Stage 2 - 156km Bastia to Ajaccio
The first week of the Tour is usually about waiting for the breakaway to inevitably be caught so the field can come together for a bunch sprint. But Stage 2 this year represents a marked change from the norm with three sharp climbs at almost 7 per cent gradient posing a threat to GC riders caught off-guard and a chance for the breakaway to survive.
Saturday, July 6
Stage 8 - 195km Castres to AX-3-Domaines
After a testing opening week, the first summit finish of the Tour arrives with both a Hors Categorie and Category 1 climb awaiting the peloton where the yellow jersey is expected to change hands.
Sunday, July 7
Stage 9 168.5km Saint-Girons to Bagneres-De-Bigorre
Four Cat 1 climbs in just 168km of racing means there will be fireworks. Whoever is at the front of the race after the final climb faces a nervous 30km descent to the finish. Can they hold on?
How to burn calories like Cadel
Sunday, July 14
Stage 15 - 242km Givors to Mont Ventoux
Anytime Mont Ventoux is on the Tour de France route it’s worth watching. The stage is mostly flat until the final 20km which goes uphill at an average gradient of 7.5 per cent and will sort the men from the boys.
Wednesday, July 17
Stage 17 – ITT 32km Embrun to Chorges
In a significant change from recent years, the final individual time trial of the Tour will be held before crucial stages in the Alps. It doesn’t mean the outcome of the TT is any less significant but it’s only the entree to the next day’s main course.
Thursday, July 18
Stage 18 - 168.5km Gap to Alp d’Huez
Oh yes, Alp d’Huez not once but twice which has the ability to decide the yellow jersey. Riders hit the famed climb after 118km then ride another 30km before tackling it again all the way to the finish.
Sunday, July 21
Stage 21 - 133km Versailles to Paris
Set the alarm clock for 4.30am so you don’t miss an iconic moment in the Tour’s history. The battle for the yellow jersey might be over but don’t miss the first ever night finish on the Champs Elysees.
Australia's proud history at Le Tour
FIVE TALKING POINTS
1. Can anyone beat Chris Froome?
The hottest favourite in years, Froome could have won the Tour last year had he not been working for Wiggins and is now ready to lead Sky in his own right. Froome has finished fourth, second and fourth in the last three Grand Tours he’s ridden and has done everything right this season. Some have queried the strength of Team Sky without Wiggins and Michael Rogers there for support, but Froome is the best climbing/time trialler in the race so looms as the man to beat with Alberto Contador his main threat.
2. How does Cadel win the Tour?
Evans hasn’t got Froome’s violent acceleration in the high mountains (he is 36 after all) so he can’t wait for Froome to attack and then hope to respond. But he can match him in the time trials providing he’s on form and third in the Giro suggests he is. With Tejay van Garderen by his side, Evans may look for small gains by attacking late in stages in the first two weeks which puts pressure on Froome, Contador and Co to make all the running in the crucial third week. Van Garderen has also hinted his team will have to dare to be different to topple the might of Team Sky.
3. Peter Sagan or Mark Cavendish for green?
This match-up alone presents a mouth-watering battle for the points classification let alone the rest of the gun sprinters lining up. Cavendish has the top-end speed but Sagan can climb almost as well as anyone in the bunch which is frightening. His climbing/sprinting combination makes him an almost unbeatable prospect for the green jersey and this year there is no Vincenzo Nibali in the team going for GC, so Sagan will have the full support of his team.
Aussie team goes for glory
4. Will someone get busted for doping?
While cycling has significantly cleaned up its act there are still those prepared to take the risk and the Giro d’Italia in May is proof. Italian teammates Mauro Santambrogio and Danilo Di Luca failed drug tests either before or during the Giro which shows the sport is not yet completely out of the woods. The bad news is they are believed to have cheated, the good news is they were caught.
5. Will Orica-GreenEDGE win its first Tour de France stage?
Although Matt Goss produced five podium finishes in last year’s Tour, the Aussie team is more likely to breakthrough for a stage win this year given its all-round strengths. Goss will still have a dedicated lead-out train for flat stages but selecting Cameron Meyer and Simon Clarke who are young, aggressive and can climb, and giving Simon Gerrans a free rein means they’ve got multiple options for that sought-after stage triumph.
A 3404km-long bike race that takes place over 21 stages and two rest days.
HOW LONG IS THAT?
That's almost precisely the driving distance between Melbourne and Perth.
Guide to Le Tour lingo
WHERE
Starts on the island of Corsica and finishes in Paris three weeks later.
WHEN
Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, July 21.
Every team on the start line
HIGHLIGHTS
The 100th edition of the Tour de France will see riders climb the famed Alp d’Huez twice on Stage 18 and ride onto the Champs Elysees under lights at 9.45pm for the stage’s first ever night finish on Stage 21.
AUSSIES
Simon Gerrans, Matthew Goss, Stuart O’Grady, Simon Clarke, Brett Lancaster, Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEDGE), Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp), Cadel Evans (BMC), Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol), Richie Porte (Sky), Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff).
The Aussies in this year's tour
TV COVERAGE
Every stage live on SBS1.
BETTING
Overall winner: $1.70 Chris Froome, $3.60 Alberto Contador, $19 Joaquin Rodriguez, $23 Richie Porte, $26 Nairo Quintana, $29 Cadel Evans.
JERSEYS
Yellow: The Maillot Jaune is worn by the leader of the Tour de France as determined by the general classification (2012 winner Bradley Wiggins).
Who are the yellow jersey contenders?
Green: Also known as the sprinter’s jersey, it is worn by the leader of the points classification based on finishing positions on each stage and in intermediate sprints (2012 winner Peter Sagan).
Who are the green jersey contenders?
Polkadot: Awarded to the best climber of the Tour who acquires the most points over each of the designated climbs during the race (2012 winner Thomas Voeckler).
White: The youth classification is awarded to the best placed rider aged 25 or under on general classification. (2012 winner Tejay van Garderen).
STAGES WORTH LOSING SLEEP OVER
Chaotic opening in store
Sunday, June 30
Stage 2 - 156km Bastia to Ajaccio
The first week of the Tour is usually about waiting for the breakaway to inevitably be caught so the field can come together for a bunch sprint. But Stage 2 this year represents a marked change from the norm with three sharp climbs at almost 7 per cent gradient posing a threat to GC riders caught off-guard and a chance for the breakaway to survive.
Saturday, July 6
Stage 8 - 195km Castres to AX-3-Domaines
After a testing opening week, the first summit finish of the Tour arrives with both a Hors Categorie and Category 1 climb awaiting the peloton where the yellow jersey is expected to change hands.
Sunday, July 7
Stage 9 168.5km Saint-Girons to Bagneres-De-Bigorre
Four Cat 1 climbs in just 168km of racing means there will be fireworks. Whoever is at the front of the race after the final climb faces a nervous 30km descent to the finish. Can they hold on?
How to burn calories like Cadel
Sunday, July 14
Stage 15 - 242km Givors to Mont Ventoux
Anytime Mont Ventoux is on the Tour de France route it’s worth watching. The stage is mostly flat until the final 20km which goes uphill at an average gradient of 7.5 per cent and will sort the men from the boys.
Wednesday, July 17
Stage 17 – ITT 32km Embrun to Chorges
In a significant change from recent years, the final individual time trial of the Tour will be held before crucial stages in the Alps. It doesn’t mean the outcome of the TT is any less significant but it’s only the entree to the next day’s main course.
Thursday, July 18
Stage 18 - 168.5km Gap to Alp d’Huez
Oh yes, Alp d’Huez not once but twice which has the ability to decide the yellow jersey. Riders hit the famed climb after 118km then ride another 30km before tackling it again all the way to the finish.
Sunday, July 21
Stage 21 - 133km Versailles to Paris
Set the alarm clock for 4.30am so you don’t miss an iconic moment in the Tour’s history. The battle for the yellow jersey might be over but don’t miss the first ever night finish on the Champs Elysees.
Australia's proud history at Le Tour
FIVE TALKING POINTS
1. Can anyone beat Chris Froome?
The hottest favourite in years, Froome could have won the Tour last year had he not been working for Wiggins and is now ready to lead Sky in his own right. Froome has finished fourth, second and fourth in the last three Grand Tours he’s ridden and has done everything right this season. Some have queried the strength of Team Sky without Wiggins and Michael Rogers there for support, but Froome is the best climbing/time trialler in the race so looms as the man to beat with Alberto Contador his main threat.
2. How does Cadel win the Tour?
Evans hasn’t got Froome’s violent acceleration in the high mountains (he is 36 after all) so he can’t wait for Froome to attack and then hope to respond. But he can match him in the time trials providing he’s on form and third in the Giro suggests he is. With Tejay van Garderen by his side, Evans may look for small gains by attacking late in stages in the first two weeks which puts pressure on Froome, Contador and Co to make all the running in the crucial third week. Van Garderen has also hinted his team will have to dare to be different to topple the might of Team Sky.
3. Peter Sagan or Mark Cavendish for green?
This match-up alone presents a mouth-watering battle for the points classification let alone the rest of the gun sprinters lining up. Cavendish has the top-end speed but Sagan can climb almost as well as anyone in the bunch which is frightening. His climbing/sprinting combination makes him an almost unbeatable prospect for the green jersey and this year there is no Vincenzo Nibali in the team going for GC, so Sagan will have the full support of his team.
Aussie team goes for glory
4. Will someone get busted for doping?
While cycling has significantly cleaned up its act there are still those prepared to take the risk and the Giro d’Italia in May is proof. Italian teammates Mauro Santambrogio and Danilo Di Luca failed drug tests either before or during the Giro which shows the sport is not yet completely out of the woods. The bad news is they are believed to have cheated, the good news is they were caught.
5. Will Orica-GreenEDGE win its first Tour de France stage?
Although Matt Goss produced five podium finishes in last year’s Tour, the Aussie team is more likely to breakthrough for a stage win this year given its all-round strengths. Goss will still have a dedicated lead-out train for flat stages but selecting Cameron Meyer and Simon Clarke who are young, aggressive and can climb, and giving Simon Gerrans a free rein means they’ve got multiple options for that sought-after stage triumph.
