last mountain stage, will see the field over the
Col des Saisies, des Aravis, de
la Colombiere , the Cote de Chatillon and the Col de Joux-Plane. From the top of the Joux-Plane, the riders will plunge 12 km to the finish.

Stage 8 will be a 193-km run from Morzine to
Macon, and Stage 19 will be a rolling, 56-km time trial from Le Creusot to Montceau-les-Mines. Stage 20, which will be a 152-km run from Antony (Parc de Sceaux) to
Paris, will be a procession for the winner.

What do the riders and the team directors think of the first post-Armstrong Tour?s parcours? Ivan Basso (CSC), a man who could be king, says the following: ?Well, with the course for the 2006 Tour de France, it?s clear that I?ll have to improve in my time trailing and go faster on the climbs to win it.? Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank), who finished seventh in 2005, declares, ?I could certainly do with a few more mountains in it! It seems to be relatively easy; of course, nothing at the Tour is easy, but as far as the mountains go, the 2006 Tour isn?t too demanding.? Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears), who won an Alpine stage of last year?s Tour before abandoning, muses, ?Next year will be a very open Tour and very different from previous Tours when Armstrong was clearly the best.? Floyd Landis (Phonak), who finished ninth in 2005, says, ?I like the Tour route. It pleases me that I can show my time trialing skills twice, and I?m looking forward to the difficult last week in the
Alps. I?m particularly looking forward to the 15th stage from Gap to L?Alpe d?Huez. This classic mountaintop finish is always a special experience.? Hans Michael Holczer, Gerolsteiner?s team manager, says the following: ?This is certainly not a Tour for pure climbers. With two long time trials, I think it is an advantage to a time trialist who comes well over the mountains.?

The consensus is that an all-rounder will win the 2006 Tour de France. Who will turn the trick? You?re your thoughts in our forums and stay with Roadcycling.com during the run-up to the 2006 Tour to learn about Tour contenders and to obtain other cycling news!