Le Tour de France 2021 – Preview
The Tour has snuck up on us already, after a shorter than usual break. Several former winners take to the start line, with the notable exception of 2019 winner Egan Bernal, who won the Giro to make a powerful statement about his omission from the INEOS squad. Cycling has a glut of exciting talent in its new Golden Age, almost all of whom will be racing. That includes Wout van Aert, Mathieu Van Der Poel, and last year’s winner Tadej Pogacar. Can this race possibly live up to the hype? Let’s find out!
When is it?
The Tour begins on June 26 in Bretagne, a little earlier than usual due to the rescheduled Olympics. It’ll run until July 18, with rest days on July 7 and 14.
Where to Watch
US: NBC has thrown the race onto its new Peacock streaming service. That’s $4.99 a month. Bargain. And you can watch Frasier on it too.
UK: Eurosport and ITV. Pick the one that has the best commentators and the least annoying ads.
Europe: It’s on Eurosport. And your local TV channel. And going past your house. You guys are spoiled.
The Course
Stage 1 – 6/26 – Brest > Landerneau (197.8km)
Stage 2 – 6/27 – Perros-Guirec > Mur-de-Bretagne Guerledan (183.5km)
Stage 3 – 6/28 – Lorient > Pontivy (182.9km)
Stage 4 – 6/29 – Redon > Fougeres (150.4km)
Stage 5 – 6/30 – Change > Laval Espace Mayenne (27.2km ITT)
Stage 6 – 7/1 – Tours > Chateauroux (160.6km)
Stage 7 – 7/2 – Vierzon > Le Creusot (249.1km)
Stage 8 – 7/3 – Oyonnax > Le Grand-Bornand (150.8km)
Stage 9 – 7/4 – Cluses > Tignes (144.9km)
Rest Day – 7/5
Stage 10 – 7/6 – Albertville > Valence (190.7km)
Stage 11 – 7/7 – Sorgues > Malaucene (198.9km)
Stage 12 – 7/8 – Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux > Nimes (159.4km)
Stage 13 – 7/9 – Nims > Carcassonne (219.9km)
Stage 14 – 7/10 – Carcassonne > Quillan (183.7km)
Stage 15 – 7/11 – Ceret > Andorre-la-Vieille (191.3km)
Rest Day – 7/12
Stage 15 – 7/13 – Pas de la Case > Saint-Gaudens (169km)
Stage 15 – 7/14 – Muret > Saint-Lary-Soulan Col du Portet (178.4km)
Stage 15 – 7/15 – Pau > Luz Ardiden (129.7km)
Stage 15 – 7/16 – Mourenx > Libourne (207km)
Stage 15 – 7/17 – Libourne > Saint-Emilion (30.8km ITT)
Stage 15 – 7/18 – Chatou > Paris Champs-Elysees (108.4km)
Key Stages
Stage 1: Brest – Landereau. The Tour again starts in Bretagne, home of the legendary Bernard Hinault. It’s a tough, beautiful parcours that’ll start the race in style. Look for the Gwenn-ha-du flying proudly on the 3km Cote de la Fosse aux Loups to finish the stage. This final climb sits at an average of 5.7%, and up to 14% in places, meaning the puncheurs will be eyeing a day in yellow.
Stage 8: Oyonanx – Le Grand-Bornand. Unlike in 2020, this Tour starts slowly, easing into the mountains. Stage 8 is when the race reaches the Alps and begins to take shape, albeit in a somewhat muted fashion. The ascent of the Col de la Colombier, and its descent to Le Grand-Bornand, should give us an early indication of which race favorites are on form.
Stage 11: Sorgues – Malaucène. Two Ventouxs, Jeremy? That’s insane. It’s not a summit finish at the observatory, but the fact that this stage climbs the legendary Mt Ventoux twice more than makes up for it. Climbing first from the easier Sault starting point, the peloton summits, descends to Malaucene, then loops around to the classic Bedoin start location for another ascent. The final descent to Malaucene is sure to be hectic.
Stage 18: Pau – Luz Ardiden. Pau is one of the Tour’s favorite cities, and this year it hosts the stage that could decide the yellow jersey. Taking in the Tourmalet before climbing to Luz Ardiden will ensure this is a day for the climbers, where big time gaps could emerge.
Stage 20: Libourne – Saint-Emilion. At 31km, this time-trial isn’t likely to open up huge time gaps. But even if it doesn’t determine the overall winner, it will settle the rest of the top ten. The beautiful vineyard setting will make for great viewing, however the race stands going into this penultimate stage.
Ones to Watch
Tadej Pogacar
Last year, we said that Tadej Pogacar was “not likely to win the race, but he’s a smart, attacking young rider who’ll likely cement his place among the sport’s elite … finishing with a top ten finish and stage wins under his belt.” Well, we underestimated and understated his chances. But we did spend the second half of the race correctly arguing that his clear path to victory was staying in reach of Roglic and then beating him in the final time-trial when his Jumbo-Visma superteam couldn’t help.
We also said “Look for some smart attacks as the hilly stages approach their summit finishes.” Same again, really, only this time he’s the defending champion and, along with Roglic, the clear favorite.
Mark Cavendish
We’re putting this one early as a reminder that our Ones to Watch doesn’t mean favorites for the overall victory. After three years in the wilderness Mark Cavendish is back, scraping in some podium finishes before winning four stages of the Tour of Turkey to reignite a career that looked to be over. Since then he’s gone from strength to strength and, although his last-minute inclusion at the Tour is down to the absence of teammate and defending green jersey winner Sam Bennett, all eyes will be on him. Can he match Eddy Merckx’s stage wins record in the Tour? Well, probably not. But class is permanent.
Primoz Roglic
Primoz Roglic‘s stock is still high. After a dramatic Tour loss last year, he won the Vuelta, and is looking in fine form for the 2021 season. His capacity to lose stage races, French stage races in particular, in their closing moments is becoming a troubling trend though. Can he buck this trend, or is he doomed to be a nearly man? For now, he’s the favorite.
Geraint Thomas
The 2018 Tour winner is back. Geraint Thomas has quietly found his form as the season has progressed, and will head an INEOS team that’s made stage race wins look easy so far. Age may not be on his side, though, and there’s a sense that INEOS has its new generation waiting in the wings. Still, the course suits him well, and he’ll be hard to shake out of the race lead if he emerges as a true contender.
Julian Alaphilippe
Ever a favorite, Julian Alaphilippe has had an astounding couple of seasons–both at the Tour and beyond. He stands alongside Wout van Aert and Mathieu Van Der Poel as one of the sport’s top classics riders, and, although he came agonizingly close to winning the 2019 edition of the race, he will arrive seeking a stage win or two rather than an overall victory.
Mathieu Van Der Poel
Raymond Poulidor’s grandson had the sport collectively turning on its waterworks when he announced his participation in the Tour by recreating an iconic photo of the dearly-deparated Pou-Pou. Mathieu Van Der Poel has everything and will be targeting stage wins on all kinds of terrains. Perhaps even Stage One, taking the yellow jersey that so eluded his grandfather.