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The route for the 2009 Tour de France, starting on Saturday.

Sat, July 4: Stage 1 - Individual time trial in Monaco (15.5km)

- Suitable for the climbers with a 7.5km ascent to the Cote de Beausoleil from the start.

Sun, July 5: Stage 2 - Monaco to Brignoles (187km)

- The sprinters could have a chance to shine if their teams can control this tricky stage with four minor climbs.

Mon, July 6: Stage 3 - Marseille to La Grande Motte (196.5km)

- The stage goes through the Camargue region, with strong winds likely to sweep the road. Being at the back of the peloton could prove costly.

Tue, July 7: Stage 4 - Team time trial in Montpellier (39km)

- A battle expected between Contador and Armstrong's Astana and the Schleck brothers' Saxo Bank teams but Garmin are the favourites.

Wed, July 8: Stage 5 - Le Cap d'Agde to Perpignan (196.5km)

- The sprinters' teams are expected to have it their way on a mostly flat stage.

Thu, July 9: Stage 6 - Gerona to Barcelona, Spain (181.5km)

- With the line at the top of Montjuic, a strong finisher is likely to prevail - possibly one for Spain's Oscar Freire.

Fri, July 10: Stage 7 - Barcelona to Arcalis, Andorra (224km)

- The Tour enters the mountains early and brutally and the stage finishes with a 10.6km climb to Arcalis at 2,240m.

Sat, July 11: Stage 8 - Andorra La Velha to St Girons (176.5km)

- With only two category-one climbs, the favourites should not be in danger providing their teams control a possible long breakaway.

Sun, July 12: Stage 9 - St Gaudens to Tarbes (160.5km)

- The climbs of the Tourmalet and Aspin come quite early in the stage. It should provide a perfect opportunity for second fiddles to escape.

Mon, July 13: Rest day in Limoges

Tue, July 14: Stage 10 - Limoges to Issoudun (194.5km)

- French riders will be eager to show their colours on Bastille Day but the stage is likely to be controlled by the sprinters' teams.

Wed, July 15: Stage 11 - Vatan to St Fargeau (192km)

- Another one for the sprinters in the contest for the green jersey.

Thu, July 16: Stage 12 - Tonnerre to Vittel (211.5km)

- The stage is peppered with minor climbs that will make it hard for the sprinters' teams to rein in possible fugitives.

Fri, July 17: Stage 13 - Vittel to Colmar (200km)

- Attackers should have it their way in this middle-mountain stage.

Sat, July 18: Stage 14 - Colmar to Besancon (199km)

- Last chance for the sprinters to win a stage before the Alps.

Sun, July 19: Stage 15 - Pontarlier to Verbier (207.5km)

- Not the toughest mountain stage but a summit finish that should provide attacking opportunities for favourites trying to make up for lost ground earlier in the race.

Mon, July 20: Rest day in Verbier, Switzerland

Tue, July 21: Stage 16 - Martigny, Switzerland, to Bourg St Maurice (159km)

- A very tough stage, with the ascent of the Col du Grand St Bernard (24.4 km at an average gradient of 6.2 per cent).

Wed, July 22: Stage 17 - Bourg St Maurice to Le Grand Bornand (169.5km)

- Big battle expected between the favourites, with a quick succession of two punishing climbs to the Col de Romme (8.8 km at 8.9 per cent) and the Col de la Colombiere (7.5 km at 8.5 per cent)

Thu, July 23: Stage 18 - Individual time trial in Annecy (40.5km)

- Unusually scheduled three days before the end (instead of one), the time trial is not expected to be decisive.

Fri, July 24: Stage 19 - Bourgoin Jallieu to Aubenas (178km)

- The favourites will take it easy before Saturday's stage.

Sat, July 25: Stage 20 - Montelimar to Mont Ventoux (167km)

- Decisive stage, with the intimidating 21.1km ascent to the Mont Ventoux at 7.6 per cent. The last part of the climb is likely to be swept by the wind.

Sun, July 26: Stage 21 - Montereau Fault Yonne to Paris (164km)

- The leader quietly takes his yellow jersey to the Champs Elysees, where the sprinters will gun for a prestigious win.

Reuters