Tour
de France 2008 Route Map and Stage Details
September 16th update: Expect the
official route announcement on Thursday, October 25th. This isn't for
certain, but the announcement has fallen on the last Thursday of October in
the past years. In the meantime, check back occasionally on the latest
rumors and if you have some good scoop then don't hestiate to forward it.
Last year, we were the first ones to reveil the official route. Maybe it
will happen again this year. —
Steve
2008 Tour de France Starts In Brittany without a prologue
BREST, France, Jan 18, 2007 — The 2008 Tour de France cycling race,
without a prologue in the program, will start in Brittany on Saturday, July
5 going from Brest on the Atlantic coast to Plumelec. The second stage is
set to run from Auray to St. Brieuc on Sunday, July 6, while the third stage
starts from St Malo.
Christian Prudhomme, Director of Tour de France:
It's a fundamental principle: a Tour that starts in Brittany finishes with
the crowning of a cycling giant. Look at the evidence: Brest 1952: 1st Coppi;
Rennes 1964: 1st Anquetil; Brest 1974: 1st Merckx; Plumelec 1985: 1st
Hinault; Saint-Brieuc 1995: 1st Indurain!
Tour de France 2008 Route Map (Briton stages only)
map (carte) and profiles source:
letour.fr |
Five stars on a flawless prize list. Coppi, Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault,
Indurain: five cycling legends who, in turn on the Tour, garnered the force
in Brittany to clinch an ultimate triumph in this prized race three weeks
later. Is this not the stuff of tales and legends, a tribute to the doyen of
cycling races from its greatest riders?
A start from Brittany is also the guarantee of a grand and magnificent
celebration, a passion shared by an entire Region gathered together in the
wake of its president, Jean-Yves Le Drian, responsible for the project. One
region, four counties, five towns - together - make the recurrent dream of
the Tour reality. From the Finistere to the Ile-et-Vilaine, from the
Morbihan to the Cotes-d'Armor, in Brest, Plumelec, Auray, Saint-Brieuc,
Saint-Malo, and in all of the towns travelled through, Brittany will present
us with its most beautiful landscapes, its crowds clustered along the five
hundred kilometres of road covered, its love of cycling.
For the first time in more than forty years, the 2008 Tour de France will
begin with a straight stage. Usually only a small number of specialists in
solitary effort can aspire to winning the first yellow jersey. Next year
however, near to two hundred riders will be dreaming that this Holy Grail is
within their reach. A remarkable first stage, from Brest and its great
sailing ships to Plumelec, where bold challengers, sprinters and - perhaps -
potential candidates for final victory will all have the opportunity to win
fame. In the land of Bobet and Hinault the Tour de France is at home.
Brittany wanted the Tour. The Tour wanted Brittany. Roll on 2008!
Jean-Francois Pescheux, competitions Director says, "There will be
a new feature at the departure from Brest: we have decided to replace the
usual prologue time trial reserved for a dozen specialists, with a stage of
almost 170 kilometres after which 100 cyclists will be in the running for
possession of the Yellow Jersey. The race will therefore be enthralling from
the opening kilometres and the Monts d'Arree will be a formidable
battleground in this very open first stage, because the arrival at Plumelec
could hold some surprises in store. The remainder of the race, between Auray
and Saint Brieuc is also certain to be action-packed, with its hilly course
and the passage through Mur-de-Bretagne, just like the third stage which
will depart from Saint-Malo and cross Ille-et-Vilaine... In short, it is
certain to be a Grand Depart full of suspense."
The
official announcement was made in Rennes. —
Steve, Jan 25th, 2007
