MAIN Recreation Sports Tour de France 2009

In 2009, the 96th Tour de France begins on Saturday July 4 and continues on in 21 stages to the Champs-Elysees Paris finish on Sunday July 26, 2009.

Among other firsts this year — including a Stage 1 start in Monaco, and the first ever mountain finish (via Mont Ventoux just before the big climax at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris) — the biggest news this year has to be the return of Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong since retiring as a seven time champion in 2005.

Tour de France on TV

In the U.S., cable channel Versus provides live coverage, while Canadians can tune into TSN. Eurosport UK covers the race across the pond, while in Australia live coverage and next-day highlights will be featured on SBS.

Tour de France 2008 Recap

Apparently, the chance that a rider might face worldwide disgrace for doping did not deter last year's group of riders, with the most visible scandal taking place on July 17, 2008. That's when Italian rider Riccardo Ricco - who had won two stages of this year’s race - was kicked out of the competition for failing a drug test midway through the race at Stage 11 - a shocker.

The winner? Spanish cycler on Team CSC Carlos Sastre, one of the Tour de France favorites who has since joined the Cervélo TestTeam who will be defending his title for the 2009 tour.

Tour de France On the Web

Elsewhere on the Web, get the complete picture of the 96th annual Tour de France in 2009 with video clips, photos, up-to-minute blog reports and more on Tour de France history ...

Tour de France 2009 - The complete route, news flashes in real time, plus updated classifications, positions, gaps between the riders, video and photos of the competition. In English and French.

2009 Tour de France Live Dashboard - A treasure trove of online information on the route, stages, teams, photos and worldwide TV schedules.

BBC Sport | Cycling - Complete news coverage including feature articles, video clips, photos, a complete rider list, rider and team profiles, and a Tour de France Guide to Bikes.

Yahoo! Sports - Cycling - The lastest Tour de France news off the wires of AP, Reuters, and more plus feature stories, photo gallery.

Bicycling.com - The cyber version of the print publication with feature articles, special Tour de France coverage along with the latest updates, standings & photos, plus more on general cycling tips, online forum, related links.

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also see -> Sport Cycling | Olympic Cycling