The focus of the 2010 Tour de France route will be the celebration of 100 years since the Pyrenees were first included, but in particular the Col du Tourmalet. The Pyreneen climb, which has featured in the Tour more than any other climb will undoubtedly be the centre of attention for the riders and fans alike.
Like last year, the route will first take the riders through the Alps and then into the Pyrenees for what, on paper at least, should set the race up for a thrilling climax, with the Col du Tourmalet (at 2,115m is the highest road in the central Pyrenees) featuring not once, but twice!
The Tourmalet was first picked by the Tour de France organisers in 1910. In that year the first rider over the top, and who went on to claim the yellow jersey, was Frenchman Octave Lapize. Stage 15 will retrace the stage used in 1947, starting in Bagnères-de-Luchon, including an ascent of the Col de Aubisque, and finishing in Pau for the first rest day.
The next day opens with the Col de Marie Blanque before heading back towards the Tourmalet for a mountain top finish. The Etape du Tour will follow this stage on the 18 July.
Racing will start in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the fifth time the country has hosted the start of the race, on Saturday 3 July 2010. The Prologue will be an 8km individual time-trial. Stage 1 will begin in Rotterdam and cross the border halfway through the stage, passing through Flanders in Belgium. Stage two and three will stay in Belgium, paying homage to the spring classics, with several sections of cobbles (13km in total) to be included.
More detailed route information soon...
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