le Tour de France, 2022

26th June - 18th July, 2022

four countries,
climbs galore

what to look foward to

Starting with three days in Denmark, there are brief visits to Belgium and Switzerland as the Tour visits the richer parts of France in the east and the south of France.
The route includes

• six flat stages,
• seven hilly stages and
• five high altitude finishes
   (the Super Planche-des-Belles-Filles, the Col du Granon, Alpe d'Huez, Hautacam and Peyragudes).
• two individual time trials - Copenhagen, 13km; - Rocamadour, 40km
• two rest days and one travelling day

There is a trucated, eight-stage version of the TDF for the ladies - oh, sorry, the women.

Women's Tour de France, 2022

first time Danish grand départ

The Tour had never had such a northern start. With Copenhagen, in Denmark, the event continues a practice of departures (or stages) outside the borders, started in 1954 with Amsterdam. To be able to depart this far north (1,000 km from Dunkirk, start town of Stage 4), the organisers had to start on Friday July 1, rather than on the usual Saturday. Then an extra 'rest' day for travelling will allow the whole caravan of riders, organisers, media, and so on to return to France.

On the sporting side, the first stage is a time trial of 13 km in the streets of Copenhagen. Riders set off from the historic heart of Copenhagen and cross the Queen Louise Bridge, known to be the busiest cycle lane in the world. They also pass the famous Tivoli Gardens and the famous statue of the Little Mermaid, installed in the port of the city. 

The second day is 199 km between Roskilde, former capital of Denmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Nyborg. The route promises to be perilous with 18 km on the bridge linking the island of Seeland to that of Funen, all above the Baltic Sea. It will be as sumptuous as it is scary, since it could generate edginess in the event of wind, making gaps in the peleton from the second day of the Tour. The finish is at Nyborg and its famous medieval castle. 

The last day in Denmark is between Velje on the Jutland peninsula and Sonderborg. The peloton crosses the region from north to south passing through two UNESCO World Heritage sites. After 182 km of racing, the finish is in the port town of Sonderborg, not far from the German border, an ideal place for a bunch sprint.

the cobblestones return

The fifth stage between Lille and Arenberg resembles a small Paris-Roubaix. It's the eleventh time in the Tour de France's history that the riders face the cobblestones of the Hell of the North. They ride 19.4 km of cobblestones, divided into 11 sectors varying in length from 1.3 to 2.8 km. A very significant length, comparable to the 2018 edition.

Then, Richie Porte in particular was forced to retire. 
In 2015, Thibaut Pinot lost three minutes there. 
In 2014, in the rain and in the mud, Chris Froome, paralyzed (and injured in the wrist) by a fall the day before, had dismounted and abandoned even before the first sector, while Vincenzo Nibali, in the Yellow Jersey, had succeeded.

2022 tour de france route

The race will cover 3,328 km or 2,068 miles, with:

• 6 flat stages (stages 2, 3, 13, 15, 19, 21)
• 3 hilly stages (stages 4, 5, 6)
• 4 medium mountain stages (stages 8, 10, 14, 16)
• 6 high mountain stages (stages 7, 9, 11, 12, 17, 18)
• 5 summit finishes :
      La Super Planche des Belles Filles 7
      Col du Granon 11
      Alpe d'Huez 12
      Peyragudes 17
      Hautacam 18
• 2 individual time trial stages (stages 1, 20)
• 0 team time trial stages
• 2 rest days
• 1 travelling day

the stages for 2022

[Note: blue links go to profile section on this page,
            yellow links go to associated pages at abelard.org]

The race's distance is 3,328 kilometres or 2,068 miles.

bonus seconds and bonus points

bonus seconds

They will distributed at the finish of each normal stage allowing the first three riders to gain 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds.

bonus points

Given at the summits of six significant climbs - 8, 5 and 2 seconds (under the approval of the Union cycliste internationale).

this year’s t-shirts

In line with fashion's contiuing drive to be dull and to play safe, the souvenir t-shirts for this year have little imagination or gaiety. Here's the best of the bunch. There's no easy distinction between the sexes, except in size.

Four jerseys t- shirt : 27€	Puzzle t-shirt : 27€

Copenhagen cycling cap : 16€

Again, this year's TDF t-shirts are standard and without imagination, and the prices are still daftly steep. For those with a certain morbid curiosity. this is the TDF online boutique.This is the TDF online boutique.

the teams for 2022

team jerseys/colours

2022 TDF team jerseys

this year’s top ten riders according to betting odds

last year (2020): the first ten riders

mountain stages, uphill and summit finishes

• 4 medium mountain stages (stages 8, 10, 14, 16)
• 6 high mountain stages (stages 7, 9,11, 12, 17, 18)

Stage 7: Fri. 8th July – Tomblaine to La Super Planche des Belles Filles

A scary final climb to La Super Planche des Belles Filles with an average of 8.7% gradient over 7 km. But note, that slope increases from 11% to a 24%, 9 km final push to reach the summit.

Stage 7 - La Super Planche des Belles Filles

Stage 9: Sun. 10th July – Aigle, Switzerland to Les Chatel Portes du Soleil, France

 The Pas de Morgins is the real challenge for today - 15.4 kilometres at 6.1%, though the final Portes du Soleil is a further slog to this 183 km of racing.

Stage 9 - Les Chatel Portes du Soleil

Stage 11, Wed. 13th July - Albertville to Col du Granon

An impressive prelude to Bastille Day. Three climbs and a summit finish - the Col du Télégraph, the Col du Galibier, and the Col du Granon will enable GC contenders to emerge.

The Col du Télégraphe

Stage 11- Col duTélégraphe

The Col du Télégraphe starts 71 km from the stage start.
A category 1 summit, it is 11.9 km long with a 7.1% average gradient.
The col summit is at 1562 m.

Col du Galibier

stage 11 - Col du Galibier

The Col du Galibier starts 88.5 km from the stage start.
A HC summit, it is 17.7 km long with a 6.9% average gradient though much is over 8%.
The col summit is at 2640 m.

Col du Granon

stage 11 -Col du Granon

The Col du Granon starts 136.5 km from the stage start.
A HC summit, it is 11.3km long with a 9.2% average gradient, with the steepest part at 11.2%.
The col summit is at 2403 m.

Stage 12, 14th July - Brançon to Alpe d'Huez

The 2022 Tour de France's showcase stage for the French National Day, known by English-speakers as Bastille Day, ends at one of the most summits, Alpe d'Huez.

stage 12 - profile

Just 11 km into the stage, the Col du Galibier is climbed for the second time this Tour, from a different direction, begiining 33.2 km from the stage start. A HC summit, it is 23 km long with a 5.1 % average gradient. The col summit is at 2642 m.

Col de la Croix de Fer

stage 12 - Col de la Croix de Fer

The Col de la Croix de Fer starts 81 km from the stage start.
A HC summit, it is 29 km long with a 5.2% average gradient, with parts at over 10%, and a final effort part at 8.4%.
The col summit is at 2065 m.

Alpe d'Huez

stage 12 - Alpe d'Huez

The Alpe d'Huez mountain is being climbed using a different route from, say that of the 2015 TDF. !the climb starts 149 km from the stage start.
A HC summit, it is 13.8 km long with a 8.1% average gradient, with parts at over 10%, and a final effort at 8.4%.
The col summit is at 1850 m.

Stage 17, Wed. 20th July - Saint-Gaudens to Peyragudes

With three intermediate climbs and the summit finish at the Altiport 007 in Peyragudes, this stage is 129.7 kilometres long.
This Pyrenees altiport has been host to the 17th stage in 2012 and the 12th stage in 2017, while fame had already arrived in 1997 with the James Bond film Tomorrow never Dies. This year, the race finishes on the Peyragudes airport runway.

Col d'Aspin

stage 17 - Col d'Aspin

The Col d'Aspin starts 54 km from the stage start.
A category 1 summit, it is 12 km long with a 6.5% average gradient, though the second half and more is a continuous uphill slog of at least 7.3% gradient.
The col summit is at 1490 m.

Col de Val Louren-Azet

stage 17 - Col de Val Louren-Azet

The Col de Val Louren-Azet starts 99.5 km from the stage start.
A category 1 summit, it is 10.7 km long with a 6.8% average gradient, with a middle grind of 10% and 9.6%.
The col summit is at 1580 m.

Peyragudes

stage 17 - Peyragudes

The final ascent to Peyragudes arrives at a category 1 summit. The 8 km climb averages 7.8%, with middle grinds of 10% and 9.6%. The last 500 metres rise at a gradient of 13% and more.
The col summit is at 1580 m.

Stage 18, Thurs. 21st July - Lourdes to Hautacam

This stage starts near the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, leaving the pilgrimage grotto for a Pyrenees ride. On virtually flat roads the route travels to Laruns and after 60 kilometres in the saddle the climbing begins.

Col d'Aubisque

stage 18 - Hautacam

The Col d'Aubisque starts 60 km from the stage start.
A HC summit, it is 16.4 km long with a 7.1% average gradient, with fierce 11.2%, 13.7%, and 10.5% sections before 'easing off' to 6.5%.
The col summit is at 1709 m.

Hautacam

stage 18 - Hautacam

Hautacam starts 99.5 km from the stage start.
A HC summit, it is 13.6 km long with a 7.8% average gradient, with a middle grind of 10% and 9.6%.
Its summit is at 1524 m.

watch tdf broadcasts

We will provide this information when it is available, closer to the race start.

The Tour de France is being televised throughout the world. The following table lists the broadcasters by country including those providing live broadcasts.

Official TDF broadcasters, 2022

There is no immediate indication whether or not broadcasts are free to view, however most expect a subscription. Of course, this may be part of your television provider's charges.
Eurosport broadcasts in Britain on Sky channel 410, as well as in mainland Europe.

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