2009 Tour de France - The Mountains Part 2
Into The Mountains in the final week of the Tour de France - The great shadow of
the Ventoux awaits the riders on the penultimate stage of the tour...
The Mountains of the 2009 Tour de
France
Article, Photos and Graphics by John Summerson
The view of the "Grande Massif" - Mont Ventoux. Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Stage 15
After covering some flatter ground the Tour arrives in the Alps for stage 15. As
it is the first day in these mountains the route serves up a couple of moderate
climbs late in the stage to shake out the legs prior to more difficult climbing
in subsequent stages. First up is the long and shallow Col de Mosses which
resembles Route 56 East in Virginia.
I doubt this hill will launch a true contender but this late in the race
riders who expect to contend cannot fall behind here. The stage finish is up the
steeper Verbier in Switzerland and with a rest day coming up the peloton may go
hard to this finish. A statistically similar US ascent is California’s
Montebello Road in the Bay Area.
Stage 16
Giant climbs arrive on this day although there are only two on the route. The
Col du Grand Saint Bernard leads things off and is the most difficult of the
stage. With the almost equally big Col du Petit Grand Bernard following most
riders may wait for that climb to make a move.
Nevada's Route 156
Photo © 2009 John Summerson
Nevada’s Route 156/158 is a similar ascent. The real action may be on the
long and tortuous descent of the Petit Grand Bernard. A good descender in
contention overall who can get into the lead group may have the upper hand and
grab the race lead.
Nevada Route 156 Profile
Photo © 2009 John Summerson
Ride New Mexico’s Cloudcroft near Alamogordo for a similar US hill climb.
Stage 17
This is likely the most difficult stage of the 2009 Tour de France. Five Cat 1
climbs follow one after another with the last two being extremely steep and
challenging.
The day’s first two climbs (Cormet de Roseland and Col des Saises) are long
and more shallow and while they could stir things up, with more difficult climbs
to come anyone who goes at this stage may not be in contention. Beashore Road in
California is similar to the Cormet de Roseland and Sundance (Route 92) South in
Utah resembles the Col des Saises.
The middle climb of the day (Cote d’Araches - similar to the east side climb
of Vermont’s Roxbury Road) is shorter and a bit steeper and leads the riders to
the two leg crushers of the day.
One of the hairpins on the climb of San Marcos - Painted Cave Road
Photo © 2009 John
Summerson
First up is a new climb to the TdF, the Col de Romme, at over 5 miles
and almost 9% average grade. It should shred any pretenders and is similar to
the Santa Barbara, CA climb of San Marcos/Painted Cave Road. Anyone left in
contention will then need to conquer the Col de la Colombiere which is only
slightly less difficult. Its American twin is Virginia’s steep Route 613 near
Blacksburg. A strong performance on this stage could decide the winner of this
year’s race.
Photo © 2009 John
Summerson
Stage 20
After a break from major climbing stage 20 sees the
most difficult individual climb of the 2009 race.
Mont Ventoux may also be the most difficult climb in France that is
used in professional races and it will be the stage finish for the day. Everyone
has heard the stories about and descriptions of this climb that creates its
legend, "severely exposed moonscape", killer of Tom Simpson, Armstrong never
winning on its slopes - although likely he could have, etc.
All that said with only the final stage left, someone could get away here and
win the race. The closest US equivalent is Southern California’s Mt Baldy and
with that same state’s Sherman Pass, while a bit longer but not as steep,
sharing the Ventoux’s intimidating exposure.
Photo © 2009 John
Summerson
John Summerson is a cyclist who collects climbs the way
a connoisseur might collect fine art; with one difference, John finds, measures
and conquers the mountains, savoring the suffering and challenge of each and
then writes detailed descriptions, grades and travel notes as a complete guide
to finding and testing your mettle on world class climbs in North America.
John is the author of The popular Complete Guide to
Climbing (By Bike) "A guide to cycling, climbing and the most difficult hill
climbs in the Unites States" Read our review of the
book here. For more
information on the book go to the
books
website where there are more climb profiles and
a link to purchase the book.
John Summerson is a cyclist who collects climbs the way
a connoisseur might collect fine art; with one difference, John finds, measures
and conquers the mountains savoring the suffering and challenge of each and then
writes detailed descriptions, grades and travel notes as a complete guide to
finding and testing your mettle on world class climbs in North America.
John is the author of The popular Complete Guide to
Climbing (By Bike) "A guide to cycling, climbing and the most difficult hill
climbs in the Unites States" Read our review of the
book here. For more
information on the book go to the
books
website where there are more climb profiles and
a link to purchase the book.
John has finished his latest addition to the
"Climbing by Bike" series with the new guide to climbs in the Southeastern
United States available now.
© 2009 John
Summerson
2008 Tour de France
95th Tour de France
- The Major Mountains & Climbs 1
95th Tour de
France - The Major Mountains & Climbs 2
2008 Tour of Italy
91st Giro
d'Italia - Giro Climbs & Comparable USA Climbs - 1
91st Giro
d'Italia - Giro Climbs & Comparable USA Climbs - 2
2009 Giro d'Italia
92nd Giro
d'Italia - Climbing in the 2009 Giro d’Italia
2009 Tour
of California - Stage 8 Hors Cat. Mount Palomar
2009 Tour de
France - The Mountains Part 1
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