The 2008 course looks to be one intended to focus more on individual riders and skills rather than teams and tactics. For the first time since 1967, the race will start with a full road stage — 195 kilometres from Brest to Plumelec in Brittany — instead of an opening individual time-trial race. It appears the goal is to give more riders the chance to compete for the race lead and its coveted yellow jersey from the very start. The Tour will cover 3,554 kilometres over 21 stages with two rest days.
The race will start in Brittany - where it also started in 1952, 1964, 1974, 1985 and 1995. As in 1974, the Grand Départ will occur in Brest. For the first time in 40 years, the race will not start with a prologue; Stage one will be 170 kilometres long and will take the riders to Plumelec and its famous uphill finish of Cadoudal.
Time trials are reduced - there will be a short 29 kilometre individual test at Cholet prior to heading into the mountains.
At the first week comes two Pyrenean stages: The first, to Bagneres-de-Bigorre, does not finish on a summit, but it’s long. Next day is much shorter, just 154 kilometres, but covers the Col du Tourmalet and Hautacam. This is where the first big shake-up may happen and the number of contenders is radically slashed.
Week two begins with a rest day in Pau, then heads off from Lannemezan to Foix. Stage 15 heads into the Alps, with a stage finish in Pratonevoso prior to a rest day in Cuneo. The final time trial on July 26 (stage 20) will be held between Cerilly and Saint-Amand-Montrond with a finish to the Tour on July 27.
Overview of stages
Stage 1, Saturday July 5, Brest-Plumelec, 195km
Stage 2, Sunday July 6, Auray-Saint-Brieuc, 165km
Stage 3, Monday July 7, Saint Malo-Nantes, 195km
Stage 4, Tuesday July 8, Cholet-Cholet ITT, 29km
Stage 5, Wednesday July 9, Cholet-Chateauroux, 230km
Stage 6, Thursday July 10, Aigurande-Super-Besse Sancy, 195km
Stage 7, Friday July 11, Brioude Aurillac, 158km
Stage 8, Saturday July 12, Figeac-Toulouse, 174km
Stage 9, Sunday July 13, Toulouse -Bagneres-de-Bigorre, 222km
Stage 10, Monday July 14, Pau-Hautacam, 154km
— REST DAY — Tuesday July 15
Stage 11, Wednesday July 16, Lannemezan-Foix, 166km
Stage 12, Thursday July 17, Lavelanet-Narbonne, 168km
Stage 13, Friday July 18, Narbonne-Nimes, 182km
Stage 14, Saturday July 19, Nimes-Digne-les-Bains, 182km
Stage 15, Sunday July 20, Digne-les-Bains-Prato Nevoso, 216km
— REST DAY — Monday July 21
Stage 16, Tuesday July 22, Cuneo-Jausiers, 157km
Stage 17, Wednesday July 23, Embrun-L’Alpe d’Huez, 210km
Stage 18, Thursday July 24, Bourg d’Oisans-Saint-Étienne, 197km
Stage 19, Friday July 25, Roanne-Montlucon, 163km
Stage 20, Saturday July 26, Cerilly Saint-Amand-Montrond ITT, 53km
Stage 21, Sunday July 27, Etampes-Paris Champs Elysees, 143km
Great link for much more detail.
