2009 Tour de France to start in Monaco

Boonen is a resident of Monaco

Boonen is a resident of Monaco (Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)

After the phenomenal success of the start of the 2007 Tour de France in London, the organisers ASO announced on Thursday that the 2009 edition will start in Monaco.

The small principality that sits between France and Italy has never before hosted a stage of the race. The time trial stage will incorporate part of the famous Formula One track used each year as part of the Formula One Grand Prix series.

In the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II an official presentation will take place at 2.00pm on Friday the 14th of December at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

The last time the race started on the Cote d'Azur was in Nice in 1981.

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