STORYLINE:

Defending champion Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish spoke about the route for the 2019 Tour de France after it was announced in Paris on Thursday (25th October).

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Next year's Tour de France will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the showcase race's iconic yellow jersey.

With France emerging from the carnage of World War I, the Tour offered its beacon of hope to the war-ravaged nation.

In 1919, the race leader's yellow jersey — which has become cycling's most iconic symbol — was introduced.

"It came straight out of the trenches, born from the rubble of a wounded France," Tour race director Christian Prudhomme said Thursday, unveiling the route for the July 6-28 race.

Joining Prudhomme on stage were five-time Tour winners Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.

Only four riders, including Jacques Anquetil, have won five Tours; Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven titles for doping.

British rider Chris Froome will try to win his fifth title next year, but will have to depose his Team Sky teammate Geraint Thomas over the 3,460-kilometre (2,145-mile) race.

It features seven flat stages for sprinters, five hilly ones for all-rounders, seven mountain stages — five with summit finishes — one team time trial and one individual time trial.

The big climbs start in the Pyrenees before hitting the Alps.

The Tour has less of the Hors Categorie (Beyond Classification) climbs than before - those HC climbs are the most gruelling.

Instead, the race has more of the Category Two climbs — which are noticeably less difficult and favour attacking strategies.

Sky has won six of the past seven races, often controlling them in the mountains by easily repelling attacks.

This has given the team an aura of invincibility and the race a predictable tone.

With closer racing needed, the two time trials combine for a relatively low 54 kilometres, meaning specialists such as Froome have less chance to gain significant time advantages.

The race begins with a flat stage for sprinters around the city of Brussels and stays there the next day for the 27 kilometre team time trial.

After leaving Belgium, the Tour snakes through the Champagne and Lorraine regions.

Stage 4 for sprinters starts in Reims — the Champagne-producing city where 25 French kings were crowned in its cathedral.

With the race leaving the Alsace region, Stage 7 is the longest at 230 kilometres and made for sprinters.

The next day's stage is a hilly one, with several short but sharp climbs from Macon to Saint-Etienne.

The first rest day is July 16 in Albi in southern France, followed by a sprint stage before the Tour enters the high Pyrenees.

Stage 14 on July 20 features finishes with a climb up the Tourmalet pass, one of the most famed in Tour history.

Riders tackle three days of Alpine climbing on stages 18-20, featuring an ascent up the famed Galibier and imposing Iseran — standing 2,770 metres — and culminating with a relentless 33.4 kilometre trek up to the ski resort of Val Thorens.

After the weary peloton is flown towards Paris, the race ends the next day with its processional showcase stage on the Champs-Elysees.

Palais des Congres, Paris, France. 25th October 2018.

1. 00:00 Wide of cyclists walking on stage

2. 00:04 Mark Cavendish on stage

3. 00:10 Christopher Froome on stage

4. 00:19 Geraint Thomas on stage

5. 00:30 Froome and Thomas going back to their seats

6. 00:40 Geraint Thomas

7. 00:43 Christopher Froome

8. 00:47 Julian Alaphilippe

9. 00:51 Mark Cavendish

10. 00:57 Primoz Roglic

11. 01:01 Five-time Tour de France winners Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, and Miguel Indurain, Raymond Poulidor, French former professional bicycle racer known as "The Eternal Second", and Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme

(UPSOUND Raymond Poulidor "Between us four we have won 15 Tour de France")

12. 01:09 Pan of Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Raymond Poulidor on stage

13. 01:21 Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme arriving on stage with map of Tour de France 2019 on large screen

14. 01:26 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, 2018 Tour de France winner:

"It's solid, it's tough as ever, but it's hard to take in it all when it's so quick but there are some big stages, obviously a lot of climbs finishing over 2,000 metres, medium mountain days, you know, look hard as well so yes it's going to be a tough race."

15. 01:42 Close up Thomas' eyes

16. 01:47 SOUNDBITE (English) Geraint Thomas, 2018 Tour de France winner:

"Yeah I think that will be really nice, I've raced in Belgium quite a lot before in the past, so yeah it will be nice to go back and obviously team time trial which we are normally pretty good at. It will be nice to try and try and win that for a change, rather than second and third, which we always seem to be."

17. 02:03 Geraint Thomas talking to journalists

18. 02:07 SOUNDBITE (English): Mark Cavendish, British sprinter who has won 30 Tour de France stages:

"It's flat enough for me, it's 21 flat dates isn't it, but yes, when you've got six or seven spin opportunities that's good, that's fair and there is that, you know. We've got the climbs. I think although there's more climbing, probably more altitude metres, it's still probably (doesn't finish sentence).... 2018 was near-on impossible to reach Paris for most of the sprinters - just the position of the climbs and the layout of the stages whereas here, though there's more climbing there's actually a better opportunity for us. If we work hard, we get to Paris. This year, it didn't matter how hard you worked physiologically, we'd never get to Paris. I was sick in the end, but I don't think even if I was well I wouldn't have reached it. It's quite nice next year - I'm looking forward to it."

19. 02:54 Tour de France presentation on large screen

20. 02:59 Cavendish watching presentation

21. 02:17 SOUNDBITE (English): Mark Cavendish, British sprinter who won 30 Tour de France stages:

"Yeah I hope so. Just back on my bike now. Yeah, there's enough time to get health... to get fit, as long as I'm healthy so I'm monitoring my health at the minute and we'll see where I'm at."

(Journalist: What does the Tour de France mean?)

It's everything for me. It's everything for every bike rider. Even guys who don't ride the road, professional track riders always dreamt of one point or another riding the Tour de France. For me it's everything, it's my career, it's what I've built everything on. It's what I'll continue to do. It's the only reason I still ride a bike now."

22. 03:30 Cavendish leaving

23. 03:35 Wide pan from audience clapping to stage

23. 03:42 Audience listening

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 03:47

Team Ineos rider Geraint Thomas said on Monday's rest day that he is "itching to go" ahead of the final week of racing at the 2019 Tour de France.

Second-placed Thomas gained 27 seconds on yellow jersey holder Julian Alaphilippe on Sunday's stage 15, as a late attack saw him distance the Frenchman towards the Prat d'Albis summit finish.

Three big mountain days are still left to race before the Tour's traditional conclusion in Paris, and Thomas will be intent on making further inroads into Alaphilippe's lead, which stands at one minute and 35 seconds.

On Saturday, the Welshman had lost crucial time on the Col du Tourmalet, but his response on Sunday kept him in contention as he bids to retain the Tour de France title.

Tuesday's 177 kilometre relatively flat stage 16 in Nimes is likely to see a bunch sprint finish.

Nimes, France. 22nd July 2019.

1. 00:00 Various of Geraint Thomas entering news conference

2. 00:15 Geraint Thomas (left), Team Ineos general manager Dave Brailsford (centre) and Egan Bernal (right) in news conference

3. 00:23 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, Team Ineos rider:

(About taking time out of Julian Alaphilippe's lead on Sunday and looking ahead to the Alps)

"We stick together. I think obviously yesterday (Sunday), I said on the radio that I didn't feel great coming into the last climb. As it turns out, I did feel great at the top. But, yeah, I think the main thing is, going into the Alps now, I feel motivated to get there and really try and finish this Tour off well. It has been slightly up and down here, for sure, and race compared to last year. But the main thing for me is that I finished strongly yesterday (Sunday), and I am really just itching to go now. I much prefer the Alps - I have got a lot better memories from there for obvious reasons. Yeah, I'm just looking forward to it."

4. 01:16 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, Team Ineos rider:

(About managing his effort to remain in contention overall and the soaring temperatures in France this week)

"Yeah, yesterday (Sunday), like I say, I finished really strongly so, yeah, it's not an issue. If that is my bad day, to lose 30 seconds on the Tourmalet, is quite a good day really. And like Dave (Brailsford) said, you win a Grand Tour by being good all the way through, and managing your effort all the way through, not going into that deep, deep red zone often - save that for the final day or two. So I feel like I have managed that effort really well so far and I'm feeling good for it. Yeah I'm looking forward to the Alps now and, altitude-wise like in training in Tenerife, a drop off of watts is never really as much as most people so I'm relishing that opportunity and the heat, it is the same for everyone. I have ridden in that heat Down Under (Australia) numerous times over the years and got used it, so it is no problem."

5. 02:23 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, Team Ineos rider:

(About Team Ineos' performances in this year's Tour de France)

"Egan (Bernal) is fifth and I am second. I think we are still doing pretty well. Ok, yeah, we are not in the yellow and we are not riding on the front all day everyday. But like Dave (Brailsford) said, there is more than one way to win the Tour and this situation is completely different, and we don't have to pull when there are other teams that want to do it as well. So I think we are still in a super strong position the boys as well... Dylan (van Barrle) for instance, has been incredible, the way he has been going this year. I think he has been one of the standout guys in our team. I think everyone has ups and downs and I think it is how you deal with that. But, yeah, I am confident that we are all in great shape and a great position, and looking forward to some big Alpine climbs."

6. 03:22 SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Egan Bernal, Team Ineos rider:

(About Nairo Quintana telling his team he was having some difficulties during the Col du Tourmalet, but Alejandro Valverde said that he did not mention anything)

"I think it is easier when you have good communication with the rest of the team. That has happened before, and he (Nairo Quintana) has always has been very honest. As a fellow Colombian, he told me that he was not in the best condition. I have been ahead of Nairo in the race. I think it is good for the race and for the teams (to have that competition and communication between riders). In my case, if I am ahead (in the race) maybe other riders could have some doubts, because a rider from Ineos is ahead and they do not want to help me out. I think there is a lot of strategy around, but again, the leader in our team is Geraint (Thomas) and we will give our all for him."

At the Tour de France, the tough ascents riders must make through the Alps and Pyrenees mountains are always decisive in helping to weed out the winners from the also-rans.

But this year, they could have an even greater bearing than normal on the outcome of cycling's showcase race.

For the first time in the history of the 116-year-old cycling test of endurance, Tour de France organizers have peppered the route with three stages that finish on mountain climbs to above 2,000 meters, or 6,500 feet.

The thinning air at altitude will have a cascade of physiological repercussions on the riders' straining, tired bodies. They'll find it harder to breathe. They'll lose power. Their muscles will get sore faster.

Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour de France champion who will be seeking to defend his title at this year's race that starts July 6 in Belgium, says riding above 2,000 meters is especially trying.

"When you ride over 2,000 meters, you definitely feel the difference, compared to say 1,000 or lower," he told The Associated Press as he was training for this year's race.

"Basically, like, you just can't do the same powers that you do at sea level. It is just like a thinner sort of air, really, up there. You can just tell like when you're breathing, you're just not getting quite as much oxygen in the lungs as you normally would," he said.

Only the fittest and those most adapted to the mountains are likely to do well. The Tour de France director told The AP that he believes 22-year-old Colombian rider Egan Bernal might thrive on this year's mountainous route. Bernal is a teammate of Thomas' at Team INEOS.

"We know that riders can react differently above 2,000 meters," Tour director Christian Prudhomme told the AP in an interview looking ahead to the race. "But most of us believe the Colombians won't be any less good at 2,000 meters and Bernal, obviously, is Colombian."

But the punishing ascents, the thinning mountain air, the often dangerous snaking descents at speed and the expected heat of the French summer can all combine to also knock race favorites out of contention.

Indeed, the only thing that is ever certain about the Tour de France's climbs is that even the strongest riders are never guaranteed of getting through them unscathed.

Various locations - 1958 

1. Footage from AP's Movietone Archive of peloton riding at the 1958 Tour de France

2. Footage from AP's Movietone Archive of two riders at the 1958 Tour de France

3. Footage of solitary rider and motorbikes from AP's Movietone Archive of the 1958 Tour de France

4. Footage from AP's Movietone Archive of several riders descending at the 1958 Tour de France

Various locations - 1961

5. Aerial footage from AP's Movietone Archive of race ascending mountain pass at the 1961 Tour de France

6. Aerial footage from AP's Movietone Archive of race crossing mountain pass at the 1961 Tour de France

Various locations - 1975

7. Footage from AP's video archive of riders ascending mountain pass at the 1975 Tour de France

8. Footage from AP's video archive of riders ascending mountain pass at the 1975 Tour de France

9. Footage of solitary cyclist and mountain scenery from AP's video archive of the 1975 Tour de France

Saint-Lary-Soulan Portet pass, France - 25 July 2019

10. Still photo of Geraint Thomas in the race leader's yellow jersey at the 2018 Tour de France

Location not provided - 20 June 2019

11.  SOUNDBITE (English) Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas, speaking in a June 20, 2019, Whatsapp message to AP:

"When you ride over 2,000 meters, you definitely feel the difference, compared to say 1,000 or lower. Basically, like, you just can't do the same powers that you do at sea level. It is just like a thinner sort of air, really, up there. You can just tell like when you're breathing, you're just not getting quite as much oxygen in the lungs as you normally would."

2018 - Location and exact date not available

12. Still photo of Geraint Thomas in the race leader's yellow jersey and other riders at the 2018 Tour de France

13. Still photo of Geraint Thomas in the race leader's yellow jersey at the 2018 Tour de France

Location not available - 1961

14. Footage from AP's Movietone Archive of rider racing up mountain pass at the 1961 Tour de   France

15. Footage from AP's Movietone Archive of spectators around road sign indicating the Tourmalet pass in the Pyrenees at the 1961 Tour de France

Location  not available - 2007

16.  Still photo of pack of riders speeding down the Iseran pass in the French Alps at the 2007 Tour de France

2018 - Location and exact date not available

17.  Still photo of Colombian rider Egan Bernal at the 2018 Tour de France

2019 - Location and exact date not available

18. Close up of Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme in AP interview on June 19, 2019

19. Medium of Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme in AP interview on June 19, 2019

20.  SOUNDBITE (French/annotated translation in English) Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme in AP interview on June 19, 2019 "We know that riders can react differently above 2,000 meters. But most of us believe the Colombians won't be any less good at 2,000 meters and Bernal, obviously, is Colombian."

2018 - Location and exact date not available

21. Still photo of Colombian rider Egan Bernal, in white, and Geraint Thomas, wearing the overall race leader's yellow jersey, on the Alpe d'Huez climb in the French Alps at the 2018 Tour de France

Location not available - 1961

22. Footage from AP's Movietone Archive of the race on a mountain road at the 1961 Tour de France

23. Footage from AP's Movietone Archive of riders speeding through a tunnel on a mountain road at the 1961 Tour de France

24. Footage from AP's Movietone Archive of race vehicles speeding through a tunnel on a mountain road at the 1961 Tour de France

25. Footage from AP's Movietone Archive of rider climbing past spectators on a mountain road at the 1961 Tour de France

26. Footage from AP's Movietone Archive of lone rider in the fog on a mountain road at the 1961 Tour de France