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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
|
