The route for the 2020 Tour de France was today announced to an expectant gathering of professional racers in the Palais des Congrès and a worldwide audience of excited cycling fans. The wait is finally over.
After the best Tour of a generation in 2019, the 107th edition has a lot to live up to. With a route designed to produce yet more exciting racing the announcement does not disappoint. Featuring such great climbs as Planche des Belle Filles, Col de Peyresourde, Grand Colombier and Col de la Madeleine as well as the thrill of gravel and very few Time Trial kilometres, 2020 offers the promise of another classic year.
The 2020 Tour de France looks set to play more into the hands of the swashbuckling likes of Julian Alaphilippe than the careful metronomy of Chris Froome. If difficulty is measured by elevation, sprinters will have to grit their teeth as the Tour goes up in the very first week. With no Team Time Trial and only an uphill Individual Time Trial on Stage 20, time will be won and lost during three weeks of intense mountainous competition.
Thomson Highlights
The full itinerary for our 2020 trips will be finalised over the next couple of weeks, but here are our pick of the highlights for next year’s Tour de France.
Stage 8 — Cazères-sur-Garonne > Loudenvielle
At the end of the first week of racing the peloton hits the Pyrenees and a trio of magnificent climbs; Col de Menté, port of Balès and Col de Peyresourde in less than 100 kilometres. This should be a stage for a strong descender to make a difference on the ten kilometres to the finish
Stage 9 — Pau > Laruns
Before a day of rest we should see fireworks. The brutal succession of the Col de la Hourcère and Col de Soudet kick off this mountainous stage as, for the seventh time since the beginning of the Tour, the riders will ride at an altitude of over 1,500m. They will then battle it out on the extremely steep climb up to the Col de Marie Blanque before heading back down to Laruns.
Stage 15 — Lyon > Grand Colombier
This stage may as well be called the Tour of the Colombier as the race will attack it four times! With slopes between 11.5% and 22% and 17.4km at an average of 7.1% of irregular ramps, the climb promises to be intense on the eve of the second rest day. We’re looking forward to the challenge of battling it ourselves!
Stage 17 — Grenoble > Méribel Col de la Loze
The stunning Col de la Loze is the race’s highest summit finish at 2,304m. The queen stage of the Tour will cross the Madeleine and will end at the top of the Loze Pass, an unprecedented climb to the spectacular finale, destined to become a classic of the Tour de France. A complete unknown to the riders since the road only opened last May.
Over the coming weeks Peter Thomson will be sharing his thoughts on what it takes to put together a Thomson Bike Tours Tour de France trip. Join our exclusive LinkedIn page to hear Peter’s exclusive insight plus training tips from our guides and what the 2020 trip means for you.
Behind the Scenes of a Thomson KOM Trip
Exclusive Training Tips from Thomson Guides
What it takes to PB Alpe d’Huez
…and more
