A rarely used Pyrenean climb
has been included in the 2007 Tour de France route which has been unveiled by
race director Chistian Prudhomme.
Tour de France director Christian
Prudhomme (R) and London's Mayor Ken Livingstone shake hands. [AFP]
|
The July 7 to 29, 3,547km, 20-stage race, which starts
in London, takes a clockwise route around the country and includes a summit
finish at Aubisque, one of the mythical climbs in the mountains which straddle
France and Spain, it was announced Thursday.
The Aubisque climb -- in the July 25, 16th stage -- has only once been used
in the more than 100-year history of the world's most famous cycling race, back
in 1985.
Other highlights include summit finishes at Tignes and Plateau de Beille,
plus time trials at Albi and Angouleme.
Stages
July 7: Prologue in London, 8km (individual time trial)
July 8: 1st stage London to Canterbury, England, 203km
July 9: 2nd stage Dunkirk to Ghent, Belgium, 167km
July 10: 3rd stage Waregem, Belgium to Compiegne, France, 236km
July 11: 4th stage Villers-Cotterets to Joigny, 190km
July 12: 5th stage Chablis to Autun, 184km
July 13: 6th stage Semur-en-Auxois to Bourg-en-Bresse, 200km
July 14: 7th stage Bourg-en-Bresse to Le Grand-Bornand, 197km
July 15: 8th stage Le Grand-Bornand to Tignes, 165km
July 16: rest day
July 17: 9th stage Val d'Isere to Briancon, 161km
July 18: 10th stage Tallard to Marseille, 229km
July 19: 11th stage Marseille to Montpellier, 180km
July 20: 12th stage Montpellier to Castres, 179km
July 21: 13th stage Albi to Albi, 54km (individual time trial)
July 22: 14th stage Mazamet to Plateau de Beille, 197km
July 23: 15th stage Foix to Loudenvielle-Le Louron, 196km
July 24: rest day
July 25: 16th stage Orthez to Aubisque, 218km
July 26: 17th stage Pau to Castelsarrasin, 188km
July 27: 18th stage Cahors to Angouleme, 210km
July 28: 19th stage Cognac to Angouleme, 55km (individual time trial)
July 29: 20th stage Marcoussis to Paris Champs-Elysees, 130km
