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Memory lane Tour revisits original route for 2003 centenary racePosted: Thursday October 24, 2002 8:31 AMUpdated: Thursday October 24, 2002 9:40 AM PARIS (Reuters) -- Riders in the 2003 Tour de France race will embark on a three-week trip down memory lane to celebrate its centenary next July. "The 2003 Tour will be a rare and considerable event," said Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc when he unveiled the route for July 5-27 race on Thursday. "We will revisit the six cities which hosted the 60 riders in the 1903 race, Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes," he added at the launch which was witnessed by 21 former Tour winners. "We will also climb mountain passes like Galibier, Izoard and Tourmalet, in that order. "We designed a balanced itinerary and hope the race will provide some great moments." The route should suit defending champion Lance Armstrong, who will be favorite to win the centenary race. The American, hoping to win his fifth Tour in succession, will have to master two individual time trials, over 98 kilometers in all, and seven mountain stages. But there will be fewer altitude finishes in 2003 compared to this year -- three instead of five. For the first time since 1986, the Tour will start from Paris and the prologue will begin at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Symbolically, the first stage will begin from the same place as it did 100 years ago. The inaugural Tour de France, won by Maurice Garin, started in front of a cafe called Le Reveil Matin, and though the cafe has long gone, the spot will mark the beginning of the first stage on July 6. "A little ceremony will be held on the spot," said Leblanc. Favor sprinters After three flat stages which should favour sprinters, the 197 riders will take part in a 68-kms team time trial in St Dizier and then ride to Nevers, where the first feeding station was installed in 1903. "For the centenary we could not avoid going to l'Alpe d'Huez, a memorable finish which crowned Fausto Coppi as its first winner (in 1952)," Leblanc said. "That day we will go up the Galibier to pay homage to the Henri Desgranges (the Tour creator) monument. "The next day, we'll climb the Izoard and stop at the plaques honoring (former Tour winners) Fausto Coppi and Louison Bobet," Leblanc added. The Tour director said he had decided for the race to spend fewer days in the Alps to maintain some suspense. The first individual time trial will be held at the foot of the Pyrenees over 48.5 kms between the wine city of Gaillac and the Cap Decouverte theme park. The second will be held between Pornic and Nantes over 49 kms on the day before the finish on the Champs-Elysees. Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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