ASO's Tour route design is already looking years ahead

A long-range Tour project

A Yahoo Entertainment report looks at the work behind designing a Tour de France route, framing it as a three-year labour rather than a short-term logistical exercise. The key point is that ASO is already thinking beyond the current edition, planning future versions of the Grande Boucle while fans are still taking in the race from the roadside and on television.

That matters because the Tour is not only consumed as a sporting event. The route is also the lens through which viewers and roadside fans experience the race, and the report notes that beautiful scenery is a key consideration in that design process.

For serious cyclists, the takeaway is straightforward: a Tour route is not accidental. The roads selected, the places showcased, and the way the race is presented are the product of a long planning cycle. That helps explain why the Tour often feels bigger than the racing alone - its route is built to shape both competition and spectacle.

Full details are at the linked Yahoo Entertainment source.