The route from London to Paris will be 2,201 miles long for bicycle racers in the 2007 Tour de France, scheduled for Saturday, July 7, through Sunday, July 29.
Along the way, the peloton will pass through Belgium and take a clockwise tour of France. Cyclists will climb 21 mountain passes — including three mountaintop finishes — in the Alps (first) and then the Pyrenees. In all six mountain stages are routed, one more than the usual five.
The Tour organizers have saved the best for last, well, next to last. The penultimate stage is a 34-mile time trial between Cognac and Angouleme, described as a route with some straight stretches and slight inclines.
The Amaury Sports Organization presented the 2007 Tour de France on Thursday. In a nutshell, the route features 11 flat stages, six mountain stages (three mountaintop finishes), one medium mountain stage, and two individual time trials in addition to the opening prologue in London.
The mountains
The peloton is introduced to the first mountain stage on July 14, Stage 7. It's a 122-mile ride from Bourg-en-Bresse to Le-Grand-Bornand featuring four climbs, including the Col de la Colombière.
The second mountain stage, Le-Grand-Bornand to Tignes, comes the next day on July 15, Stage 8. It's a 102-mile stage crossing five mountains and ending atop Le Lac.
On July 17, after a day's rest, the peloton faces a 100-mile mountain stage between Val-d’Isère and Briançon. The mountains that day include Col de Telegraphe and Col du Galibier.
The peloton is introduced to the Pyrenees on July 22, Stage 14, with a 122-mile ride from Mazamet to Plateau de Beille, a mountaintop finish. The next day brings a 121-mile slog from over five mountains between Foix and Loudenvielle, including Col de Portet d'Aspet and Col de Peyresourde. (Foix – Loudenvielle is this year's L'Etape du Tour for amateur cyclists..)
The cyclists will battle on the final mountain stage on July 25, Stage 16, on the ride between Orthez and Gourette, which features four mountains, including the final climb up the Col d'Ausbisque.
London opening
For the first time ever, the Tour visits London. The prologue begins near Trafalgar Square and finishes at The Mall. The next day the peloton rides through Kent to Canterbury.
The Tour crosses over to Belgium for Stage 2, and crosses over into France on Stage 3.
Prologue Saturday 7 July
London – London (8 km)
Stage 1 Sunday 8 July
Londres to Canterbury (203 km)
Stage 2 Monday 9 July
Dunkerque to Gand (167 km)
Stage 3 Tuesday 10 July
Waregem to Compiègne (236 km)
Stage 4 Wednesday 11 July
Villers-Cotterêts to Joigny (190 km)
Stage 5 Thursday 12 July
Chablis to Autun (184 km)
Stage 6 Friday 13 July
Semur-en-Auxois to Bourg-en-Bresse (200 km)
Stage 7 Saturday 14 July
Bourg-en-Bresse to Le-Grand-Bornand (197 km)
Stage 8 Sunday 15 July
Le-Grand-Bornand to Tignes (165 km)
Rest Day No.1 Monday 16 July
Tignes
Stage 9 Tuesday 17 July
Val-d'Isère to Briançon (161 km)
Stage 10 Wednesday 18 July
Tallard to Marseille (229 km)
Stage 11 Thursday 19 July
Marseille to Montpellier (180 km)
Stage 12 Friday 20 July
Montpellier to Castres (179 km)
Stage 13 Saturday 21 July
Individual Time Trial – Albi to Albi (54 km)
Stage 14 Sunday 22 July
Mazamet to Plateau-de-Beille (197 km)
Stage 15 Monday 23 July
Foix to Loudenvielle – Le Louron (196 km)
Rest Day No. 2 Tuesday 24 July
Pau
Stage 16 Wednesday 25 July
Orthez to Gourette – Col d'Aubisque (218 km)
Stage 17 Thursday 26 July
Pau to Castelsarrasin (188 km)
Stage 18 Friday 27 July
Cahors to Angoulême (210 km)
Stage 19 Saturday 28 July
Individual Time Trial – Cognac to Angoulême (55 km)
Stage 20 Sunday 29 July
Marcoussis to Paris Champs-Élysées (130 km)
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