THE ORGANISERS OF the Tour de France have announced a number of changes for next year’s event, most notably the addition of an extra individual time trial and the inclusion of a number of extremely steep mountain climbs, some with gradients approaching 20%.
Beginning with a 6.1 km prologue in Belgium, the 2012 Tour will feature two testing individual time trials, of 38 km and 52 km, on the ninth and twentieth stages.
In addition to opting to place an additional emphasis on time-trialling prowess, race organisers have also included a number of demanding mountain stages, most notably the eleventh stage, which features five demanding ascents.
Elsewhere, the climb of the Planche des Belles Filles, set to feature during the seventh stage, will exceed a gradient of 20% in points, while the Mur de Peguere, making its Tour debut, will approach a gradient of 18%.
Race director Christian Pruhomme hasn’t neglected the race’s bulkier participants, either; there are seven stages expected to appeal to sprint specialists.
The route is thought to offer three-time champion Alberto Contador, who excels as both a time triallist and climber, the perfect environment in which to showcase his talents.
Defending champion Cadel Evans also looks a likely contender, though his climbing ability, particulary on extreme gradients, rarely matches that of the controversial Spaniard.
