Tour de France - 2012

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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.

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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.

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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