Tour De France 2012

**Heppell** · 18th June 2012 05:02 PM

Before we get started for 2012, lets relive the epic that was Tour De France 2011:

TOUR DE FRANCE 2012

Running from Saturday June 30th to Sunday July 22th 2012, the 99th Tour de France will be made up of 1 prologue and 20 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,497 kilometres.

These stages have the following profiles:
Distinctive aspects of the race

9 flat stages
4 medium mountain stages - one with a summit finish
5 mountain stages - two with a summit finish
2 individual time-trial stages
1 prologue
2 rest days

9 new stage towns

Abbeville, Annonay Davézieux, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, La Planche des Belles Filles, Peyragudes, Porrentruy, Samatan, Tomblaine, Visé

2012 Tour map:

In 2012, the prologue is back with a 6.4 km hop around the Belgium town of Liege. As opposed to 2011, we done have any team time trial, but instead have not one, but two individual time trials which will suit favourites Bradley Wigans and Cadel Evans.

Major stages to watch:

Stage 10 - Mâcon > Bellegarde-sur-Valserine 194.5 km
Wednesday 11 July 2012

The tour enters the mountains for the very first time in 2012, with a Category 2 climb (Côte de Corlier) and a Category 3 climb (Col de Richemond) included. While these two climbs will test the riders for the first time, the main event of this stage with be the HC climb up the Col du Grand Colombier, which reaches a summit of 1501m. This stage will be the first test for the major yellow Jersey contenders.

Stage 11 - Albertville > La Toussuire - Les Sybelles 148 km
Thursday 12 July 2012

If the previous stage wasnt enough of a test, Stage 11 takes it to a whole new level. The riders have to contend with the HC climbs of the Col de la Madeleine (2,000m) and the Col de la Croix de Fer (2,067m). The riders are also tested with a Category two climb up the Col du Mollard (1,638m). With two HC climbs in this stage, Stage 11 promises to be one of the epic nights in the TDF this year

Stage 14 - Limoux > Foix 191 km
Sunday 15 July 2012

We enter the Pyreneans mountains tonight, with a small Category 2 climb of the Col du Portel (601 m). What to come after that is two Category 1 climbs up the Port de Lers (1 517 m) and the Mur de Péguère (1 375 m). The Mur de Péguère, which was initially chosen for the Tour’s route in 1973, but was not featured in the end, boasts areas where riders face gradients of almost 14%.

Stage 16 - Pau > Bagnères-de-Luchon 197 km
Wednesday 18 July 2012

Four days before the end of Le Tour, this is the sort of stage that has made the race famous, with some massive climbs to come that will upset the general classification. We start off with the massive HC climb up the massive Col d'Aubisque (1 709 m). After riders have overcome that monster, they go over one of the great TDF mountains, the Col du Tourmalet (2 115 m). We then follow up with two Category 1 climbs up the Col d'Aspin (1 489 m) and to finish off we go up the Col de Peyresourde (1 569 m). No matter what the gap is, the major stage in the Pyrénées will be dreaded by the wearer of the Yellow Jersey, who will have to defend his position while climbing towards the Tourmalet, the Aubisque, the Aspin and the Peyresourde.

Stage 17 - Bagnères-de-Luchon > Peyragudes 143.5 km
Thursday 19 July 2012

In a stage with only one HC climb, this tough stage will test the riders as there is barely any rest period in 143.5km. We start off with the Category 1 climb of Col de Menté (1 349m) and continue with the relatively easy Category 2 climb up the Col des Ares (797 m). The riders then travel over the Côte de Burs and then have to contend with another tough HC climb through the Port de Bales (1 755 m). Riders then finish through the Col de Peyresourde (1 569 m) again. There really isnt any flat ground in this stage, in which riders will be tested from the start right until the end.

2012 Tour De France teams:

Ag2r-La Mondiale
Cofidis†
Lampre-ISD
Orica-GreenEDGE
Saur-Sojasun
Team Sky
Argos-Shimano
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Liquigas-Cannondale
Omega Pharma-Quick Step
Team Europcar
Vacansoleil-DCM
Astana
FDJ-BigMat
Lotto-Belisol
Rabobank
Team Katusha
BMC Racing Team
Garmin-Barracuda
Movistar Team
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
Team Saxo Bank

SBS Tour De France TV Guide (All times in AEST)

LIVE BROADCAST TIMES

Saturday 30 June
PROLOGUE
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Sunday 1 July
STAGE 1
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Monday 2 July
STAGE 2
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Tuesday 3 July
STAGE 3
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Wednesday 4 July
STAGE 4
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Thursday 5 July
STAGE 5
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Friday 6 July
STAGE 6
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Saturday 7 July
STAGE 7
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Sunday 8 July
STAGE 8
2100-0200 AEST streaming on Cycling Central website (SBS ONE broadcast starts at 2200)

Monday 9 July
STAGE 9
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Wednesday 11 July
STAGE 10
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Thursday 12 July
STAGE 11
2100-0200 AEST streaming on Cycling Central website (SBS ONE broadcast starts at 2200)

Friday 13 July
STAGE 12
1900-0200 AEST streaming on Cycling Central website (SBS ONE broadcast starts at 2200)

Saturday 14 July
STAGE 13
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Sunday 15 July
STAGE 14
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Monday 16 July
STAGE 15
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Wednesday 18 July
STAGE 16
1930-0200 AEST streaming on Cycling Central website (SBS ONE broadcast starts at 2200)

Thursday 19 July
STAGE 17
2115-0200 AEST streaming on Cycling Central website (SBS ONE broadcast starts at 2200)

Friday 20 July
STAGE 18
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Saturday 21 July
STAGE 19
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

Sunday 22 July
STAGE 20
2200-0200 AEST SBS ONE, streaming on Cycling Central website

SBS will be releasing their Tour tracker again this year, with Sportal have also released their own app of Le Tour in the past couple of days.

My tip:

As much as I would love Cadel to win again in 2012, I really cant go past Bradley Wigans for the General Classification. He now has a strong team around him, and being a superb time trialist, will push Evans all the way again.

Let the discussion begin again, in what was one of the great threads on TIA last year.

**Registration Bot** · 18th June 2012 05:02 PM

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**Triptanes** · 18th June 2012 05:11 PM

In.

Don't plan on watching much of it this year as most of the stages seem to be pretty plain, and there doesn't seem to be much competition at the top (not many "heads of state") due to a few absences.

Will end up watching heaps of it, because as always there will be plenty of suprises and unexpected events to make it exciting as always as the riders "turn themselves inside out on the climbs".

**Red Bear** · 18th June 2012 05:13 PM

Keen, one of few sporting events that times perfectly with uni break

**r dub** · 18th June 2012 05:13 PM

IN.

Great writeup.

#LEGGO Cadel

**Heppell** · 18th June 2012 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by Red Bear

Keen, one of few sporting events that times perfectly with uni break

Yeah, this fits in very well with time off.

Going to be epic this year hopefully.

**r dub** · 18th June 2012 05:18 PM

Wiggins has never really 'battled it out' at the tour yet. Still untested for mine.

**trigg** · 18th June 2012 05:23 PM

So jealous of you Perth guys. I do my best to watch every night, but sometimes I just can't due to having work early.

**MarshallMathers** · 18th June 2012 05:26 PM

Where's Cadel's motivation coming from this time?

**Ariel_Jewburg** · 18th June 2012 05:28 PM

in4 Dagger capslock.

That reminds me, I might do up a post of the best quotes from last years thread.

**r dub** · 18th June 2012 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Ariel_Jewburg

in4 Dagger capslock.

That reminds me, I might do up a post of the best quotes from last years thread.

Do ittttttttt.

FUCK OFF VOECKLER

/dagger

**r dub** · 18th June 2012 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by MarshallMathers

Where's Cadel's motivation coming from this time?

cmon man is that a serious question?

**Red Bear** · 18th June 2012 05:30 PM

Still mirin my bet on Tony Martin to win the time trial at $4.50

**MarshallMathers** · 18th June 2012 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by r dub

cmon man is that a serious question?

Has now achieved his dream. Won't have the "coming 2nd" thing motivating him.

If you think he'll win and still has the hunger, good for you.

It's underrated how hard it is to go back to back in sport.

**Heppell** · 18th June 2012 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by Ariel_Jewburg

That reminds me, I might do up a post of the best quotes from last years thread.

I'll start.

**sblack** · 18th June 2012 05:38 PM

Wont be able to watch much this year.

Do think this will be one of the most boring though. Weak ass route, missing the best riders, too much TT.

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