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The Route of the 109th Edition of the Tour de France: 3331 km of Cycling Excitement?

On Friday, July 1, 2022, the 109th edition of the Tour de France kicks off! This year, the Tour starts with a time trial in the Danish capital, Copenhagen. After covering 3,331 km through Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, and France, the riders will arrive in Paris on July 24. But what can we expect from each stage exactly? Let's take a closer look at the route!

The Tour Route

Stage 1 - 01/07: Copenhagen - Copenhagen (13.2 km) - Time Trial For the first time since 2017, the Tour starts with an urban time trial.

Stage 2 - 02/07: Roskilde - Nyborg (202.2 km) - Flat A stage along the coastline, featuring the 18-kilometer-long Storebæltsbroen, a suspension bridge. Will the winds play a role?

Stage 3 - 03/07: Vejle - Sønderborg (182 km) - Flat It's expected that the third and final stage in Denmark will conclude with a mass sprint.

Stage 4 - 05/07: Dunkirk - Calais (171.5 km) - Hilly The hills of French Flanders. The perfect scenario for escape artists and punchers?

Stage 5 - 06/07: Lille - Arenberg (157 km) - Flat The first key stage in the Tour: the cobblestone stage. Starting 80 km from the finish, there are 11 sections of cobblestones, with the last one just 5 km from the finish line.

Stage 6 - 07/07: Binche - Longwy (219.9 km) - Flat The riders begin the longest stage in the Tour in the Belgian town of Binche. The peloton will cover around 70 km in Belgium. The finish is at the citadel of Longwy. Punchers, get ready!

Stage 7 - 08/07: Tomblaine - La Planche des Belles Filles (176.3 km) - Mountains Finally, the first mountain stage of the Tour de France 2022!

Stage 8 - 09/07: Dole - Lausanne (186.3 km) - Hilly The transition stage to Switzerland. Note: after the finish in Lausanne, there's a tough climb for explosive types!

Stage 9 - 10/07: Aigle - Châtel (192.9 km) - Mountains Just two days later, the next mountain stage is already on the agenda! It includes two Category 1 climbs.

Stage 10 - 12/07: Morzine - Megève (148.1 km) - Hilly Hopefully, the riders are fully recovered after the first rest day because the climbing is far from over in the coming days. Stage 10 concludes with the long ascent of 21.6 km in Megève.

Stage 11 - 13/07: Albertville - Col du Granon (151.7 km) - Mountains We're ready for the royal pair of stages: short but extremely tough stages in the Alps. The Galibier, in particular, plays a crucial role. On Wednesday, the Lacets de Montvernier and the Télégraphe serve as an appetizer as the stage ends at the rough Col du Granon, at an elevation of 2,413 meters.

Stage 12 - 14/07: Briançon - Alpe d'Huez (165.1 km) - Mountains The second part of the royal stages, on the French national holiday, features the most elevation gain: 4,750 meters! For the second day in a row, we find ourselves on the Galibier, specifically Alpe d'Huez. Together with the Croix de Fer, it's the approach to the hairpin bends of Alpe d'Huez.

Stage 13 - 15/07: Le Bourg-d'Oisans - Saint-Étienne (192.6 km) - Hilly After the mountain stages of the past few days, the sprinters finally get another chance.

Stage 14 - 16/07: Saint-Étienne - Mende (192.5 km) - Hilly The Montée Jalabert. One of the five uphill finishes. A 3 km climb with a gradient of 10.2%. Who will be first at Mende Airport?

Stage 15 - 17/07: Rodez - Carcassonne (202.5 km) - Hilly Will it be the attackers or the fast men? The tactical battle between Rodez and Carcassonne could be decisive for the stage victory.

Stage 16 - 19/07: Carcassonne - Foix (178.5 km) - Hilly Before entering the final mountain range, the Pyrenees, everyone will welcome the last rest day. On Tuesday, July 19, the transitional stage takes place towards Foix.

Stage 17 - 20/07: Saint-Gaudens - Peyragudes (129.7 km) - Mountains A short mountain stage, but one with a challenging final climb of 8 km at a gradient of 7.8% toward Peyragudes.

Stage 18 - 21/07: Lourdes - Hautacam (143.2 km) - Mountains On Belgium's national holiday, the Belgians won't get an easy ride. With the Aubisque, they'll face the last HC climb.

Stage 19 - 22/07: Castelnau-Magnoac - Cahors (188.3 km) - Flat The sprinters will breathe a sigh of relief as the high mountains come to an end (hopefully without too much trouble). Now it's up to them to shine once again during the sprinter's stage to Cahors.

Stage 20 - 23/07: Lacapelle-Marival - Rocamadour (40.7 km) - Time Trial Will the 40.7 km time trial lead to significant changes in the standings?

Stage 21 - 24/07: Paris La Défense Arena - Paris (115.6 km) - Flat

At the end of the Tour de France, the traditional evening criterium takes place, finishing on the iconic Champs-Élysées in Paris. Who will cross the finish line as the overall winner?

Watch the route here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm9waGAoK-I

Source: Youtube – LCL

The 109th edition of the Tour de France promises an exciting and challenging route, with a mix of flat stages, hilly terrain, and challenging mountain climbs. Riders will face cobblestone sections, breathtaking mountain ascents, and thrilling descents, making this Tour a true test of their cycling prowess.

From the bustling streets of Copenhagen to the picturesque landscapes of Switzerland and the grueling mountain stages in the Alps and Pyrenees, the Tour de France offers a captivating journey for both cyclists and fans alike.

As we eagerly await the start of this prestigious cycling event on July 1, 2022, cycling enthusiasts can look forward to witnessing epic battles, incredible displays of athleticism, and the crowning of the next Tour de France champion in Paris on July 24. Stay tuned for the cycling spectacle of the year!

Source: Sporza