2010 Tour de France at a Glance

PARIS, June 28 (Reuters) - The route for the 2010 Tour de France starting on Saturday: July 3: Prologue - Rotterdam, 8.9 km

It will be the first time the Tour de France starts with a prologue since the London grand depart in 2007. The route will be flat and is likely to favour a specialist like Swiss Fabian Cancellara. July 4: Stage 1 - Rotterdam - Brussels, 223.5 km

A flat stage that is likely to be decided in a mass sprint. July 5: Stage 2 - Brussels - Spa, 201 k

The peloton will go through the Ardennes region with sections from the Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege classics. Pure sprinters may find it hard to keep it up with the favourites. July 6: Stage 3 - Wanze - Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, 213 k

Four cobblestone sections feature in the final 30 km. July 7: Stage 4 - Cambrai - Reims, 153.5 km

A flat, short stage that will be welcome by the peloton after the previous day. A mass sprint is likely. July 8: Stage 5 - Epernay - Montargis, 187.5 km

A stage for the sprinters, but the favourites could let a breakaway go all the way. July 9: Stage 6 - Montargis - Gueugnon, 227.5 km

Team HTC Columbia are expected to control the stage to favour sprinter Mark Cavendish. July 10: Stage 7 - Tournus - Station des Rousses, 165.5 km

The stage goes up and down, with six climbs on the menu. Not one for the pure climbers though. July 11: Stage 8 - Station des Rousses - Morzine Avoriaz, 189 km

The first high mountains stage. Champion Alberto Contador should make a move to prove a point, although he might want to wait a bit before taking the leader’s yellow jersey. July 12: Rest day - Morzine Avoriaz July 13: Stage 9 - Morzine Avoriaz - St Jean de Maurienne, 204.5 km

Two category one climbs and one out of category on this Alpine stage. But the top of the Col de la Madeleine is 32 km from the finish, so the favourites are unlikely to attack as they will want to avoid being isolated in the descent to St Jean de Maurienne. July 14: Stage 10 - Chambery - Gap, 179 km

The descent from the Col du Noyer is a very tricky one. In 2003, Joseba Beloki crashed and Lance Armstrong had to cut through a field to avoid a mishap. July 15: Stage 11 - Sisteron - Bourg les Valence, 184.5 km

A favourable terrain for the sprinters. July 16: Stage 12 - Bourg de Peage - Mende, 210.5 km

The stage ends with the climb of the Cote de Mende and a likely battle between the favourites. With sections of the climb having a gradient of over 10 per cent, some could suffer. July 17: Stage 13 - Rodez - Revel, 196 km

One of the last chances to shine for those who do not like the mountains. July 18: Stage 14 - Revel - Ax 3 Domaines, 184,5 km

The final climb comes shortly after the demanding ascent to the Col de Pailheres. One for the big guns. July 19: Stage 15 - Pamiers - Bagneres de Luchon, 187.5 km

The final descent is extremely tricky. One could lose the Tour there. July 20: Stage 16 - Bagneres de Luchon - Pau, 199.5 km

Although the last ascent is far from the finish, there are four tough climbs: Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde. In 1969, Eddy Merckx tackled these four climbs to win after a 180-km solo breakaway. July 21: Rest day - Pau July 22: Stage 17 - Pau - Col du Tourmalet, 174 km

The Col du Tourmalet will be ascended for the second time in three days as the Tour celebrates the centenary of the Pyrenees in the race. Obviously a stage for a good climber. July 23: Stage 18 - Salies de Bearn - Bordeaux, 198 km

One for the sprinters. Teams will battle it out for the teams classification as well. July 24: Stage 19 - Bordeaux-Pauillac, individual time trial 52 km

A completely flat time trial, the only one in this year’s Tour. July 25: Stage 20 - Longjumeau - Paris Champs Elysees, 102.5 km The usual final parade featuring eight loops on the Champs Elysees.

Total distance: 3,642 km