Dutch cycling team Skil-Shimano (SKS)'s rider Fumiyuki Beppu of Japan sprints on July 4, 2009 in the 15-km individual time-trial and first stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run around Monaco. 2009 Tour de France, which starts today, will cover 21 stages (10 flat stages, 8 mountains, 2 individual time-trials as well as one team time trial) before it ends 3.500 km later in Paris on July 26. Getty Images logo Getty Images 31 months ago

Dutch cycling team Skil-Shimano (SKS)'s rider Fumiyuki Beppu of Japan sprints on July 4, 2009 in the 15-km individual time-trial and first stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run around Monaco. 2009 Tour de France, which starts today, will cover 21 stages (10 flat stages, 8 mountains, 2 individual time-trials as well as one team time trial) before it ends 3.500 km later in Paris on July 26.

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