Route
Route
Initially run entirely in France, the race has since expanded to visit several other countries, with others traditionally hosting the Grand Depart – or start – of the race.
The 2015 race, for example, will start in Utrecht, Netherlands, while the 2014 edition featured the now-iconic Grand Depart in Yorkshire .
Belgium, Monaco, Spain, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland have also hosted the start of the race.
Iconic summits, cobbles and just one individual time trial on 2015 Tour de France route
The finish, since 1975, has been on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, while the race usually takes in both the Alps and Pyrenees during the three-week Tour.
Two rest days, traditionally the second and third Monday of the Tour, take the length of the Tour to 23 days.
A balanced route featuring flat stages – which often finish in a bunch sprint – undulating, hilly stages and high-mountain stages, the latter usually proving decisive in deciding the overall winner, is also punctuated by time trials.
The 2015 route is unusual in not featuring a long time trial, but the race will still start with a short individual time trial and also feature a short team time trial.
Tour de France 2015 route: six key stages
Famous mountain passes often visited by the race include Alpe d’Huez, which is the final climb of this year’s race, while the Col du Tourmalet, in the Pyrenees, will be climbed for the 84th time in the race’s history in stage 11; it has featured more than any other mountain pass in the race’s history.