Not sure why I am so stoked about this year’s Tour de France.  I mean, I look forward to it every year – something is different this time around.

It could be that my wife has developed in interest in cycling so maybe I am just looking forward to having something else we can share.  I mean, we love watching Amazing Race together – how cool if we could share in this other big part of my life.

So what does this year’s tour look for:

TOUR DE FRANCE 2011

Running from Saturday July 2rd to Sunday July 24th 2011, the 98th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,471 kilometres (before approval).

These stages have the following profiles:

Distinctive aspects of the race

  • · le Galibier climbed twice,
  • · 2 rest days,
  • · 23 level 2, 1 or highest level mountain passes or summit finishes,
  • · no bonuses will be awarded during the intermediate sprints and stage finishes.

15 new stage towns

Blaye-les-Mines, Cap Fréhel, Carhaix, Carmaux, Cugnaux, Galibier Serre-Chevalier, Limoux, Modane – Valfréjus, Mont des Alouettes Les Herbiers, Mûr-de-Bretagne, Olonne-sur-Mer, Passage du Gois La Barre-de-Monts, Pinerolo (Italie), Redon, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux

I can’t wait – it is going to be a great year for cycling!