Much later than usual, A.S.O., the organisor of the Tour de France, published the detailed routes and timings of the Tour de France 2009 last Wednesday.

Since I always try to provide you with that little bit of extra information compared to what you can find elsewhere online, it took me some more time but now you can discover not only the detailed routes and timings which list all towns and cities the Tour de France stages visit, but also maps of each of the stages in Google Maps with the possibility to download the full route in Google Earth. If you would like to do a virtual fly-over of the stages' routes, you'll find what you're looking for at the end of this article!

The publication of the detailed routes

Usually the detailed routes of the Tour de France stages are published in 3 times starting from mid March (around Paris-Nice). This year, the organisor of the Tour de France (A.S.O. for Amaury Sport Organisation) waited until exactly one month before the start from Monaco to publish this information on its website.

Thanks to one of the readers of this blog I was able to get access to the detailed routes since a few days and I was thus able to prepare the maps on Google Maps for the first stages. The following stages will become are now also available in the upcoming days ... also because I will need it for my work on the Tour de France this year. In about one week I will tell you a bit more about that new job!

first stage - Saturday 4 July 2009 - Monaco > Monaco - individual time trial - 15,5 km

Since 1954 and the start from Amsterdam in The Netherlands, the Tour doesn't limit its Grands Départs to France only. The one we still all remember is the start from London in 2007, but in 2009 Monaco will be the place to be for the Grand Départ.

For Monaco the Tour is not new since it will be the 7th time it'll be there in 2009. However, they have never before organised the Grand Départ. Also, it's been some time they've seen the Tour in Monaco, since the 6 times it has seen a stage finish were especially in the 50s and 60s with 1964 and 1955 a stage finish coming from Briançon (plus a start towards Hyères in 1964 and towards Marseille in 1955), 1953 coming from Marseille (plus a start towards Gap), 1952 coming from Sestrières (plus a start towards Aix-en-Provence) and 1939 with a stage coming from Saint-Raphaël and a Monaco > Monaco stage (plus a start towards Digne-les-Bains).

The Grand Départ's programme will be as follows:

> Wednesday 1st of July 2009 at 2.30PM - the Permanence and Press room will open their doors
The Permanence and the Press room will be installed in the Grimaldi Forum (10 Avenue Princesse Grace) close to the last kilometer arch on the track of the first stage.

> Thursday 2 July 2009 - Team presentations
All teams, their staff and the riders, will be presented in the city of Monaco on Thursday 2 July.

> Saturday 4 July 2009 - The prologue: 15,5 km individual time trial around Monaco
The stage will start in the Principality on the Boulevard Albert 1er and the track will partly follow the circuit of the Grand Prix Formula 1: after a calm start with 150 plane meters the riders will have to climb for about 7 kilometers ... they'll start with a 500 meter hill in which they will climb 30 meters higher (6%) before they arrive on a short flat part of about 200 meters while passing by the Casino of Monaco.
Once they left the Formula 1 circuit there will be an even heavier bit of about 400 meters with at the end of it a part at 10% before they arrive at a part with many hidden gradients on the boulevard Princesse Charlotte and the boulevard du Jardin Exotique. Then, the Tour de France will finally get on French territory just after they passed by the Monaco hospital and the riders will arrive on the Moyenne Corniche.
On this Moyenne Corniche they will get to the highest point of this stage: with a little bit less than 8 kilometers to go they will be at 207 meters high and they will start a long descent. At the end of this descent they will have to pay attention because while they're in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin they will have to make a complete U-turn to go back to Monaco. They will first see a plane part until the Saint-Roman intersection before they continue their descent at kilometer 11,5. At the end of this descent they again have to pay attention to some new bends, this time two hairpins close to the sea (we will probably get to see some nice images there!!), before they continue the race for the last 2,5 plane kilometers on Monaco's territory while riding along the Mediterranean sea and passing by the Grimaldi Forum. The Grimaldi Forum not only was the place where this Grand Départ was presented yesterday but early July 2009 it will also be the place where journalists and the Tour followers (advertising caravan, official partners and organisation) will see each other again 11 months after the end of the Tour de France 2008, because this will be the Permanence d'accueil and the Salle de Presse.

At kilometer 13,8 the riders will get back on the Formula 1 circuit at the carrefour du Portier just before they go in a 110 meter tunnel to get on the Quai des Etats-Unis which will take them back to the harbour where they'll find the finish line on the route de la Piscine close to the nautic harbour Rainier III.

The track is quite tortuous and hilly and the general ranking will probably show big gaps from the first day on.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the first stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the first stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climb : Côte de Beausoleil (4ème)
> visited departments : (Monaco), Alpes-Maritimes (06)

second stage - Sunday 5 July 2009 - Monaco > Brignoles - plain - 187 km

The virtual start will be in the Monaco harbour and the first kilometers of the track will again follow the Grand Prix Formula 1 circuit while passing by the Casino in Monaco in the other direction as the day before. The riders will then arrive at the Saint-Roman intersection where they'll leave Monaco on the east side. On Roquebrune-Cap-Martin's territory they will take the same hairpin bends as the day before (but still the other way around) and there where during the prologue they had to take the complete U-turn to go back to Monaco, at kilometer 4, the real start of this stage is planned.
187 kilometers further, the riders will arrive in the city of Brignoles in the Var which has never been visited by the Tour de France before.

This stage will go along the coast and despite the fact that this is a hilly stage with 4 small climbs, it will probably be the first occasion for sprinters to show who's the quickest to win this first stage in line.
The sprinters will also seize the occasion to grab some points for the green jersey at the first sprint of this stage which will be at the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, the place where the Race to the sun (Paris-Nice) usually finishes.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the second stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the second stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : La Turbie (3ème), Côte de Roquefort-les-Pins (4ème), Côte de Tournon (4ème), Col de l'Ange (4ème)
> intermediate sprints : Nice, Fayence, Lorgues
> feeding zone : Garron
> visited departments : (Monaco), Alpes-Maritimes (06), Var (83)

third stage - Monday 6 July 2009 - Marseille > La Grande-Motte - plain - 196,5 km

The third stage will still be close to the sea to connect Marseille to the seaside resort La Grande-Motte in the Hérault. Marseille, European capital of culture in 2013, and its Vieux-Port could offer a magnificent place for a beautiful start and La Grande-Motte's harbour could be a beautiful place for the finish of this stage.

The sprinters who would like to win this 196,5 kilometer stage which will visit Baux de Provence, will have to manage with the wind which will probably have a big influence on the results of this stage.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the third stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the third stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte de Calissanne (4ème), Col de la Vayède (4ème)
> intermediate sprints : La Fare-Les Oliviers, Mouriès, Arles
> feeding zone : Paradou
> visited departments : Bouches-du-Rhône (13), Gard (30), Hérault (34)

fourth stage - Tuesday 7 July 2009 - Montpellier > Montpellier - team time trial - 39 km

Not far from La Grande-Motte the next day's stage will be organised following a concept which had disappeared from the Tour de France since 5 July 2005: as a team time trial. In 2005 it was also the fourth stage which was run between Tours and Blois, in 2009 it will be a 38 kilometer stage which will start at the Place de la Comédie and finish in front of the rugby stadium Yves-du-Manoir in Montpellier.
The Tour thus makes its comeback in the city where the sun never sets after its last visit in 2007 (Marseille > Montpellier and Montpellier > Castres) and this stage will also be the Etape du Coeur, a stage organised to collect money for the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque association.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the fourth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the fourth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> visited departments : Hérault (34)

fifth stage - Wednesday 8 July 2009 - Le Cap d'Agde > Perpignan - plain - 196,5 km

The start of the fifth stage will still be in Hérault, from Cap d'Agde, the seaside city will thus organise a second stage start after the 14th stage in 2005 and the finish of the 12th stage in 1998.
After having followed the coast line, the riders will finish in the Pyrénées-Orientales, in Perpignan, which will be visited for the first time since 2001 and where the finish line will be drawn on the Place de Catalogne.

A new opportunity for the sprinters to see who's the fastest, but they'll have to pay attention to the wind since they'll follow the coast line!

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the fifth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the fifth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Col de Feuilla (4ème), Côte de Treilles (4ème)
> intermediate sprints : Capestang, Saint-Jean-de-Barrou, Canet-en-Roussillon
> feeding zone : Thézan-des-Corbières
> visited departments : Hérault (34), Aude (11), Pyrénées-Orientales (66)

sixth stage - Thursday 9 July 2009 - Girona > Barcelona - plain - 181,5 km

The riders will leave France to stop in Spain for the first time since 2006 and the finish at Val d'Aran-Pla de Beret (in 2007 the Tour made a short visit to Spain during the Orthez > Loudenvielle - Le Louron stage but didn't stop there).

The stage will bring the riders from Girona, which has never been visited before, to Barcelona in 181,5 kilometers.

The Tour didn't stop in Barcelona anymore since 1965 and the finish line of this stage will be drawn close to the Olympic Stadium after the climb of the Montjuic.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the sixth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the sixth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte de Sant Feliu de Guixols (4ème), Côte de Tossa de Mar (4ème), Côte de Sant Vicenc de Montalt (3ème), Collsacreu (3ème), Côte de la Conreria (4ème)
> intermediate sprints : Lloret de Mar, Sant Pol de Mar, Cardedeu
> feeding zone : Can Villa (entre Sant Pol de Mar et Canet de Mar)
> visited departments : Espagne - Province de Catalogne

seventh stage - Friday 10 July 2009 - Barcelona > Andorre Arcalis - high mountains - 224 km

The 7th stage of this Tour de France will bring us to the early arrival of the mountains. After the start from Barcelona, the riders will have to climb two mountains during this 224 kilometer stage: the Port d'Oliana and the final climb to Arcalis in Andorra (out of category, 10 kilometers at 7,1% on average). The ski resort Ordino-Arcalis organised the last stage finish at the Tour de France 1997.

This will thus be the first stage where the climbers can show what they're capable of since the mountain top finish will probably make a good selection in the group of riders who can pretend winning this stage.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the seventh stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the seventh stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte de Montserrat (4ème), Port de Solsona (3ème), Col de Serra-Seca (1er), Port del Comte (3ème), Arcalis (hors catégorie)
> intermediate sprints : Solsona, Andorre-la-Vieille, La Cortinada
> feeding zone : Solsona
> visited departments : Espagne - Province de Catalogne, Province de Lerida, Andorra

eighth stage - Saturday 11 July 2009 - Andorre-la-Vieille > Saint-Girons - high mountains - 176,5 km

The capital city of Andorra, Andorra-la-Vella, will be the place where the stage starts on Saturday 11 July, also after having received its last stage start in the Tour de France 1997.

This stage will be relatively short (176,5 kilometers) but during this stage the riders will have to climb the Port d'Envalira to leave Andorra, followed by the Col de Port and Col d'Agnès (which was also part of the Tour de l'Avenir in September) before arriving in the place where this stage will finish, Saint-Girons in the Ariège. Saint-Girons organised several stage starts already but in 2009 the Tour will for the first time finish in this city.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the eighth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the eighth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Port d'Envalira (1er), Col de Port (2ème), Col d'Agnès (1er)
> intermediate sprints : Luzenac, Tarascon-sur-Ariège, Vic d'Oust
> feeding zone : Tarascon-sur-Ariège
> visited departments : Andorra, Pyrénées Orientales (66), Ariège (09)

nineth stage - Sunday 12 July 2009 - Saint-Gaudens > Tarbes - high mountains - 160,5 km

Tarbes, in the Hautes-Pyrénées, has organised several stage finishes already and will organise a new one in 2009. For this nineth stage the riders will ride 160,5 kilometers from Saint-Gaudens (Haute-Garonne). For Saint-Gaudens it will be the 12th it will receive the Tour de France, the first time was in 1950 while it has already been 10 years now when the city will receive the Tour in 2009.

Two classical mountains will be part of this stage: the Col d'Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the nineth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the nineth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Col d'Aspin (1er), Col du Tourmalet (hors catégorie)
> intermediate sprints : Sarrancolin, Lau-Balagnas, Lourdes
> feeding zone : Sainte-Marie-de-Campan
> visited departments : Haute Garonne (31), Hautes-Pyrénées (65)

tenth stage - Tuesday 14 July 2009 - Limoges > Issoudun - plain - 194,5 km

The last time the Tour visited Limoges was in 2004 for the start of the 10th stage towards Saint-Flour. In 2009, the stage which starts here will go north for a 194,5 kilometer flat stage to Issoudun (Indre). Issoudun has never received the Tour de France before.

On this national holiday in France the sprinters will get a new chance to win a stage ... if they manage to control any break-aways which will probably try to grab the stage win as well.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the tenth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the tenth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte de Salvanet (4ème), Côte de Saint-Laurent-les-Eglises (4ème), Côte de Bénévent-l'Abbaye (4ème)
> intermediate sprints : Laurière, Aigurande, Saint-Août
> feeding zone : Glenic
> visited departments : Haute-Vienne (87), Creuse (23), Indre (36)

eleventh stage - Wednesday 15 July 2009 - Vatan > Saint-Fargeau - plain - 192 km

Another flat stage going even more north. The start will be in Vatan in the Indre at about 20 kilometers from the previous stage's finish line. Vatan has never received the Tour de France either, neither has Saint-Fargeau.

During this flat stage the rider who wears the green jersey will probably work hard to keep his distinctive jersey and maybe even win the stage in a sprint.
With 1800 residents in Saint-Fargeau and 2000 in Vatan this stage is run between the smallest cities of this Tour de France.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the eleventh stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the eleventh stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte d'Allogny (4ème), Côte de Perreuse (4ème)
> intermediate sprints : Quincy, Saint-Céols, Suilly-la-Tour
> feeding zone : Saint-Bouize
> visited departments : Indre (36), Cher (18), Nièvre (58), Yonne (89)

twelfth stage - Thursday 16 July 2009 - Tonnerre > Vittel - plain - 211,5 km

On Thursday 16 July there will yet again be a city which has never been visited by the Tour de France before since the stage start will be in Tonnerre (Yonne). The finish line will be drawn in Vittel for which it's not the first time the Tour makes a stop: the last time was in 1990 for a stage finish and start.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the twelfth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the twelfth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte de Baon (4ème), Côte de Gye-sur-Seine (4ème), Côte d'Essoyes (4ème), Côte des Grands-Bois (4ème), Côte de Morlaix (4ème), Côte de Bourmont (3ème)
> intermediate sprints : Channes, Longchamp-sur-Aujon, Saint-Thiebault
> feeding zone : Juzennecourt
> visited departments : Yonne (89), Aube (10), Haute-Marne (52), Vosges (88)

thirteenth stage - Friday 17 July 2009 - Vittel > Colmar - middle mountains - 200 km

19 years after having received the Tour for the last time Vittel will again organise a stage finish and start in 2009 since this day's stage will also start in the city of the official Tour de France water supplier. This time the riders will leave Vittel for a 200 kilometer stage to Colmar where Laurent Jalabert will see from his France Télévisions motor who will be his successor as a stage winner in Colmar (the last stage finish in Colmar was in 2001 when Jaja won the Strasbourg > Colmar stage).

During this stage the riders will have to climb the Col de la Schlucht (like in 2005 before the finish in Gérardmer), the Col du Platzerwasel and the Col du Firstplan, some of which were also part of the Etape de Légende organised in 2007 and where the same Laurent Jalabert finished third (this stage was originally part of the 1967 Tour de France).

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the thirteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the thirteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte de Xertigny (3ème), Col de la Schlucht (2ème), Col du Platzerwasel (1er), Col du Bannstein (3ème), Col du Firstplan (2ème)
> intermediate sprints : Xertigny, Gerardmer, Luttenbach
> feeding zone : Xonrupt-Longemer
> visited departments : Vosges (88), Haut-Rhin (68)

fourteenth stage - Saturday 18 July 2009 - Colmar > Besançon - plain - 199 km

The historical center of the birth place of the designer of the Statue of Liberty in New York will be the place where the stage starts on Saturday 18 July. From Colmar the riders will do 199 kilometers before passing the finish line which will be drawn in Besançon in the Doubs. The Tour will visit Besançon for the first time since 5 years and the time trial around the city which was won by Lance Armstrong.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the fourteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the fourteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte de Lebetain (3ème), Côte de Blamont (3ème)
> intermediate sprints : Pulversheim, Dannemarie, Baume-les-Dames
> feeding zone : Delle
> visited departments : Haut-Rhin (68), Territoire de Belfort (90), Doubs (25)

fifteenth stage - Sunday 19 July 2009 - Pontarlier > Verbier - high mountains - 207,5 km

A little bit more south, the start will be in Pontarlier for a 207,5 kilometer stage passing, after having crossed the French/Swiss border, the Col de Mosses and the climb to Verbier which has never before been part of the Tour but which has already been part of the Tour of Switzerland.
The last time the Tour de France stopped in the Valais canton of Switzerland was exactly 25 years before this stage on 19 July 2009, at that time in the ski resort Crans-Montana on 19 July 1984. This time it will be up to another ski resort, Verbier, to receive the Tour de France. This resort will thus become Tour de France finish city for the first time.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the fifteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the fifteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte du Rafour (3ème), Col des Etroits (3ème), Côte de La Carrière (3ème), Côte de Prévonloup (3ème), Col des Mosses (2ème), Verbier (1er)
> intermediate sprints : Thierrens, Martigny
> feeding zone : Epagny
> visited departments : Doubs (25), Suisse - Canton de Vaud, Canton de Fribourg, Canton du Valais

sixteenth stage - Tuesday 21 July 2009 - Martigny > Bourg-Saint-Maurice - high mountains - 159 km

After the well-deserved second rest day in Verbier, the Tour will continue with some new high mountains stages.

The last time the Tour was in Switzerland was in 2000, but Martigny has never before been visited by the Tour de France. The riders will leave Martigny for a 159 kilometer mountain stage to Bourg-Saint-Maurice in Savoie.

During this stage they'll have to climb the Col de Grand Saint-Bernard, 30 kilometers leading to the roof top (highest point) of the Tour de France 2009 and followed by the Col de Petit Saint-Bernard and a short trip in Italy.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the sixteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the sixteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard (hors catégorie), Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard (1er)
> intermediate sprints : Sarre, Pré-Saint-Didier
> feeding zone : Saint-Pierre
> visited departments : Switzerland - Canton du Valais, Province du Val d'Aoste, Savoie (73)

seventeenth stage - Wednesday 22 July 2009 - Bourg-Saint-Maurice > Le Grand-Bornand - high mountains - 169,5 km

Like in 1996, this stage will start at the foot of the climb towards the ski resort Les Arcs, in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. In 2009 this stage will take the riders over the Cormet de Roselend which was last part of the Tour de France in 2007, the Col des Saisies, the Côte d'Arâches, the Col de Romme and the Col de la Colombière towards Le Grand-Bornand where the last stage finish was organised in 2007 under a beautiful sunny sky. In 2009, the Grand Bo will probably again do its very best to receive the Tour de France caravan in good conditions.

This 169,5 kilometer stage is made for climbers and is probably one of Alberto Contador's favourites.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the seventeenth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the seventeenth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Cormet de Roselend (1er), Col des Saisies (1er), Col de Romme (1er), Col de la Colombière (1er)
> intermediate sprints : Praz-sur-Arly, Cluses
> feeding zone : Oex (Magland)
> visited departments : Savoie (73), Haute-Savoie (74)

eighteenth stage - Thursday 23 July 2009 - Annecy > Annecy - individual time trial - 40,5 km

On Thursday 23 July, at 3 days from the finish in Paris, it's time for the last individual time trial of the 2009 Tour de France!
Usually planned on the last day of the Tour de France, its organiser has opted for an original approach in 2009 by putting it three days before the end. This time trial will therefore probably not be as important as previous years but it will probably lead to some adjustments in the general ranking.

The track around the lake of Annecy will probably not be the ideal one for all time trial specialists since it has a flat start followed by the climb of the du Col de Buffy, but they will probably be among the first in the stage ranking anyway in the city which also is a candidate for organising the Winter Olympic Games in 2018. Annecy hasn't been visited by the Tour since 1959 and the people from Annecy probably impatiently wait for it to come back for the first time in 50 years!

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte de Bluffy (3ème)
> feeding zone : Talloires
> visited departments : Haute-Savoie (74)

nineteenth stage - Friday 24 July 2009 - Bourgoin-Jallieu > Aubenas - plain - 178 km

This stage will start in a city in the Isère department where the Tour didn't stop since 1962, Bourgoin-Jallieu. From this city not far from Lyon the riders will do 178 kilometers going over the Escrinet to arrive in Ardèche, in Aubenas where the Tour's last visit was in 1966.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte de Culin (4ème), Côte de la forêt de Chambarans (4ème), Col de l'Escrinet (2ème)
> intermediate sprints : Le Rival, Saint-Julien-en-Alban
> feeding zone : Bourg-de-Péage
> visited departments : Isère (38), Drôme (26), Ardèche (07)

twentieth stage - Saturday 25 July 2009 - Montélimar > Le Mont Ventoux - high mountains - 167 km

Usually this is the day of the o-so-important individual time trial, but in 2009 it will be the day of the o-so-important mountain stage! The Tour didn't visit the Giant of Provence since 2002 when Richard Virenque won on top of the Bald Mountain and will see a first in 2009 by putting it the day before the finish on the Champs-Elysées!

After the start from Montélimar, this stage, which will also be L'Etape du Tour on Monday 20 July, is again made for the climbers with its 167 kilometers of which 21 kilometers at 7,6% of the final climb of the Mont Ventoux.

L'Etape du Tour is a amateur race organised by A.S.O. in the same conditions as the Tour de France in which amateur riders can participate in one of the Tour de France stages a few days before the professional riders pass.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the twentieth stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the twentieth stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> climbs : Côte de Citelle (3ème), Col d'Ey (3ème), Col de Fontaube (4ème), Col des Abeilles (3ème), Mont Ventoux (hors catégorie)
> intermediate sprints : Les Pilles, Mormoiron
> feeding zone : Eygaliers
> visited departments : Drôme (26), Vaucluse (84)

21st stage - Sunday 26 July 2009 - Montereau-Fault-Yonne > Paris - Champs-Elysées - plain - 164 km

Montereau-Fault-Yonne has already been the start city of the very last Tour de France stage twice, in 1977 (at that time still going to Versailles) and in 2004 towards the Champs-Elysées in Paris. In 2009 this will again be the case and the riders will probably use the 160 kilometers to share a glass of champagne and to joke with the camera!

New in this stage is the final circuit towards the Champs Elysées since it will pass through the Bois de Vincennes before entering Paris through the Marais, the Rue de Rivoli and finally the usual 8 rounds on the Champs Elysées.

> Click here to see the detailed route and times of the 21st stage of the Tour de France 2009
> Click here to view a map of the 21st stage of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps (in Internet Explorer you might have to move the map slightly since it might show up in the upper left corner)

> intermediate sprints : Hauts des Champs Elysées
> feeding zone : Saint-Maurice
> visited departments : Seine-et-Marne (77), Seine-Saint-Denis (93), Val-de-Marne (94), Paris (75)

The full route of all stages of the Tour de France 2009 on Google Maps and in Google Earth

You've been able to discover all stages of this 96th edition of the Tour de France above. Below you'll find a Google Maps map which shows all stages and their full route.

Do you prefer to see the route in Google Earth and virtually fly over the stages? Download the full route of the Tour de France 2009 in Google Earth.

door Thomas Vergouwen
Vond u dit artikel interessant? Laat het uw vrienden op Facebook weten door op de buttons hieronder te klikken!

22 comments | 113317 views

this publication is published in: Tour de France | Tour de France 2009 | OpenStreetMap/Google Maps/Google Earth

Leave a comment

Your name
*
Your e-mail address
*
[this will never be published and is only used to allow me to contact you if necessary and potentially to receive notifications of new comments]
Be informed about new comments
Check this box if you want to receive an e-mail when new comments are posted to this article (please make sure your e-mail address above is correct to make sure you'll receive those notifications!)
Your comment


Attention!! In order to fight spam you need to answer the simple question below. The answer needs to be given as a number between 2 and 100. If your answer is not correct the other input in this form will be ignored.

What is the result of seven plus one ?


Publish reply