The route of the 2020 Tour de France, which was unveiled at the Palais des Congres in Paris today, will feature an unusual amount of climbing when it starts in Nice on June 27.
This will be the second time that Nice, on the Cote d’Azur, will welcome the Tour de France Grand Depart. The first was in 1981.
The 21-stage Grand Tour will include all the main mountain ranges in France, as well as the exceptionally steep Orcieres-Merlette, La Planche des Belles Filles, Puy Mary, Grand Colombier and Col de la Loze climbs.
Flat and hilly stages will feature in between the eight mountain stages.
Tour de France: 2020 route, stage by stage.
The route of the 2020 Tour de France will feature an unusual amount of climbing when it starts in Nice on June 27. Photo: ASO/Alex Broadway
This year’s Tour will kick off with a looped 156km stage from Nice Moyen Pays to Nice, which will be ideal for the sprinters.
The 187km second stage from Nice Haut Pays to Nice will feature two climbs higher than 1 500m.
Next is a 198km third stage from Nice to Sisteron that should be targeted by the sprinters.
The 157km fourth stage from Sisteron to Orcieres will test the general classification contenders with its thigh-burning uphill finish.
Stage five, a 183km journey from Gap to Privas, will be one for the sprinters again.
The 191km sixth stage, from Le Teil to Mont Aigoual, will follow.
The next day will feature a 168km stage, from Millau to Lavaur, for the sprinters.
The 140km eighth stage, which will include the 11.7km at 7.7% Port de Bales and the 9.7km at 7.8% Col de Peyresourde, will be a Pyrenees classic. The start will be in Cazeres-sur-Garonne, with the finish in Loudenvielle.
The next day is a 154km stage from Pau to Laruns. It will feature the 11.1km at 8.8% Col de la Hourcere as well as the 7.7km at 8.6% Col de Marie-Blanque.
Following the first rest day, stage 10 will cover 170km from Ile d’Oleron to Ile de Re, which will be followed by a 167km stage from Chatelaillon-Plage to Poitiers.
The 218km 12th stage, between Chauvigny and Sarran, will be the longest of the Tour.
Next, a 191km stage from Chatel-Guyon to Puy Mary will be one for the favourites. It includes the 3.8km at 9.1% Col de Neronne and the 5.4km at 8.1% Pas de Peyrol.
The 197km 14th stage from Clermont-Ferrand will feature the Monts du Forez and three climbs inside the last 15km in Lyon. This will be followed by a 175km stage from Lyon to Grand Colombier before the second rest day.
The Chartreuse and Vercors ranges will feature in the 164km 16th stage, which runs from La Tour-Du-Pin to Villard-de-Lans.
The 168km 17th stage, from Grenoble to Meribel, will be decisive. It will include the 17.1km at 8.4% Col de la Madeleine and the 21.5km at 7.8% Col de la Loze.
Riders will tackle over 4 000m of climbing in the 168km 18th stage from Meribel with its finish on the Plateau des Glieres.
A 160km stage for the sprinters will follow. The start will be in Bourg-en-bresse, with riders crossing the finish line in Champagnole.
The penultimate stage is a 36km individual time-trial from Lure to La Planche des Belles Filles.
The 122km 21st stage from Mantes-la-Jolie should see a massive final sprint before festivities start at the Champs Elysees.
