German fans El Diablo (L) jumps as yellow jersey of overall leader, Norway’s Thor Hushovd (C) rides in the pack during the 218 km and seventh stage of the 2011 Tour de France cycling race run between Le Mans and Chateauroux, center France, on July 8, 2011. JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivethree977163
Cycling is about to get a much needed distraction from the latest doping scandal as they prepare to hold the 99th Tour de France from June 30, through July 22. This year’s Tour will feature 22 teams racing 2,173 miles (3,469.9 km) through the French countryside and over the Alps before finishing in Paris.
The course will cover 101.1 km in three time individual time trials along with four medium-mountain stages and five mountain stages. For the first time the Tour will go over the Col du Grand Colombier pass. The pass is one of France’s most difficult passes with a 20% grade.
Map showing the route of 2012 Tour de France; Tour is June 30-July 22, 2012. Yingling/MCT/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: krtgfxlive041000
Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen of the Quick Step team pedals during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race close to Angouleme. OLIVER WEIKEN/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotosthree447262
Cadel Evans of BMC Racing team and Thomas Voeckler FRA Europcar Cycling Tour de France 2011 18th Stage, Pinerolo. imago sportfotodienst/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imagosports402981
2011 champion Cadel Evans will try to defend his title and is the only Tour de France champion in the field as 2007 and 2008 champion Alberto Contador is suspended and can’t start the Tour. Three-time runner up Andy Schleck, who was declared the 2010 champion after Contador was stripped of the title for a positive drug test, had to withdraw from the race due to a sacral bone fracture.
Yellow jersey of overall leader, Australia’s Cadel Evans lifts his bicycle in front of the Arc de Triomphe during the parade on the famous Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, after he won the 2011 Tour de France cycling race on July 24, 2011 at the end of the 95 km and last stagerun between Creteil and Paris Champs-Elysees. PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour191765
Cyclist Andy Schleck of Luxembourg listens to questions during a press conference in Strassen on June 13, 2012. Yellow jersey contender Schleck has pulled out of this year’s Tour de France due to injuries suffered in last week’s Criterium du Dauphine race. JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour512298
With 22 teams of racers anyone could step up and win but British racer Bradley Wiggins has been picked as the pre-race favorite by many experts. Wiggins highest finish was fourth in the 2009 Tour. The converted track racer is one of the best time trial racers in the field and the large distance in time trials this year is in his favor. Wiggins will need all the luck he can get as he has been training for the Tour de France and the Olympics as the same time. Wiggins will try to get his six Olympic Medals at the London games nine days after the Tour wraps up.
Astana team riders cycle to complete the 2nd stage team time trial, during the Tour De France cycling race around Les Essarts , Western France, 03 July 2011. GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotos043651
Three time Olympic gold medalist, Bradley Wiggins training on the roads surrounding volcanic Mount Teide in Tenerife, Spain ahead of the Tour De France which starts on June 30th. Find it on Newscom.com: zumawireworldphotosfive490719
Whoever earns the yellow jersey at the end of the race, they will leave a lot of blood and sweat on the road, along with anyone else who can complete all 2,173 miles of the race. That dedication to the sport also rubs off on the fans who are some of my favorite to watch in sports because they line the roads with farm sculptures, songs, and costumes to cheer on racers for a split second. In my opinion it is easier sit back, put up your feet and just enjoy the action.
For more photos throughout the Tour de France check out Newscom.
Leopard-Trek team rider Jens Voigt of Germany suffers a crash during the 14th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Gaudens and Plateau de Beille, France, 16 July 2011. NICOLAS BOUVY/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotos058479
A vegetal sculpture for the Tour de France cycling race. Philippe Trias/PHOTOPQR/LE PROGRES/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: maxphotos456584
Fans dressed up as Smurfs cheer on riders riding in the pack during the 191,5 km and first stage of the 2011 Tour de France cycling race run between Fromentine La Barre-de-Monts and Monts des Alouettes in Les Herbiers, western France, on July 2, 2011. JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivethree967570
A mechanic of the Cofidis Credit Par Telephone team relaxes in the team’s car as they follow the riders during a training session of the team, in Voreppe, on a rest day of the Tour de France. TIM DE WAELE/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotosthree116819
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Tags: bicycle, Bike, Bike Race, France, Racing, Tour de France