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Gravel roads in 2018 Tour de France and L’Etape du Tour

Summit finish atop Alpe d’Huez and cobbles on stage between Compiegne and Roubaix

While the official 2018 Tour de France route announcement won’t take place on Tuesday October 17, rumours are already circulating about a number of stages. These include the possible use of a stretch of gravel road on a mountain stage from Annecy to Le Grand Bornand. That route could also be the one used for L’Etape du Tour.

CyclingPro.net reports that an Annecy-Grand Bornand stage would take place on Tuesday July 17, which would be stage 10, the first after a rest day. L’Etape du Tour would precede it on Sunday July 15.

In July, the race’s technical director, Thierry Gouvenou floated the possibility that this might include gravel roads in the following tweet.

The race is due to visit the Alps ahead of the Pyrenees, and there has also been a longstanding rumour of a summit finish atop Alpe d’Huez. The last trip there was in 2015, two years after a double ascent to celebrate the 100th edition of the Tour.

As in 2011, the first stage of the race had been due to start on the Passage du Gois. However, Velowire reports that thanks to it moving back a week to accommodate football’s World Cup, the road will be submerged. Low tide will be at 5.57am and 6.36pm on July 7.

Another notable inclusion is a stage from Compiegne to Roubaix stage. While this would share the same start and finish towns as Paris-Roubaix, a shorter more direct route can be anticipated.

Nord Éclair reports that just 3.2km of cobbled roads would be used, naming Gruson and the Carrefour de l'Arbre as likely stretches.

A visit to the region would coincide with the 100th anniversary of the armistice of the First World War, which was signed at Le Francport near Compiègne.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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8 comments

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RobD | 6 years ago
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Could be an incident packed race then, I'd like to see them throw in some other interesting challenges, perhaps a 2 pints of beer shortcut on certain stages, save a couple of km but have to drink two pints of high strength belgian beer before they can pass.

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Wolfcastle50 | 6 years ago
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"A summit finish on Alpe d'Huez" I take it you don't mean the actual Pic Blanc as getting there would be a gravel race worth watching.

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BarryBianchi | 6 years ago
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Cobbles just big gravel then now?

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beezus fufoon replied to BarryBianchi | 6 years ago
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BarryBianchi wrote:

Cobbles just big gravel then now?

a new haiku competition or have you had a knock to the head?

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BarryBianchi replied to beezus fufoon | 6 years ago
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beezus fufoon wrote:

 

a new haiku competition or have you had a knock to the head?

 

"Nord Éclair (link is external) reports that just 3.2km of cobbled roads would be used,"   1.  That's a shite race distance, and 2. That's not gravel.

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wycombewheeler replied to BarryBianchi | 6 years ago
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BarryBianchi wrote:
beezus fufoon wrote:

 

a new haiku competition or have you had a knock to the head?

 

 

"Nord Éclair (link is external) reports that just 3.2km of cobbled roads would be used,"   1.  That's a shite race distance, and 2. That's not gravel.

1) I suspect the stage may not be limited entirely to cobbles

2) the tour de france is not a one day race, it is possible that gravel and cobbles may both occur (on different days)

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HarrogateSpa | 6 years ago
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While the official 2018 Tour de France route announcement won’t take place on Tuesday October 17

Oh, I thought the route announcement would take place on 17th October.

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henryb replied to HarrogateSpa | 6 years ago
2 likes
Quote:

the road will be submerged

 

They shouldn't have moved it - riding on a submerged road would be a first for the TdF!*

 

(* - I'm thinking 10-20cm of water rather than 1-2m)

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