Tour de France 2012 daily stages & teams

The most prestigious bicycle race of the world, The Tour de France 2012 is upon us. For 2012, the race starts from Liege (Belgium) and will gt to France the second day. From June 30th to July 22nd 2012, it is the 99th edition. 20 stages and 1 prologue to cover 3497 kilometers.

The stages:

Pierre Rolland Pro Cycling Racer Profile

Name: Pierre Rolland
Nickname: 

Fuglsang Jakob Pro Cycling Racer Profile

Name: Jakob Diemer Fuglsang
Nickname:

Jakob Fuglsang is a danish professional road bike racer.

Jean-Paul Brouchon, the living history of Tour de France passed away

This year Tour de France will be fought without Jean-Paul Brouchon.
Jean-Paul Brouchon commented live 44 Tour de France, 20 of them aboard motorcycles.

GEOX -TMC Pro Cycling Team 2011

Spain team Geox-TMC will compete in the 2011 UCI races, but not the UCI Pro Tour.
This is the one of the 23 Continental Pro teams selected as 2nd division, see all the 23 teams here.

Sponsors: Fuji Altamira, Shimano Dura Ace Di2, DT Swiss wheels, Rotor crankset, Hutchinson tires, Deda parts, KMC chain, Diadora shoes, Look pedals, Selle Italia, TRP brakes, Oval, A-class

Management:
General Manager Mr. GIANETTI Mauro
Team Manager Mr. FERNANDEZ MATXIN Joxean
Ass. Team Manager Mr. ANGOITIA Sabino

The 2011 Team racers are:
ALBERIO Tomas (ITA) 1989
ARDILA CANO Mauricio Alberto (COL) 1979
BLANCO RODRIGUEZ David (ESP) 1975
BRANDLE Matthias (AUT) 1989
CHEULA Giampaolo (ITA) 1979
COBO ACEBO Juan Jose (ESP) 1981
COLLI Daniele (ITA) 1982
CORTI Marco (ITA) 1986
DE LA FUENTE RASILLA David (ESP) 1981
DUARTE AREVALO Fabio Andres (COL) 1986
DURÁN AROCA Arkaitz (ESP) 1986
FELLINE Fabio (ITA) 1990
GIANETTI Noe (SUI) 1989
GUTIERREZ David (ESP) 1982
KOZONTCHUK DmitrIy (RUS) 1984
KUMP Marko (SLO) 1988
MENCHOV Denis (RUS) 1978
PELUCCHI Matteo (ITA) 1989
PIEMONTESI Fabrice (ITA) 1983
RATTO Daniele (ITA) 1989
SASTRE CANDIL Carlos (ESP) 1975
VALLS FERRI Rafael (ESP) 1987
WYSS Marcel (SUI) 1986

Team Geox-TMC 2011 Fuji bike, equipped with Shimano Dura Ace Di2 gears, Oval & Dt Swiss wheels, Rotor Q-ring chainring & Crankset, Look Keo Blade Carbon, Deda bar tape, Selle Italia SLR and SLR Flow edition, KMC X10SL Gold chain, TRP R970SL dual pivot road calipers, Hutchinson Carbon Comp tubular tires for racing and Force Clincher for training.

Team Quick Step 2011

2011 Belgian based team Quick Step will compete in the 2011 UCI Pro Tour.

Sponsors: Eddy Merckx EMX-7 bicycles, Campagnolo gears, Continental tires, FFWD wheels, Prologo Saddles, Look pedals, Dedaccia parts, Tack bottles & home trainer.

Manager général: LEFEVERE Patrick
Directeurs Sportifs:
BRAMATI Davide
GUERCILENA Luca
PEETERS Wilfried
VAN SLYCKE Rik

The 2011 Team racers are:

BANDIERA Marco (ITA) 1984
BOONEN Tom (BEL) 1980
CATALDO Dario (ITA) 1985
CHAVANEL Sylvain (FRA) 1979
CHICCHI Francesco (ITA) 1980
CIOLEK Gerald (GER) 1986
DE MAAR Marc (NED) 1984
DE WEERT Kevin (BEL) 1982
DEVENYNS Dries (BEL) 1983
ENGELS Addy (NED) 1977
MAES Nikolas (BEL) 1986
MALACARNE Davide (ITA) 1987
PINEAU Jérôme (FRA) 1980
REDA Francesco (ITA) 1982
ROBERT Frederique (BEL) 1989
SEELDRAYERS Kevin (BEL) 1986
STAUFF Andreas (GER) 1987
STEEGMANS Gert (BEL) 1980
STYBAR Zdenek (CZE) 1985
TERPSTRA Niki (NED) 1984
TRATNIK Jan (SLO) 1990
VAN IMPE Kevin (BEL) 1981
VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume (BEL) 1991
VANDEWALLE Kristof (BEL) 1985
VERMOTE Julien (BEL) 1989

2011 Quick Step Team Eddy Merckx EMX-7 bike

The team web page: quickstepcycling.eu

Team Saxo Bank-SunGard 2011

2011 Denmark based team Saxo Bank-SunGard will compete in the 2011 UCI Pro Tour.

The team is composed 100% new team members for the 2011 season since the team is new (new sponsor SunGard)

Genaral Manager: Bjarne Riis

Sponsors: Specialized Tarmac S-work SL3 bikes, Skoda cars, Sportful clothes, Speedplay pedals, Sram transmission, Zipp Wheels, Tacx, SRM, FSA, Bell helmets, Blackburn, Oakley.

2011 Team Racers are:
Juan Jose Haedo (Argentina)
Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Argentina)
Richie Porte (Australia)
David Tanner (Australia)
Baden Cooke (Australia)
Nick Nuyens (Belgium)
Michael Mørkøv (Denmark)
Kasper Klostergaard (Denmark)
Mads Christensen (Denmark)
Brian Vandborg (Denmark)
André Steensen (Denmark)
Jonas Aaen (Denmark)
Chris Anker Sørensen (Denmark)
Nicki Sørensen (Denmark)
Jonathan Bellis (Great Britain)
Matteo Tosatto (Italy)
Manuele Boaro (Italy)
Laurent Didier (Luxembourg)
Marycz Jaroslaw (Poland)
Alberto Contador (Spain)
Benjamin Noval (Spain)
Daniel Navarro (Spain)
Jesus Hernandez (Spain)
Gustav Larsson (Sweden)
Volodimir Gustov (Ukraine)

Bjarne Riis

Team Leopard - Trek - Pro Cycling Team 2011

Luxembourg based Team Leopard will compte in the UCI Pro Tour 2011.

Sponsors: Mercedes-Benz, Trek (Madone and Speed Concept time trial bikes, Bontrager Helmets, Shimano Di2 gears, Bontrager wheels and parts), Craft cycling jersey, Speedplay pedals, Schwalbe tires.
Leopard is Bryan Nygaard's management company

Team Director: Kim Andersen
SCHMIDT Torsten (Ass. Team Manager)
GUERCILENA Luca (Ass. Team Manager)
BAFFI Adriano (Ass. Team Manager)

Team Racers are:
Frank Schleck (Lux)
Andy Schleck (Lux)
Fabian Cancellara (Swiss)
Stuart O'grady (Aus)
Daniele Bennati (Ita)
Will Clarke (Aus)
Stefan Denifl (Austria)
Brice Feillu (Fra)
Jakob Fuglsang (Swiss)
Linus Gerdemann (Ger)
Dominic Klemme (Ger)
Anders Lund (Dan)
Maxime Monfort (Belg)
Martin Mortensen (Dan)
Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita)
Martin Pedersen (Dan)
Bruno Pires (Port)
Joost Posthuma (Hol)
Tom Stamsneijder (Hol)
Davide Vigano (Ita)
Jens Voigt (Ger)
Robert Wagner (Ger)
Fabian Wegmann (Ger)
Wouter Weylandt (Belg)
Oliver Zaugg (Swiss)

Team Leopard Trek Madone, equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, Bontrager wheels and components

Team Leopard 2011 Trek TT bike

How to: L'Étape du Tour 2011

The 19th edition of the "l'étape du Tour" is held over 2 days due to high demand.

Each race entry are limited to 6,000 riders, some lucky cyclists can ride both events! Wow is it not great?
Can your Cycling Tour Operator get you the ticket to ride?

The first day is Monday July 11th 2011, from Modane Frejus to Alpe d'Huez (109kms)
The second day is on Sunday July 17th 2011, from Issoire to Saint-Flour (208kms)

There is a huge demand to enter the event and it is very difficult for people outside of France to get a place.
There are few great tour operator that will help you get in even after the official tells you that the event entries are full.

I particularly recommend the cycling tours operators that are run by ex-pro racers, they are very well connected with the A.S.O. (The company that organize the Tour de France and the "Étape du Tour" among other famous races).

The first stage is in the mythical Alps mountains on July 11th.(this is where comes from Evian water)
For this first act, the stage is the shorter that have ever been done with the étape du Tour, a 109 km route with legendary climbing.

It will start from Modane Valfrejus and will only have several kilometres before the double climbing of the Télégraphe and Galibier (2646m) with a 7% on 33 km. After the Galibier and Lautaret long descent, the course will arrive in Le Bourg d'Oisans and start the mythic Alpe d'Huez climb and 21 historic turns.

Be advised, the Alpe d'Huez is one of the most popular place for cycling during summer, so finding a place to stay is going to be very tuff on your own.
Also, if you are flying from abroad, the nearest international airport is in Swiss, from where you are better off renting a car that using a bus.

For local informations:
City of Modane : modane-valfrejus.com
Several accommodations possibilities in Valfrejus : valfrejus.com
All informations about the Alpe d'Huez : alpedhuez.com

The second stage of l'etape du Tour is on July 17th in the Central of France mountains (the ones that produce Volvic water)
This stage is the Tour stage type, it is NOT for beginner!

Along the 208 km of this difficult stage, It showcase a truely magnificent landscapes of Puy de Dôme, Haute-Loire and Cantal department.

From the south of Issoire, riders will follow the refreshing Gorges de l'Alagnon before going to the Monts du Cantal : Puy Mary and Plomb du Cantal.

By the end of the very difficult route, there is a stunning panorama of the Chateau d'Alleuze and Viaduc de Garabit before the final climbing in Saint-Flour. Public will be there to help you in this last hard point of your achievement.

I know very well this area, it is really spectacular, the roads are great and the hills are for real climbers.

For more informations for local cities:
Issoire: issoire.fr
Accommodations packages: sejours-issoire.com

Saint-Flour: saint-flour.fr
Accommodations packages: saint-flour.com

If you are serious about cycling, you got to ride the Etape du Tour at least once in your life.
There is an official list of Cycling Operator from whom you are "recommended" to get your package to the event, but you can go for it alone, although you are not guaranteed to get a place.

A very important advice, get a LOCK to secure your bike, bike thief is a big business in Europa, even big brands get their whole trailers stolen, so don't leave your bike out of sight, even 1 second! Really!


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