Tour de France animates climbs with new uphill bonus sprint seconds

The first riders to crest key summits at the 2019 Tour de France will be rewarded with more valuable bonus seconds would could make for a more animated race

Race organizer ASO is touting the route as the Tour’s “highest in history and the new bonus points could make for a more exciting race, especially for the yellow jersey, it has been announced

The new system was ratified by the international cycling federation (UCI) on Thursday.

The winner of each new "Bonus Sprint" at the top of some of the race's most iconic climbs will receive eight seconds, five seconds, two seconds, for first, second and third place instead of three, two, and one second, respectively, in previous races.

This year’s race starts July 6 in Brussels and finishes July 28 in Paris.

2010 Tour de France NEW Bonus Sprints

Stage 3 (Epernay): Cote de Mutigny
Stage 6 (La Planche des Belles Filles): Col des Chevreres
Stage 8 (Saint-Etienne): Cote de la Jailliere
Stage 9 (Brioude): Cote de Saint-Just
Stage 12 (Bagneres-de-Bigorre): Hourquette d’Ancizan
Stage 15 (Foix Prat d’Albis): Cur de Peguere
Stage 18 (Valloire): Col du Galibier
Stage 19 (Tignes): Col de l’Iseran