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Tour de France, France, GT

Date range:
July 4-26 2009
  • Tour de France, France, GT
  • Stages. Expand the race menu

    • Stage 1

      Distance:
      15.5km
      Start location:
      Monaco
      End location:
      Monaco (ITT)

    • Stage 2

      Distance:
      187km
      Start location:
      Monaco
      End location:
      Brignoles

    • Stage 3

      Distance:
      196.5km
      Start location:
      Marseille
      End location:
      La Grande-Motte

    • Stage 4

      Distance:
      39km
      Start location:
      Montpellier
      End location:
      Montpellier (TTT)

    • Stage 5

      Distance:
      196.5km
      Start location:
      Le Cap d'Agde
      End location:
      Perpignan

    • Stage 6

      Distance:
      181.5km
      Start location:
      Gérone
      End location:
      Barcelone

    • Stage 7

      Distance:
      224km
      Start location:
      Barcelone
      End location:
      Andorre Arcalis

    • Stage 8

      Distance:
      176.5km
      Start location:
      Andorre-la-Vieille
      End location:
      Saint-Girons

    • Stage 9

      Distance:
      160.5km
      Start location:
      Saint-Gaudens
      End location:
      Tarbes

    • Rest day

      Location
      Limoges

    • Stage 10

      Distance:
      194.5km
      Start location:
      Limoges
      End location:
      Issoudun

    • Stage 11

      Distance:
      192km
      Start location:
      Vatan
      End location:
      Saint-Fargeau

    • Stage 12

      Distance:
      211.5km
      Start location:
      Tonnerre
      End location:
      Vittel

    • Stage 13

      Distance:
      200km
      Start location:
      Vittel
      End location:
      Colmar

    • Stage 14

      Distance:
      199km
      Start location:
      Colmar
      End location:
      Besançon

    • Stage 15

      Distance:
      207.5km
      Start location:
      Pontarlier
      End location:
      Verbier

    • Rest day

      Location
      Verbier

    • Stage 16

      Distance:
      159km
      Start location:
      Martigny
      End location:
      Bourg-Saint-Maurice

    • Stage 17

      Distance:
      169.5km
      Start location:
      Bourg-Saint-Maurice
      End location:
      Le Grand-Bornand

    • Stage 18

      Distance:
      40.5km
      Start location:
      Annecy
      End location:
      Annecy (ITT)

    • Stage 19

      Distance:
      178km
      Start location:
      Bourgoin-Jallieu
      End location:
      Aubenas

    • Stage 20

      Distance:
      167km
      Start location:
      Montélimar
      End location:
      Mont Ventoux

    • Stage 21

      Distance:
      164km
      Start location:
      Montereau-Fault-Yonne
      End location:
      Paris Champs-Élysées
  • Race history

July 4, Stage 1: Monaco - Monaco (ITT) 15.5km

Spectacular start for 2009 Tour

By:
Cyclingnews
Published:
June 30, 09:01,
Updated:
July 21, 13:11

15km time trial to sort men from boys

This Tour's spectacular start will separate the men from the boys. The inaugural time trial of 15 kilometres is already long enough to make the favourites show themselves, especially since a part of the route will lead the riders up the coastal hills and into the hinterland of the glamorous city. It is a demanding, technical route with several particularly steep climbs, including a 10 percent incline.

The descent is slightly technical with a right hand hairpin at the 4km-mark, as well as four tight curves to master just before the riders hit the seafront straight to the finish in the old harbour.

Just like Formula 1 racers, the riders will start their dash at the Formula 1 Grand Prix starting line before entering the Tunnel and launching into the home stretch on the famous route de la Piscine.

Vaughters' views

Jonathan VaughtersNot a prologue at all, this 15.5 km hilly and technical effort will take 20 minutes or so to complete. It will give a better indication as to who can compete on GC than a typical prologue and even more than a typical flatter time trial.

This will be a test of skill, climbing ability, time trial prowess, and judgment - all abilities one needs to win the Tour. Who are my favourites? Alberto Contador is who'd I'd pick, but I'm sure a very on form Fabian Cancellara and a very skinny Brad Wiggins will be in the mix. Look carefully at the top 10, and you'll see many a name that you'll be seeing a lot of for the next 3 weeks.