Tour de France 2013 - 100th Anniversary

29 June – 21st July 2013

 

100th Tour de France

Introduction

From 29th June to 21st July 2013, the hundredth edition of the Tour de France will be on a 3,360-km route that will remain exclusively within France's borders (for the first time in 10 yrs). After a first stay in Corsica (welcomes the Tour de France for the first time), the Big Loop will visit the country's wonders and will providing the climbers in the pack with brand new challenges. After the final time-trial, there will still be 615 kilometres of road to cover before the finishing line, in particular a double ascent of the Alpe d'Huez climb!

The final stages - there will still be more than 140 km of climbing spread over three highly intense stages: the Alpe d'Huez will have 42 bends this year, because the riders will be faced with a double climb up to the ski resort on Thursday afternoon. Another high altitude challenge will await them the next day as they head to Grand Bornand, then also at the finish in Semnoz, opposite Mont-Blanc, which they will discover 24 hours before arriving at the Champs-Elysées.

The 100th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,360 kilometres (before ratification).

Distinctive aspects of the race

• 7 flat stages
• 5 hilly stages
• 6 mountain stages with 4 summit finishes
• 2 individual time trial stages
• 1 team time trial stage
• 2 rest days

Three of these stages pass close to several of the resorts offered by Peak Retreats:

Stage 18 Thursday, July 18th Gap > Alpe-d’Huez 168 km 
Stage 19 Friday, July 19th Bourg-d’Oisans > Le Grand-Bornand 204 km 
Stage 20 Saturday, July 20th Annecy > Annecy - Semnoz 125 km 

Alpe-d’Huez 1 and 2
The most significant change and, without a shadow of a doubt one of the highlights of this 100th edition: the Alpe-d’Huez will be climbed twice on the 18th stage. The first passage at the top of Alpe-d’Huez 1 will take place 50 kilometres before the finish at Alpe-d’Huez 2. 
 

Stage 18 – Thursday 18^th July 2013

Gap > Alpe-d’Huez 

This will, without doubt, be a long awaited and memorable day in the 100th edition of the Tour. With its notorious twenty-one hairpin bends, it is also one of the most telegenic climbs in France.
Km 118 - Alpe-d’Huez1 climb of 12,3 kilometre-long at 8,4%
Km 127,5 - Col de Sarenne 3 kilometre-long climb at 7,8 %
Km 168 - Alpe-d’Huez1 climb of 13,8 kilometre-long at 8,1
Resorts near to Alpe d'Huez - Vaujany and Oz en Oisans

Stage 19 – Friday 19^th July 2013

Bourg-d’Oisans > Le Grand-Bornand

This second alpine stage will present plenty of opportunities in particular during the climbs on the Glandon and Madeleine passes. The descent into Le Grand-Bornand (around a dozen kilometres in length) on the other side of the Croix Fry pass, promises to deliver a moment laden with suspense.
Km 191,5 - Col de la Croix Fry 11,3 kilometre-long climb at 7%
Resorts near to Grand Bornand - Grand Bornand and La Clusaz 

Stage 20 - Saturday 20^th July 2013

Annecy > Annecy - Semnoz 

Anything could still happen during this penultimate stage, where only the first part of the race, around Lake Annecy, will be on the flat. After this, a group of climbs, to include Mont Revard, should see a number of attacks. The unprecedented finish in Semnoz involves climbs which are sharp enough to cause a last minute upset...
Annecy-Semnoz is a first time city stage.

78,5 - Mont Revard 15,9 kilometre-long climb at 5,6 km
Km 125 - Annecy-Semnoz 10,7 kilometre-long climb at 8,5%

Resorts near to Annecy - Annecy

You can view more details on the Official website: www.letour.fr

'Cycling in the French Alps' from Guide publisher Cicerone is worth acquiring visit www.cicerone.co.uk