Tour de France route

July 4 - Stage 1 - Utrecht (Netherlands) to Utrecht, 13.8km (individual time trial) - Fabian Cancellara looking to triumph for the sixth time on a Tour de France opener July 5 - Stage 2 - Utrecht to Zelande (Netherlands), 166km - Wind on the polders could cause chaos in the peloton July 6 - Stage 3 - Anvers (Belgium) to Huy (Belgium), 159.5km - The finish is the same as that of the Fleche Wallonne classic. Should suit Alejandro Valverde or Joaquim Rodriguez. July 7 - Stage 4 - Seraing (Belgium) to Cambrai, 223.5km - Another treacherous stage with about 30 km of cobbled sectors. July 8 - Stage 5 - Arras to Amiens, 189.5km - Expect a bunch sprint finish. July 9 - Stage 6 - Abbeville to Le Havre, 191.5km - Beware of the wind, too. July 10 - Stage 7 - Livarot to Fougeres, 190.5km - It is sprinters' day again. Watch out for a treacherous finale, full of traffic islands. July 11 - Stage 8 - Rennes to Mur de Bretagne, 181.5km - A finish that will suit the punchy riders: Valverde, Rodriguez should be on the attack on the final short but steep climb. July 12 - Stage 9 - Vannes to Plumelec, 28km (team time trial) - No big gaps expected but a tough uphill finish means it will not be easy to get home altogether. July 13 - Rest day in Pau July 14 - Stage 10 - Tarbes to La Pierre St Martin, 167km - The first mountain-top finish comes after a rest day. Never easy to deal with. July 15 - Stage 11 - Pau to Cauterets-Vallee de St Savin, 188km - Expect fireworks with back-to-back climbs of the Col d'Aspin and Col du Tourmalet. July 16 - Stage 12 - Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille, 195km - The last of three successive mountain stages, those who are not in perfect shape will be exposed in the ascent to the Plateau de Beille (15.8km at 7.9pc). July 17 - Stage 13 - Muret to Rodez, 198.5km - A sprint finish but only for those who will have survived the few climbs peppered on the course. July 18 - Stage 14 - Rodez to Mende, 178.5km - Rodriguez again? Three km at over 10 percent is tailor-made for him. Won here in 2010. July 19 - Stage 15 - Mende to Valence, 183km - Bunch sprint. July 20 - Stage 16 - Bourg de Peage to Gap, 201km - An opportunity for the long breakaway specialists. July 21 - Rest day in Gap July 22 - Stage 17 - Dignes les Bains to Pra Loup, 161km - This is where Bernard Thevenet tamed the great Eddy Meckx in 1975. Anything could happen in the dangerous descent from the Col d'Allos. July 23 - Stage 18 - Gap to St Jean de Maurienne, 186.5km - The general classification contenders resume their battle. Watch out for the spectacular Lacets de Montvernier -- a mini Alpe d'Huez. July 24 - Stage 19 - St Jean de Maurienne to La Toussuire Les Sybelles, 138km - A short stage with very few flat portions. Expect a long-range attack. July 25 - Stage 20 - Modane Valfrejus to L'Alpe d'Huez, 110.5km - Where the Tour could be decided. Very short stage making it possible to attack far from the finish line. July 26 - Stage 21 - Sevres to Paris Champs Elysees, 109.5km - Champagne and bunch sprint.