Ah Le Tour

Today is the beginning of Le Tour De France. It runs from Saturday July 5^th to Sunday July 27^th 2008, being the 95^th Tour de France with 21 stages, covering a total distance of 3,500 kilometres.

There's something about Le Tour that draws me in, every year. I love watching it just as many European football fans love watching their football.

This is a different race entirely this year. There's more biking in Italy, 2 timed stages and a counter clockwise route. Lovely... I'll be trying to follow along as much as possible in what should turn out to be a very different year.

Interesting Facts

These 21 stages have:

• 10 flat stages,
• 5 mountain stages,
• 4 medium mountain stages,
• 2 individual time-trial stages.

10 new stop-over towns

Auray, Aigurande, Brioude, Prato Nevoso (Italy), Cuneo (Italy), Jausiers, Embrun, Roanne, Cérilly, Étampes.

Very cool!!!