Bradley Wiggins leads up the Col de Peyresourde in the 2012 Tour from Vincenzo Nibali and domestique Chris Froome. When the Tour tackles the climb this year it will be at the start of the shortest road stage in the modern era. And gridding will be used (Photo: Le Tour - ASO)
Tour de France to use gridding at start of stage 17
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The organisers of the Tour de France will use a gridding system for riders at the start of the shortest stage this year.
Stage 17 takes the riders from Bagnères-de-Luchon to Col de Portet. It is only 65km in length.
However, with three major climbs to contend with, it promises to be explosive. And ASO, which owns the Tour, believes the beginning of the race may get very hectic.
For that reason, the riders will be gridded. The best placed overall will be placed at the front of the bunch.
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Gridded starts are used in motorsport. And while they are also used in cyclocross they are unheard of in road racing.
The initial plan is that the top 20 riders overall at that point in the race will start at the front.
And there will be four other groups of riders, in blocks behind the top 20. As a result, the yellow jersey will start at the head of the first 20 riders.
The gridding will be put in place at kilometre zero; usually the point at which the neutralised section ends and racing proper commences.
It is not clear if the race will actually stop and begin from a standing start on stage 17 to facilitate the gridding format.
The action gets underway at the foot of the Col de Peyresourde. Furthermore, with only 65km to race the attacking will likely be on from the gun.
If so, a good start will be a must for the general classification men.
ASO technical director Thierry Gouvenou told Marca the gridding would be for one day only.
“We believe that with such a short stage the tension can be cut with a knife,” he said. “And this start formula will accentuate the situation."
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