The 2009 Tour de France commences on Saturday July 4 and runs through to Sunday July 26.

It is the 96th time the popular, historic race has been held and this year the event will span 21 stages and a total distance of 3500 kilometres.

The 21 stages are broken down as follows:

10 flat stages
7 mountain stages
1 medium mountain stage
2 individual time trial stages
1 team time trial stage

There will be eight stopover towns on the route:

Brignoles
Gérone (Espagne)
Issoudun
Martigny (Suisse)
Saint-Fargeau
Tonnerre
Vatan
Verbier (Suisse).

The notable elements of the race are as follows:

3 mountain finishes
2 rest days
55 kilometres of individual time-trials
20 Category 1, Category 2 and highest-level passes will be climbed

The route stages:

Prologue – Saturday 4 July
The race kicks off with a 15.5 kilometre time trial that will run the windy streets of Monaco.

Stage 2 – Monaco > Brignoles – Sunday 5 July
A 187 kilometre bumpy stage that may be suitable for a breakaway and might be tricky for the teams to arrange the sprint.

Stage 3 – Marseille > La Grande-Motte – Monday 6 July
A long, 196.5 kilometre stage but in spite of the early rises and dips, which might see some brave souls seeking to stay away for the day, the last 80 kilometres are flat and it is probably going to be a bunch sprint.

Stage 4 – Montpellier > Montpellier – Tuesday 7 July
This is the return of the team trial. Only 39 kilometres but features a couple of hills. The big teams may dominate this stage. A rule change means real-time is the ultimate factor.

Stage 5 – Le Cap d’Agde > Perpignan – Wednesday 8 July
A delight for sprinters, this 196.5 kilometre stage is flat all the way to Perpignan.

Stage 6 – Gérone > Barcelona – Thursday 9 July
The heartland of Catalonia will see a motley crue of sprinters and climbers turn up first, because this mostly flat but sharply uphill finished leg will throw up some surprises.

Stage 7 – Barcelona > Andorre Arcalis – Friday 10 July
Now we hit the hills. The peak is the 2240 metre Andore Arcalis, which could break the spirit of some riders on this grueling 224 kilometre stage.

Stage 8 – Andorre-la-Vieille > Saint-Girons – Saturday 11 July
More power to the climbers here, with three quality climbs on the 176.5 kilometre leg to Saint-Girons. The long 45 kilometre descent to the finish may tighten the field.

Stage 9 – Saint-Gaudens > Tarbes – Sunday 12 July
Two hills here, the 1490 metre Col d’Aspin and the 2115 metre Col du Tormalet. At this point we might start to see the real contenders distinguish themselves.

Stage 10 Limoges > Issoudun – Tuesday 14 July
This stage comes after a rest day and is much flatter than the previous three legs. Sprinters will start to come back into the equation after a few days of climbers.

Stage 11 – Vatan > Saint-Fargeau -Wednesday 15 July
Very similar to Stage 10, again favouring those in the hunt for the green jersey.

Stage 12 – Tonnerre > Vittel – Thursday 16 July
A 211.5 kilometre stage that is one of the final chances for sprinters to make their mark. Look for breakaway groups to make a move on a couple of the steep climbs that dot the stage.

Stage 13 – Vittel > Colmar – Friday 17 July
Back to the mountains, and this 200 kilometre leg will feature no less than passes.

Stage 14 – Colmar > Besançon – Saturday 18 July
This may be an uneventful stage because, although its 199 kilometres long, there is little difficult climbing and the serious contenders may hold back for the later stages.

Stage 15 – Pontarlier > Verbier – Sunday 19 July
Expect riders to push hard through this stage, with a rest day to follow. It finishes with a difficult climb up the 1468 metre Verbier.

Stage 16 – Martigny > Bourg-Saint-Maurice – Tuesday 21 July
This leg might represent a change in the tempo of the race. Two massive peaks – the 2473 metre Martigny and the 2188 metre Bourg-Saint-Maurice – confront riders on arguably the most difficult stage. Cream will rise to the top here.

Stage 17 – Bourg-Saint-Maurice > Le Grand-Bornand – Wednesday 22 July
There is no rest for the wicked, with four 1st category climbs. Those who can push through tiredness may find themselves in pole position.

Stage 18 – Annecy > Annecy – Thursday 23 July
Individual time trial. At only 40.5 kilometres, it is unlikely that any rider lagging behind will be able to push up into the higher ranks here. Most pundits think you need to be at the front of the pack by this stage for a chance at victory.

Stage 19 – Bourgoin-Jallieu > Aubenas – Friday 24 July
Some early bumps in the profile make way to a flat mid section, before a final climb and a quick downhill ending. A breakaway could be forthcoming here.

Stage 20 – Montélimar > Mont Ventoux – Saturday 25 July
The final chance for a winner to stake his claim. The race to Mont Ventoux will be hectic and climactic, so be sure to tune in.

Stage 21 – Montereau-Fault-Yonne > Paris Champs-Élysées – Sunday 26 July
Although the winner should be known by this stage, the green jersey could still be up for grabs. Keep your eyes peeled for the final sprint to the Champs-Elysees.