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| The 99th 2012 Tour de France |
The 2012 Tour de France will start in Belgium This is the fourth time that Belgium has
hosted the start. The Province of Liège is situated in south eastern Belgium, in the
Walloon Region. It has a population of slightly more than one million
inhabitants and is made up of 3 “arrondissements” (Liège, Verviers,
Huy-Waremme) and 84 municipalities, spread over a surface area of 3, 862 km² The
city of Liège (192, 000 inhabitants), bears the same name as the province, of
which it is the county town.
Seraing has 62,
000 inhabitants and the population of Visé is almost 17, 000 inhabitants.
It is with enthusiasm and undisguised pride that once again
the Province of Liège will host the “Grand Départ” of
the 2012 Tour de France - after the success of the 2004 edition.
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| The 99th 2012 Tour de France |
A region of great events, the Province of Liège
has acquired a certain expertise in the organisation of large-scale cultural
and sports manifestations, such as the Tour de France. Modern facilities,
including the new “TGV” (high speed train) station, the first Belgian cargo
airport, the third European river port and a foremost motorway network, provide
a perfect setting to host these events and open the Province de Liège to the
world.
The Province
of Liège is a land of
conviviality and celebrations, but also application and flair, that will
welcome the Tour with open arms. The inhabitants of Liège, Seraing and Visé as well as the population of
the whole province will make this great popular celebration outstanding with
their warm encouragements.
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| The 99th 2012 Tour de France |
While the favourites to win the Tour will be expected to dig
deep on mountains which until now were labelled "intermediate", they
will also have their work cut out for them on the Alpine and Pyrenean stages,
whose profiles are especially dynamic. The 140-km-long stage between Albertville and La
Toussuire - Les Sybelles will offer no respite to those poor riders who choose
to play the waiting game. In the Pyrenees, the
discovery of the Mur de Péguère, right before diving to Foix, together with the
Aubisque-Tourmalet-Aspin-Peyresourde sequence on the Bagnères-de-Luchon stage
and the Peyragudes summit finish, will give climbers the opportunity to shine.
Cyclists will have no choice but to spring into action at the decisive moments.
Indeed, the Liège prologue and the stages in Besançon and Chartres will force them to defend their
positions in the race against the clock over a combined length of more than 100
kilometres.
2012 Tour de France Prizes
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| The 99th 2012 Tour de France |
- Yellow Jersey - LCL. This
jersey is worn by the leader of the general classification. This year, this and
the other ones will be dressed by Le Coq Sport, which makes its return to the
Grande Boucle.
- Green Jersey - PMU. This
jersey is worn by the leader of the points classification. The changes
introduced in 2011, with just one intermediate sprint but with more points on
offer, will be kept for the 2012 edition.
- Polka Dot Jersey -
Carrefour. This jersey is awarded to the leader of the mountains
classification. The points scale was modified in 2011. The same one will be
used again with a few changes. For example, points will be awarded to the first
ten riders to reach the summit of an hors catégorie climb.
- White Jersey - Škoda. The
rider aged 25 or under who ranks highest in the general classification gets to
wear the white jersey.
- Team classification - Digital. This classification is
calculated by adding the times of each team's three best riders on each stage.
Riders belonging to the leading team wear yellow back numbers.
- Brandt Combativity Award. Every day, a jury made up mainly
of journalists selects the most deserving rider, one who has stood out for his
attacking spirit, braveness or fair play. The winner gets to wear a red back
number on the following stage. A super-combativity award is also given out at
the end of the Tour.
The 2012 Tour de France Route
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| The 99th 2012 Tour de France |
These stages have the following profiles:
- 9 flat stages
- 4 medium mountain stages - one with a summit finish
- 5 mountain stages - two with a summit finish
- 2 individual time-trial stages
- 1 prologue
- 2 rest days
Distinctive Aspects of 2012 Tour de France
The 2012 Tour de France will have 25 mountain level two,
level one or highest level mountain passes or summit fi nishes.
They will be divided up geographically in the following way:
They will be divided up geographically in the following way:
- 1 in the Vosges
- 3 in the Jura
- 4 in the Swiss Jura
- 6 in the Alps
- 11 in the Pyrenees
9 New Stage Towns
Abbeville, Annonay Davézieux, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, La
Planche des Belles Filles, Peyragudes, Porrentruy, Samatan, Tomblaine, Visé
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| The 99th 2012 Tour de France Stage 2 |
1 Plain Sunday 1 July Liège > Seraing 198 km
2 Plain Monday 2 July Visé > Tournai 207 km
3 Medium mountains Tuesday 3 July Orchies > Boulogne-sur-Mer 197 km
4 Plain Wednesday 4 July Abbeville > Rouen 214 km
5 Plain Thursday 5 July Rouen
> Saint-Quentin
197 km
6 Plain Friday 6 July Épernay > Metz 210 km
7 Medium mountains Saturday 7 July Tomblaine >
La Planche des Belles Filles 199 km
8 Medium mountains Sunday 8 July Belfort > Porrentruy 154 km
9 Individual time-trial Monday 9 July
Arc-et-Senans > Besançon 38 km
10 High
Mountains
Wednesday 11 July Mâcon > Bellegarde-sur-Valserine 194 km
11 High Mountains Thursday 12 July Albertville > La Toussuire - Les Sybelles
140
12 Medium mountains Friday 13 July
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > Annonay Davézieux 220 km
13 Plain Saturday 14 July
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Le Cap d’Agde 215 km
14 High
Mountains
Sunday 15 July Limoux > Foix 192 km
15 Plain Monday 16 July Samatan > Pau 160 km
16 High Mountains Wednesday 18 July Pau >
Bagnères-de-Luchon 197 km
17 High
Mountains
Thursday 19 July Bagnères-de-Luchon > Peyragudes 144 km
18 Plain Friday 20 July Blagnac > Brive-la-Gaillarde 215 km
19 Individual time-trial Saturday 21 July Bonneval
> Chartres
52 km
20 Plain Sunday 22 July Rambouillet > Paris Champs-Élysées 130 km
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