Running from Saturday July 4 to Sunday July 26 2009, the 96th Tour de France will comprise 21 stages, covering a total distance of 3,500 kilometres.
The 21 stages include the following profiles:
- 10 flat stages,
- 7 mountain stages,
- 1 medium mountain stage,
- 2 individual time-trial stages,
- 1 team time-trial stage,
- 3 mountain finishes,
- 2 rest days,
- 55 kilometres of individual time-trials,
- 20 Category 1, Category 2 and highest level passes will be climbed.
And for the first time in the history of the event, there will be a mountain stage on the penultimate day, before the finish in Paris. The 20th stage will feature a finish atop the mythical and feared Mont Ventoux!
Check out the full parcours on the official TdF site, and you can see the teams roster as reported on cyclingnews.com.
The Tour will be shown live on SBS, with all stages to be shown on SBSTWO and selected stages available on SBSONE. SBS will also be showing their highlights programs at 7:15am and 6:00pm on SBSONE each day following that night's stage.
Make sure you've got your digital set-top box or digital TV ready and PVR ready to record each stage so you can keep up the training on the rollers or windtrainer in front of the screen for the next 3 weeks while you cheer on your favourites!
