Profile of 2009 stages

17 June 2009 | 11:29 - Phil Gomes

Running from Saturday July 4th to Sunday July 26th 2009, the 96th edition of Tour de France will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometers in 21 stages.

Running from Saturday July 4th to Sunday July 26th 2009, the 96th edition of Tour de France will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometers in 21 stages.

The race starts in the Principality of Monaco with a 15 kilometer individual time trial that includes a section of the Formula One Circuit de Monaco.

The2009 edition visits a total of six nations: Monaco, France, Spain, Andorra, Switzerland and breifly heads into Italy during stage 16.

There will be seven mountain stages with three uphill finishes, and one medium-mountain stage.

The race sees a return of the team time trial for the first time since 2005 and includes a penultimate days mountain stage, the first in the Tour's history.

Stage One: MONACO, 15.5 km (ind. Time trial)

Bordering the Mediterranean, the Principality of Monaco will provide a spectacular and fast backdrop for the opening time trial.

Stage Two:

MONACO - BRIGNOLES, 187 km.

The Tour leaves Monaco for Brignoles with the finale sure to provide the sprinters with their first true test.

Stage Three:

MARSEILLE  - LA GRANDE-MOTTE , 196.5 km.

Another stage for the sprinters to shine, stage three will take place along the coast with strong winds a defining factor.

Stage Four:

MONTPELLIER - MONTPELLIER , 39 km (team time trial).

The return of the teams time trial to the Tour will test any teams cohesion and balance and could surprise the favourites.

Stage Five:

LE CAP D’AGDE - PERPIGNAN , 196.5 km.

Dedicated to Salvador Dali, stage five continues to present the sprinters with another opportunity for glory.

Stage Six:

GERONA - BARCELONA, 181.5 km.

Stage six is the most southerly ever and stops in Spain at the the Catalan capital of Barcelona.

Stage Seven:

BARCELONA - ANDORRE ARCALIS, 224 km.

The first of the mountains have arrived with stage seven testing the climbers with a towering finish at 2200 meters in Arcalís.

Stage Eight:

ANDORRE-LA-VIEILLE - SAINT-GIRONS, 176.5 km.

A second day in the mountains with three climbs to test the mountain men and those who may see themselves as challengers.

Stage Nine:

SAINT-GAUDENS - TARBES, 160.5 km.

Stage nine is the last of three days in the Pyrnees, one that takes the riders over the legendary Aspin and Tourmalet passes.

Stage Ten:

LIMOGES - ISSOUDUN, 194.5 km.

With the mountains and a rest day behind them the sprinters will again come out to play in Issoudun.

Stage Eleven:

 VATAN - SAINT-FARGEAU, 192 km.

Stage eleven is designed to heat up the race for the points title with lots of bonuses on the course.

Stage Twelve:

TONNERRE - VITTEL, 211.5 km.

At almost 212km, stage twelve is likely to see a successful breakaway and win from a high quality opportunist.

Stage Thirteen:

VITTEL - COLMAR, 200 km.

One for the quality all-rounder, the high rolling terrain of stage thirteen presents the riders with some interesting challenges.

Stage Fourteen:

COLMAR - BESANÇON, 199 km.

With the Alps looming, Stage fourteen is the last opportunity for the sprinters to show their speed.

Stage Fifteen:

PONTARLIER - VERBIER, 207.5 km.

This is where the race for the podium really starts, 207.5km and a mountain top finish will thin out the pretenders.

Stage Sixteen:

MARTIGNY - BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE , 159 km.

With a rest day and a tough stage fifteen behind them, the climbers face new challenges on the Col du Saint-Bernard.

Stage Seventeen:

BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE - LE GRAND-BORNAND, 169.5 km.

With five mountain passes in 169.5km there will be no let up for the challengers for the Polka Dot jersey.

Stage Eighteen:

ANNECY - ANNECY, 40.5 km (ind. Time trial).

Usually the penultimate stage of the Tour, the individual time-trial at Annency will show who's strongest late in the race.

Stage Nineteen:

BOURGOIN-JALLIEU - AUBENAS, 178 km.

The peloton will enter stage nineteen with tired legs which makes this a perfect day for a successful breakaway.

Stage Twenty:

MONTÉLIMAR - MONT VENTOUX, 167 km.

The wild card of the 2009 Tour de France presents itself on Mount Ventoux, the yellow jersey will not be able to rest on this legendary climb.

Stage Twenty-one:

MONTEREAU-FAULT-YONNE - PARIS CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES, 164 km.

A procession finished off with a final burst of speed, the Champs-Élysées is the most spectacular finish of any race.