2012 TdF to start in Liege

Race director Christian Prudhomme confirmed that the race would begin with a 6.1km time trial prologue on Saturday June 30.

The prologue will be run over the exact same course as was used to open the Tour in 2004, when the stage was won by Fabian Cancellara in front of some 200,000 spectators.

The 180km first stage on Sunday will begin in Liege before taking in the hilly roads of the Ardennes and also the Spa-Francorchamps Formula One track, taking a detour through Luxembourg before finishing in Seraing.

Details of the second stage have not yet been officially confirmed, but is expected to start in Vise and finish in Tournai.

1954: Amsterdam (Netherlands)

1958: Brussels (Belgium)

1965: Cologne (Germany)

1973: Scheveningen (Netherlands)

1975: Charleroi (Belgium)

1978: Leiden (Netherlands)

1980: Frankfurt (Germany)

1982: Basel (Switzerland)

1987: Berlin (Germany)

1989: Luxembourg

1992: San Sebastian (Spain)

1996: 's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands)

1998: Dublin

2002: Luxembourg

2004: Liege (Belgium)

2007: London

2009: Monaco

2010: Rotterdam (Netherlands)

2012: Liege (Belgium)