Tour de France

[Nordic]

With the route for nexts years race anounced, (the time trial up Alp Huez looks good!), Has the race ever used the Sarthe circuit, I know it has used Spa in the recent past but don't know about Le Mans.

[Mr. Rick]

Don't remember it happening and there is a separate mini -tour around the region in April-ish I think.

As for Spa, don't remember that either in recent years but the World Championships used a large part of the Zolder circuit last year.

2004 route is interesting for sure and should make for another exciting one!

Cheers

Rick

[Kpy]

A little confusion here.
Spa-Francorchamps was used in the 2003 Tour de France - that's the Tour de France Auto, for (historic) cars.
The Tour de France for cycling does not use circuits, with the exception of the final Sunday, when a circuit is used, once the competitors have arrived in Paris.

[Gilles]

The tour de France may pass near to Le Mans in early july...
... but of course not on the circuit !!!

[Rhino]

I'm pretty sure i remember them on eurosport one year covering them going down the straight. The commentator saying there 200mph slower than the cars.

[Nordic]

Checked over the weekend with some cycle racing nuts, Part of the spa track was used in the mid late 80's, in the same way that the mulsanne has been used. as Rhino has said.

[Kpy]

Exactly - but not either circuit

[Mr. Rick]

Yeah but I think what Nordic meant referred to the public roads.

My reference to Zolder was because during the World Championships they do go in "circuits/laps" and used part of Zolder circuit for that in 2002. (20 laps to be precise!)

I've often wondered myself if the Mulsanne had ever been used. I started following the Tour big time in the late 80s and had never seen it, although the TV coverage here has been minimal (daily highlights)until fairly recently. Thanks to Eurosport and Channel 4/ITV, recent years have led to a definite down turn in my daily productivity rate in July each year!!!

 

[Gilles]

Yeah but I think what Nordic meant referred to the public roads.

My reference to Zolder was because during the World Championships they do go in "circuits/laps" and used part of Zolder circuit for that in 2002. (20 laps to be precise!)

I've often wondered myself if the Mulsanne had ever been used. I started following the Tour big time in the late 80s and had never seen it, although the TV coverage here has been minimal (daily highlights)until fairly recently. Thanks to Eurosport and Channel 4/ITV, recent years have led to a definite down turn in my daily productivity rate in July each year!!!

 

Is it due to the performance of an english-speaking guy or simply to an increasing personnal interest ?

I admit that they have use the mulsanne straight sometimes (in my memory, not for a long time) but never the Bugatti.

Maybe the Tour Cycliste de la Sarthe has already run on the Bugatti.

[Mr. Rick]

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[hgb]

My reference to Zolder was because during the World Championships they do go in "circuits/laps" and used part of Zolder circuit for that in 2002. (20 laps to be precise!)

Actually, they used the whole circuit and not only parts of it. It was quite an event and you know that the Belgian are great fans of cycling.

[Mr. Rick]

It was a joy to watch too, having been to Zolder for the GP in 1981 and it brought memories flooding back!

How come Belgium has such great circuits???!!! I grew up near Brands so when the GP went to Silverbore I was mortified. Spent many a Sunday at the Kentish wonder drooling in the paddock (cycling to the circuit of course!!).

Ah, those were the days! No taxman on my back, no ties and no beer gut!!!

[Rhino]

And they held the world championships at goodwood one year, including a large part of the circuit.

[rcutler]

The Tour de France Organisers never reveal details of the exact route until about 3-4 weeks before the event for some reason. Those mid points could well be correct. The Le Mans Classic next year will be very close if not on the same weekend as the finish of the Tour De France.

This year I was in France doing the Centerenary celebrations by riding the full route (3000Km) of the 1903 tour de france in 11 days. We did pass very close to Le Mans . Seem to have a reason to go to Le Mans every time I go to France, shame.

[Nordic]

Have you read 'French Revolutions' by Tim Moore? a great read,It had me laughing out loud,
 if not, its his account of riding the entire route in the weeks preceding the race.