The Centenary Tour de France is uniquely set to follow the original 1903 Tour route and then some. The “original six” cities included Paris, Lyon, Marseilles, Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Nantes. In designing the stages, the Tour de France organization incorporated these six cities as either start or finish venues within a route that will pay homage to such a historic event.
The 2003 route was announced amidst a star-laden gala in Paris on October 24. Included were all of the living Tour champions and recent Tour catalysts, including Gilbert Simoni and Oscar Sevilla. Beginning July 5 at the Eiffel Tower in Paris with a prologue running along the Seine River, the Tour route has been carefully prepared to include a number of significant elements from the 1903 Tour. For example, in Stage One, the riders will roll away from Montgeron's café, Le Reveil Matin at 3:16 pm, precisely at the place and time they did 100 years ago.
The first General Classification shake-up should take place on Stage Four, when riders will be faced with a 68K team time trial, always an inspiring test of skill and teamwork. The “grimpeurs” take flight within three stages in the Alps. The first will finish in Morzine, where Lance Armstrong suffered terribly three years ago, and it also happens to be the longest stage at 226K. The Alpe d'Huez climb will be included, but not before the peleton faces the tougher side of the Col du Galibier that day. Upon the Galibier rests monument de Henri Desrange, the “Createur du Tour de France Cycliste.” The third stage to Gap will take in the Col d'Izoard, where monuments honouring Fausto Coppi and Louis Bobet are situated along the route.
Once out of the mountains, the first “race of truth” will begin in Gaillac with a 48K ITT. It is here where perhaps Santiago Botero or Jan Ulrich could upset Armstrong. Weary legs will have to endure four stages within the magnificent Pyrenees Mountains. Famous cols such as Luz Ardiden, the Tourmalet, and the Col du Soudet will be thrown at the riders. Noticeably absent is the climb up Ventoux that inevitably serves up drama. A second ITT will run from Parnie to Nantes, encompassing 49 kilometres, and the man in yellow after this time trial will most likely be wearing it into Paris at the finish. The final stage will start in Ville d'Avray, where the Tour finished in 1903, and then eventually make its way to the Champs d'Elysee in Paris.
The 2003 Tour de France will be raced between 22 teams of nine riders each. The top divisional teams are automatically accepted and the remaining must endure a points system and ultimately a “tour choice” for entry. The final roster will be complete by May 15. Defending champion Armstrong praised the route, saying “the biggest difference this year is the three uphill finishes, which don't necessarily suit us, but I like the route and the historical perspective.” Patrice Clerc and Jean Marie Leblanc, the Tour's directors, praised the route and the event's historic impact, which will be commemorated by coins and stamps issued by the Paris Mint and Post Office, as well as in a commemorative book on the Tour's 100 years, published by L'Equipe.