General Info:
Running from Saturday July 4th to Sunday July 26th 2009, the 96th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometers.
These 21 stages have the following profiles:
- 10 flat stages
- 7 mountain stages
- 1 medium mountain stage
- 2 individual time-trial stages
- 1 team time-trial stage
The Teams:
- AG2R-LA MONDIALE
- AGRITUBEL
- ASTANA
- BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM
- CAISSE DEPARGNE
- CERVELO TEST TEAM
- COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE
- EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
- FRANCAISE DES JEUX
- GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM
- LAMPRE - N.G.C.
- LIQUIGAS
- QUICK STEP
- RABOBANK CYCLINGTEAM
- SILENCE-LOTTO
- SKIL-SHIMANO
- TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD
- TEAM KATUSHA
- TEAM MILRAM
- TEAM SAXO BANK
The Route:
Stage One:
Monaco -> Monaco - 15.5km Individual Time Trial
Mountain Passes & Hills:
- Km 7.5 - Côte de Beausoleil - 7.2 km climb to 2.7 % - Category 4
letour.fr said:Monaco
Bordering the Mediterranean, the Principality of Monaco spans a total surface area of 2 square km - the second smallest State in the world after the Vatican - of which 40 hectares of land were recovered pacifically from the sea. It unfurls along a narrow coastal strip of 4 kilometres bounded by the French Riviera and the Italian Riviera and benefits from a particularly mild and sunny climate throughout the year.
The Principality has only one commune, Monaco, whose limits are the same as those of the State and is divided into 5 main districts: Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo, La Condamine, Fontvieille and Les Moneghetti.
The population, very cosmopolitan, consists of 125 nationalities for 32 000 inhabitants including 8 000 citizens of Monaco, 9000 French and 5000 Italians.
It is a sovereign and independent state within the framework of the general principles of international law and specific conventions with France. For seven centuries, the Grimaldi dynasty has been watching over and working for the destiny of the Principality of Monaco. Throughout history, the Grimaldi have managed to hold on to the independence and sovereignty of the Principality, making Monaco a sovereign state recognised by all.
I thought that this forum could use a starting point for this years tour. I don't follow cycling religiously so I don't really know who the front runners are this year. If someone who is very familiar with the riders wants to post, go ahead. I'll be trying my best to do an update before 7AM GMT every day to keep people informed as to who is in the lead in the various categories, as well as the info for the upcoming stage.