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Source: Reuters -
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The route for the 2009 Tour de France starting on Sunday:
Sun, July 4: Stage 1 - Individual time trial in Monaco
(15.5km)
- Suitable for the climbers with a 7.5-km ascent to the Cote de
Beausoleil from the start.
Mon, July 5: Stage 2 - Monaco to Brignoles (187km)
- The sprinters could have a chance to shine if their teams can
control this tricky stage with four minor climbs.
Tues, July 6: Stage 3 - Marseille to La Grande Motte
(196.5km)
- The stage goes through the Camargue region, with strong winds
likely to sweep the road. Being at the back of the peloton could
prove costly.
Wed, July 7: Stage 4 - Team time trial in Montpellier
(39km)
- A battle expected between Contador and Armstrong's Astana and the
Schleck brothers' Saxo Bank teams but Garmin are the
favourites.
Thu, July 8: Stage 5 - Le Cap d'Agde to Perpignan
(196.5km)
- The sprinters' teams are expected to have it their way on a
mostly flat stage.
Fri, July 9: Stage 6 - Gerona to Barcelona, Spain
(181.5km)
- With the line at the top of Montjuic, a strong finisher is likely
to prevail -- possibly one for Spain's Oscar Freire.
Sat, July 10: Stage 7 - Barcelona to Arcalis, Andorra
(224km)
- The Tour enters the mountains early and brutally and the stage
finishes with a 10.6-km climb to Arcalis at 2,240 metres.
Sun, July 11: Stage 8 - Andorra La Velha to St Girons
(176.5km)
- With only two category-one climbs, the favourites should not be
in danger providing their teams control a possible long
breakaway
Mon, July 12: Stage 9 - St Gaudens to Tarbes (160.5km)
- The climbs of the Tourmalet and Aspin come quite early in the
stage. It should provide a perfect opportunity for second fiddles
to escape.
Tue, July 13: Rest day in Limoges
Wed, July 14: Stage 10 - Limoges to Issoudun (194.5km)
- French riders will be eager to show their colours on Bastille Day
but the stage is likely to be controlled by the sprinters'
teams.
Thu, July 15: Stage 11 - Vatan to St Fargeau (192km)
- Another one for the sprinters in the contest for the green
jersey.
Fri, July 16: Stage 12 - Tonnerre to Vittel (211.5km)
- The stage is peppered with minor climbs that will make it hard
for the sprinters' teams to rein in possible fugitives.
Sat, July 17: Stage 13 - Vittel to Colmar (200km)
- Attackers should have it their way in this middle-mountain
stage.
Sun, July 18: Stage 14 - Colmar to Besancon (199km)
- Last chance for the sprinters to win a stage before the Alps.
Mon, July 19: Stage 15 - Pontarlier to Verbier (207.5km)
- Not the toughest mountain stage but a summit finish that should
provide attacking opportunities for favourites trying to make up
for lost ground earlier in the race.
Tue, July 20: Rest day in Verbier, Switzerland
Wed, July 21: Stage 16 - Martigny, Switzerland, to Bourg St
Maurice (159km)
- A very tough stage, with the ascent of the Col du Grand St
Bernard (24.4 km at an average gradient of 6.2%).
Thu, July 22: Stage 17 - Bourg St Maurice to Le Grand Bornand
(169.5km)
- Big battle expected between the favourites, with a quick
succession of two punishing climbs to the Col de Romme (8.8 km at
8.9%) and the Col de la Colombiere (7.5 km at 8.5%)
Fri, July 23: Stage 18 - Individual time trial in Annecy
(40.5km)
- Unusually scheduled three days before the end (instead of one),
the time trial is not expected to be decisive.
Sat, July 24: Stage 19 - Bourgoin Jallieu to Aubenas
(178km)
- The favourites will take it easy before Sunday's stage
Sun, July 25: Stage 20 - Montelimar to Mont Ventoux
(167km)
- Decisive stage, with the intimidating 21.1-km ascent to the Mont
Ventoux at 7.6%. The last part of the climb is likely to be swept
by the wind.
Mon, July 26: Stage 21 - Montereau Fault Yonne to Paris
(164km)
- The leader quietly takes his yellow jersey to the Champs Elysees,
where the sprinters will gun for a prestigious win.
