The official route of the 2015 Tour de France will be revealed in late October, but many details have emerged through the media. The race starts in Utrecht, Netherlands, with a 13.7 km time trial and then goes to the province of Zeeland, the city center of Rotterdam, where the Grand Départ occurred in 2010, finishing in Neeltje Jans, an artificial island in the middle of giant dams.
On July 6, the second stage begins in Antwerp, Belgium, but little is known about the rest of the route.
Hwoever Le Telegramme newspaper said there will be stages in Brittany in 2015. A time trial is scheduled to begin and end in Avranches in Fougères. Another step in Dinan begin and end at any Plouay or Plumelec, with a third phase, from Quimper.
According to several media sources, the legendary mountain finish at L'Alpe d'Huez will also be part of the Tour de France next door in 2015. On a route that will run counterclockwise, the Pyrenees will be addressed first, followed by the Alps. In 2013, AG2R-La Mondiale Christophe Riblon won the stage finish of the iconic mountain.
Nibali set to a bonus of one million Euro Tour de France
Vincenzo Nibali is set to collect a bonus of one million euros of its tram Astana if he wins the Tour de France in Paris on Sunday.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Shark of Messina has clause in his contract with Kazkhastani team, assuring you the special bonus. Nibali has signed a new contract after winning the Giro d'Italia in 2013 and gains of around four million euros per season.
Gazzetta dello Sport also estimates that Nibali and Astana will take home about 25% of the two million Euro prize money on offer at this year's Tour de France. According to tradition, Nibali will give his share of his teammates and the Astana team, which helped him win the race staff. Pilots will probably charge a bonus of 40,000 euros, while the staff will take home around 5000 euros.
Nibali to star in the post-Tour criteriums
Gazzetta dello Sport also revealed that Nibali will be the star of a series of post-Tour de France citeriums immediately after the race finishes in Paris on Sunday.
The Italian will Aalst, Belgium on Monday for the first of seven criteriums, traveling with your family, baby daughter and loyal domestique Alessandro Vanotti. He then ride Stiphout the Netherlands (July 29) and Lommel in Belgium (30 July).
Nibal must travel to Cesenatico next Thursday to visit the mother of Marco Pantani Tonina and give you a yellow shirt, as promised before the Tour de France. Nibali is the first Italian to win the Tour de France since Pantani in 1998 and this year marks the tenth anniversary of the tragic death 'Il Pirata'.
Nibali will return to Belgium to other criteriums in Herentals, Saint-Nicolas, Ninove and then Surhuisterveen in Holland. He is expected to celebrate with his official fan club of Tuscany on August 8 or 9, and maybe even travel to Kazakhstan, before finally making a break in the second half of August.
His success at the Tour de France helped revive interest in cycling in Italy and Nibali will have a key role in the Italian national team for the world cup, even if the course in Ponferrada not suit him. He is expected to prepare for the world championships riding a series of tests by short steps and classic one day.
Tinkov promises Majka an Aston Martin
After his victory last Saturday in Risoul, Oleg Tinkov promised Rafal Majka an Aston Martin if he won a stage in the Tour de France and now the owner of the Russian team was forced to keep his word.
The Polish 24 year-old won the stage Wednesday to Pla d'Adet and also took the lead in the climber's polka competition.
According to the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Tinkov tried to go back on their word after they both appeared on the night Vive le Vélo show on television Sporza. However Majka is determined to get your special bonus.
