Tour(ism) De France: Stops Along the Tour De France 2006 Route

Minus retired man-of-steel Lance Armstrong and a number of suspended favorites, the 2006 Tour de France is giving many riders a fresh look at fame. At the same time, it’s giving many cities and towns along the route a turn in the spotlight of tourism. Those unfamiliar with the race may be unaware that the route changes each year and that several stages even take place outside of France. Here’s a brief look at some of the notable stops along this year’s Tour de France route.

Stops Along the Tour de France 2006 Route: Overview

Commencing in northeastern France and working counterclockwise, the 2006 Tour de France route leaves Strasbourg and heads briefly into Germany, without a stop, before circling back into France for a brief spell. The route then touches on the three Low Countries – Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium – with one stop in each nation. Upon return to France, riders head westward, skimming north of Paris and pushing straight onto the coastal town of Lorient. From there, cyclists fly to Bordeaux and prepare for a difficult mountainous stretch, taking them deep into the Pyrenees with a stop in Spain. Crossing southern France, the route next works toward the Alps, where riders face several tough stages before being transported to a site just south of Paris. The final stage, since the 1970s, has ended along the Champs-Elysees. When all is said and done, the cyclists will have visited six countries, though the bulk of the race does, of course, occur in France itself.

Stops Along the Tour de France 2006 Route: Strasbourg (Start of Race). This lovely city on the French-German border is part of the Alsace region, where cultures meld along the Rhine. One of the more famous stops along this year’s Tour de France route, Strasbourg is known for its forebodingly impressive Gothic cathedral and other fine samples of architecture throughout the ages. Home to many museums and other historic landmarks, it’s a large but accessible city, full of both swanky hotels and cozy inns that serve the best in Franco-German cuisine.

Strasbourg, the opening city, is famed for this cathedral.

Credit: faefadel

Copyright: www.sxc.hu