The 1970 Route

The original 1970 Tour was run over 23 days plus the prologue and formed a complete clockwise circuit of France. Eddie Merckx won the Tour in a time of 119h 31m and at an average speed of 36.5kph. By the time he reached Paris he had a lead of almost 13 minutes

After a lot of searching I was lucky enough to find a copy of the original souvenir booklet published for the 1970 Tour. The map on the intro page is the cover of the booklet. Inside are detailed route cards for each stage so I have been able to reproduce the exact route. Click on the link to the right to view the route in detail on Google Maps.

To cut down some of the ludicrously long days, extend some of the shorter days and account for a couple of gaps that would have been transfers, I have adjusted some stages. This is the schedule I will follow.

The 2010 Route

My Tour will take a whole month. Four weeks cycling, six days a week with one rest day per week. Opting to leave out the handful of time trials, I will cover a total 4300km. This is an average daily ride of 180km or 110miles. In cycling parlance that's 24 consecutive Centurys. 7 to 8 hours a day in the saddle if I keep up an average of 25kph.

At an average of 25kph I will be using over 4000 calories and will need to eat over 6000 calories per day. Over the course of the month I am likely to loose up to 10lbs in weight. I will be unsupported and riding alone for the majority of the time. The exception will be the first week and the final three days when, due to the practicalities of travelling to and from France, my partner Sally will escort me.

The route takes in the whole range of countryside that France has to offer. These are some of the highlights.

Tour Highlights

Highlights is right. In common with most Tours there are some serious climbs to get up. The route goes throught the Voges, Jura, Alps and Pyrenees. Some of the noteable climbs are shown to the right.

There are a total of 26 climbs over 3000ft high (as high as Snowdon). The highest point is the Col de Tourmalet at 2113m or just short of 7000ft.

The first week offers long flatish stages in the west and north where head winds will be most unwelcome. Week two sees excursions into Belgium and Germany with a few foot hills to warm up the legs ready for; week three and the majority of the climbing through the alps and long hot stages through Provence. Week four starts with more climbing in the Pyrenees and finishes in Paris.

I think someone should benefit from all that effort. This is where I need your help.