Here's the route for TDF 2009. It's clockwise this year, so Bill would struggle with the entire concept of that. (or was it counterclockwise?). Anyway, the 2nd to last stage finishes on Mont Ventoux, a classic mountaintop finish. The same mountain that Lance "conceded" to Pantani several years ago. The idea is to add excitement with a moutain top race at the end and not a time trial as in years past on the 2nd to last stage. After the stage is completed, the riders will take the high speed "TGV" fast train to the start of the final stage into Paris.
I couldn't get the above photo any larger. On the left is Carlos Sastre, the 2008 winner, and Alberto Contador, the 2007 winner on the right. Nice ties, guys.
Stages for the 2009 Tour de France
Stage 1 July 4 - Monaco - Monaco, 15km (individual time-trial) Stage 2 - July 5 - Monaco - Brignoles, 182kmStage 3 - July 6 - Marseille - La Grande-Motte, 196kmStage 4 - July 7 - Montpellier, 38km (team time-trial)Stage 5 - July 8 - Le Cap d'Agde - Perpignan, 197kmStage 6 - July 9 - Girona (Spain) - Barcelona (Spain), 175kmStage 7 - July 10 - Barcelona - Andorra 224kmStage 8 - July 11 - Andorra-la-Vieille - Saint-Girons, 176kmStage 9 - July 12 - Saint Gaudens - Tarbes, 160km● - July 13 - Rest day at LimogesStage 10 - July 14 - Limoges - Issoudun, 193kmStage 11 - July 15 - Vatan – Saint Fargeau, 192kmStage 12 - July 16 - Tonnerre - Vittel, 200kmStage 13 - July 17 - Vittel - Colmar, 200kmStage 14 - July 18 - Colmar - Besanon, 199kmStage 15 - July 19 - Pontarlier - Verbier (Suisse), 207km● - July 20 - Rest day at VerbierStage 16 - July 21 - Martigny (Switzerland) - Bourg-Saint Maurice, 160kmStage 17 - July 22 - Bourg-Saint Maurice - Le Grand Bornand, 169kmStage 18 - July 23 - Annecy - Annecy, 40km (individual time-trial)Stage 19 - July 24 - Bourgoin-Jallieu - Aubenas, 195kmStage 20 - July 25 - Montélimar - Mont Ventoux, 167kmStage 21 - July 26 - Montereau-Fault-Yonne - Paris Champs Elysées, 160km
● 10 flat stages.● 7 mountain stages● 1 medium mountain stage.● 2 individual time-trial stages.● 1 team time-trial stage.Distinctive aspects of the race● 3 mountain finishes.● 2 rest days.● 55 kilometers of individual time-trials.
● 20 Category 1, Category 2 and hors categorie passes will be climbed.
Oh Captain Crunch! The Giro d'Italia will be even better.
ReplyDeleteBeing in Italy it is after all a far more difficult and challenging race than the TDF. Don't argue with me, because you can't win an argument with a Dago.
Think about it...LA vs. not only Alberto, his team mate, but also Ivan Basso.
I'm excited about Mt. Ventoux being the Queens stage of this years tour, also the fact that the TTT has been brought back for the first time since 05.
Non-the-less it will be fun to watch as always.