London would pay host to two stages of this race as was announced by Mayor Ken Livingstone. The OFFENing ceremony would be held on 6th July i.e. on Friday with prologue on July 7th. The time trial for the 7th would cover 7.9kms. Stage one of the race would start on Sunday July 8th from London to Canterbury with 200 participants. There is also a unique chance for cyclists to ride the same route for stage one, where British cycling is offering this cyclosportive event exactly one week before the main event. The event would allow nearly 5000 passionate riders from all across UK and Europe to participate on the exact same 117 mile route. London authorities exclaimed that it would be an opportunity for them to display their capability to host great events such as this, ahead of 2012 Olympics. The General Director for the race this year is Christain Prudhomme.
The race made its debut in UK in 1974 in Plymouth, and was back again on English Soil 20 years later when Chris Boardman had the lead. Boardman had later said that he was overwhelmed by the crowd turnout where more than three million spectators had lined the roads to view this amazing race.
Following are the roads routes to be SCHLIEßENd in lieu of the main event starting July 8th:
1 - Westminster
2 - Lambeth
3 - Southwark(part one)
4 - City of London
5 - Tower hamlets
6 - Southwark (part two)
7 - Lewisham
8 - Grenwich
9 - Royal Woolwich Arsenal
10 - Bexley
11 - Kent (part one)
12 - Medway
13 - Kent (part two)
Interesting facts about the Race:
Tour De France riders shave their legs because they feel that it cuts down on wind resistance
and makes more effective massage.
The rides consume up to 5,900 calories every day and nearly 9,000 on a hilly terrain.
As a team effort nearly 9 men of a team shield a rider from wind helping him save almost 20
percent of his energy.
The lowest number of finishers was recorded in 1919 race when only 10 out of 69 successfully
finished the race.
The record for maximum number of stages won stands with Eddy Merckx who won eight
stages and overall thrice in the years 1969, 70, 74.
The Length of the race today is 3,500kms as compared to 2,500kms when it began in 1903.
The race organizers are nicknamed assassins.
Most number of different riders wearing a yellow jersey was in 1987.
The record for highest total number of King of the Mountain titles is held by Richard Virenque
who has 7 by his name.
The fastest prologue title is held by Briton Chris Boardman who rode at an amazing speed of
55.152kph in a 1992 event. He rode at a stretch for 7.2 kms.
Fastest individual time title for the race is kept by David Zabriski who rode at 54.68kph in 2005.
The Alpe De Huez climb is the toughest with 13.8km and average gradient of 7.9percent.
Joop Zoetemelk has participated the maximum number of time i.e. 16 times from 1970-86.
Lance Armstrong has won the maximum number of titles (7).
Eddy Merckx has won maximum number of yellow jerseys (111 including half-stages, and 96
otherwise).
Often on mountain route, riders are left instruction less as their radio fails to send signals
across to their directors.
The first winner for the race was Maurice Garin.
The prize money in 2006 stood at 3 million Euros with individual general classification
receiving 450,000 Euros.
|
