2005 Tour de France Route: From
Fromentine to the Champs-Elysees
in 23 days.
[ Image: Societe du Tour de France ]

The Amaury Sports Organization announced the route of the 2005 Tour de France on Thursday in Paris. In 2005, the Tour will proceed clockwise around France, beginning with a 19-kilometer individual time trial on July 2 from Fromentine to Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile in the Vendee region of Western France. This stage is not considered a prologue because it is longer than eight kilometers.

Breckenridge Cartwright, an American correspondent in Paris for PezCycling, provides an excellent first-hand account of the route announcement including photos. Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich were conspicuous in their absense from the event. Cyclingnews reports that Johan Bruyneel gave odds of 50-50 to Armstrong's participation in this year's Tour.

Some analysts say that this race suits Lance Armstrong, if he chooses to participate. John Wilcockson of Velonews cites the inclusion of a longer opening time trial and a 66-kilometer Team Time Trial three days later as places Armstrong could establish an early lead. Although there are fewer mountain top finishes this year, Stage 10 to Courchevel, Stage 14 to Ax-3 Domaines and Stage 15 to Pla d'Adet, the race gets into the mountains earlier this year than last, beginning on the ninth day of the race.

One aspect of the race that I think might motivate Armstrong to participate is the inclusion of the Col du Portet d'Aspet, 85 kilometers into Stage 15. Jean-Marie Leblanc pointed out that this will be the 10th anniversary of the death of Fabio Casartelli, Lance's close friend, on the decent of that mountain.

Finally, I should point out that Alpe d'Huez is not featured in the Tour this year. I suggested that leaving Alpe d'Huez out of the Tour in 2005 might be in the long term interest of the race and a number of readers who follow the race as closely as I do agreed with me. I'm pleased to see that the race organizers are going in this direction.