It's almost like the September push toward Christmas, but at least the Tour does not cost you an arm and a leg.
On the 22 October the route was unveiled by Tour Race director Christian Prudhomme and Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The 96th edition of the Grand Tour will depart from Monaco on 4 July 2009 with a 15km Individual Timetrial.
The general concensus is that '09 route is an extremely challenging route, with the biggest climb being the monster Mont Ventoux.
Both Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador said it was a "very interesting route".
For me, one the highlights of the tour will definately be the return of the Team Timetrial on July 7: Stage 4 from Montpellier back to Montpellier covering 38km.
Here is a breakdown of all the stages, towns and how far each stage is.
July 4: Stage 1: Monaco - Monaco (ITT) - 15km
July 5: Stage 2: Monaco - Brignoles - 182km
July 6: Stage 3: Marseille - La Grande-Motte - 196km
July 7: Stage 4: Montpellier - Montpellier (TTT) - 38km
July 8: Stage 5: Le Cap d'Agde - Perpignan -197km
July 9: Stage 6: Gérone - Barcelone -175km
July 10: Stage 7: Barcelone - Andorre Arcalis -224km
July 11: Stage 8: Andorre-la-Vieille - Saint-Girons -176km
July 12: Stage 9: Saint-Gaudens - Tarbes - 160km
July 13: Rest day: Limoges
July 14: Stage 10: Limoges - Issoudun -193km
July 15: Stage 11: Vatan - Saint-Fargeau -192km
July 16: Stage 12: Tonnerre - Vittel -200km
July 17: Stage 13: Vittel - Colmar -200km
July 18: Stage 14: Colmar - Besançon -199km
July 19: Stage 15: Pontarlier - Verbier -207km
July 20: Rest day: Verbier
July 21: Stage 16: Martigny - Bourg-Saint-Maurice -160km
July 22: Stage 17: Bourg-Saint-Maurice - Le Grand-Bornand -169km
July 23: Stage 18: Annecy - Annecy (ITT) - 40km
July 24: Stage 19: Bourgoin-Jallieu - Aubenas -195km
July 25: Stage 20: Montélimar - Mont Ventoux -167km
July 26: Stage 21: Montereau-Fault-Yonne - Paris Champs-Élysées -160km
