Saturday, June 30, 2012

Tour de France - 2012


(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

Since I began writing on this blog, I have learned so many wonderful and interesting facts.  Today is no exception.  Today is the start of the Tour de France.  I am not that big into sports, I do know enough to fake my way through a cocktail party.  For example, I know that the Tour de France involves bike riding in France, and Lance Armstrong, a competitor from the United States, has won the most times in history for a record 7 times.  If the conversation goes beyond that, then I am at a loss.  Well I should say was at a loss, because I have done some more research on the subject and have found some more interesting facts.

(Google Image) 
Did you know that the competition began in 1903 and it takes 23 days?  It will begin today in Liege, Belgian and will end in Paris on July 22.  In fact, it always ends in Paris. This marks the 99th time the tour has been held.  There was no race during World War I and II.

(Google Image) 

There are 18 teams that have been invited to participate.
The race is 2173 miles, and has 20 different stages.
For more information about the Tour de France, or if you would like to find where to watch, or purchase merchandise, click on this site:  http://www.letour.fr/us/index.html

I think I will pull out my bike and start training for the next competition, or at least make it around the block!

THE STAGES
Stage
Type
Date
Start and Finish
Distance
P
Prologue
Saturday 30 June
Liège > Liège
6.4 km
1
Plain
Sunday 1 July
Liège > Seraing
198 km
2
Plain
Monday 2 July
Visé > Tournai
207.5 km
3
Medium mountains
Tuesday 3 July
Orchies > Boulogne-sur-Mer
197 km
4
Plain
Wednesday 4 July
Abbeville > Rouen
214.5 km
5
Plain
Thursday 5 July
Rouen > Saint-Quentin
196.5 km
6
Plain
Friday 6 July
Épernay > Metz
207.5 km
7
Medium mountains
Saturday 7 July
Tomblaine > La Planche des Belles Filles
199 km
8
Medium mountains
Sunday 8 July
Belfort > Porrentruy
157.5 km
9
Individual time-trial
Monday 9 July
Arc-et-Senans > Besançon
41.5 km
R
Rest Day
Tuesday 10 July
Repos

10
High Mountains
Wednesday 11 July
Mâcon > Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
194.5 km
11
High Mountains
Thursday 12 July
Albertville > La Toussuire - Les Sybelles
148 km
12
Medium mountains
Friday 13 July
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > Annonay Davézieux
226 km
13
Plain
Saturday 14 July
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Le Cap d’Agde
217 km
14
High Mountains
Sunday 15 July
Limoux > Foix
191 km
15
Plain
Monday 16 July
Samatan > Pau
158.5 km
R
Rest Day
Tuesday 17 July
Repos

16
High Mountains
Wednesday 18 July
Pau > Bagnères-de-Luchon
197 km
17
High Mountains
Thursday 19 July
Bagnères-de-Luchon > Peyragudes
143.5 km
18
Plain
Friday 20 July
Blagnac > Brive-la-Gaillarde
222.5 km
19
Individual time-trial
Saturday 21 July
Bonneval > Chartres
53.5 km
20
Plain
Sunday 22 July
Rambouillet > Paris Champs-Élysées
120 km

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