October 27, 2005 – After much speculation as to the layout of next year’s Tour, the route has finally been announced. It’s a slightly different route and arguably more challenging with some key mountain climbs. As well, the team time trial stage is noticeably absent – a stage that always favoured Lance Armstrong’s Discovery team.

The final outcome could also be determined the day before the finish in Paris with the final time trial, a 56km stage from Le Creusot to Montceau-les-Mines.

For 2006, the odds-on favourites for yellow are definitely CSC’s Ivan Basso and Jan Ullrich, and it could be one of the most competitive Tours in years without Armstrong competing.

2006 Tour de France

-Prologue – July 1: Strasbourg ITT, 7 km
-Stage 1 – July 2: Strasbourg – Strasbourg, 183 km
-Stage 2 – July 3: Obernai – Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg), 223 km
-Stage 3 – July 4: Esch-sur-Alzette – Valkenburg (Netherlands), 216 km
-Stage 4 – July 5: Huy (Belgium) – Saint-Quentin, 215 km
-Stage 5 – July 6: Beauvais – Caen, 219 km
-Stage 6 РJuly 7: Lisieux РVitr̩, 184 km
-Stage 7 РJuly 8: Saint-Gr̩goire РRennes ITT, 52 km
-Stage 8 РJuly 9: Saint-M̩en-le-Grand РLorient, 177 km
Rest Day – July 10: Bordeaux
-Stage 9 – July 11: Bordeaux – Dax, 170 km
-Stage 10 – July 12: Cambo-les-Bains – Pau, 193 km
-Stage 11 – July 13: Tarbes – Val d’Aran/Pla-de-Beret (Spain), 208 km
-Stage 12 – July 14: Luchon – Carcassonne, 211 km
-Stage 13 РJuly 15: B̩ziers РMont̩limar, 231 km
-Stage 14 РJuly 16: Mont̩limar РGap, 181 km
Rest Day – July 17: Gap
-Stage 15 – July 18: Gap – L’Alpe-d’Huez, 187 km
-Stage 16 – July 19: Le Bourg-d’Oisans – La Toussuire, 182 km
-Stage 17 – July 20: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – Morzine, 199 km
-Stage 18 РJuly 21: Morzine РM̢con, 193 km
-Stage 19 – July 22: Le Creusot – Montceau-les-Mines ITT, 56 km
-Stage 20 РJuly 23: Antony (Parc de Sceaux) РParis Champs-Elys̩es, 152 km