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Ok, apparently I went over the two post limit, so here it is again 
So the first stage is on Saturday. Its a 'contre-la-montre' time trial, the prologue of the tour. 19km of mostly flat. The racers start in Fromentine, in the department of la Vendée [Vallée de la Loire region] (if anyone took a French Revolution class, they had a strong counter revolutionnary movement and fought for the reimposition of the Capet dynasty)
The highest point is the bridge which the racers will cross from east to west to get onto the island and finish at Noirmoutier-en-l'ile. Last years winner of the prologue was the Swiss Fabien Cancellera from the Fasso Bartolo team, who was 0:02 faster then Lance Armstrong. (Cancellera is now on the Phonak team)
the weather is forcast to be cloudy with chance of rain. i believe last years prologue was also raced in the rain, but im not sure. the wind will be out of the west at around 20 kph, so the racers will be going into the wind.
In the US I think you can catch it on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) but maybe the discovery channel might show it since they are sponsoring Lance Armstrongs team. (it would start at like 5 am or something.) In france you can catch it on TF1 or TF2, in Switzerland on TSR, and across europe on Eurosport.
UPDATE: Jan Ullrich crashed into his directors car on Friday while training and has sustained injury to his face and neck.
So the first stage is on Saturday. Its a 'contre-la-montre' time trial, the prologue of the tour. 19km of mostly flat. The racers start in Fromentine, in the department of la Vendée [Vallée de la Loire region] (if anyone took a French Revolution class, they had a strong counter revolutionnary movement and fought for the reimposition of the Capet dynasty)
The highest point is the bridge which the racers will cross from east to west to get onto the island and finish at Noirmoutier-en-l'ile. Last years winner of the prologue was the Swiss Fabien Cancellera from the Fasso Bartolo team, who was 0:02 faster then Lance Armstrong. (Cancellera is now on the Phonak team)
the weather is forcast to be cloudy with chance of rain. i believe last years prologue was also raced in the rain, but im not sure. the wind will be out of the west at around 20 kph, so the racers will be going into the wind.
In the US I think you can catch it on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) but maybe the discovery channel might show it since they are sponsoring Lance Armstrongs team. (it would start at like 5 am or something.) In france you can catch it on TF1 or TF2, in Switzerland on TSR, and across europe on Eurosport.
UPDATE: Jan Ullrich crashed into his directors car on Friday while training and has sustained injury to his face and neck.
CHALLANS, France -- Germany's Jan Ullrich, the 1997 Tour de France winner, was injured in a freak training accident on the eve of the Tour's start but escaped mostly unhurt on Friday.
The 1997 Tour winner was training with his T-Mobile team when he failed to spot a warning to brake and slammed into the car's back window.
He sustained minor cuts and scratches to his neck, but will be OK to start Saturday's 11.8-mile time trial from Fromentine to Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile.
"He did not see the special sign we make when the car has to brake," T-Mobile press officer Luuc Eisenga said by telephone. "The window is smashed. But it's nothing serious. He'll be OK to start the race."
Ullrich hit the rear windscreen, which smashed into pieces, and suffered cuts near the throat.
The spokesman said the German, a five-time Tour runner-up, was treated by the team doctor, who said the bruises and cuts were only superficial.
The Tour starts Saturday with a 19-km time trial between Fromentine and Noirmoutier on Saturday.
The 1997 Tour winner was training with his T-Mobile team when he failed to spot a warning to brake and slammed into the car's back window.
He sustained minor cuts and scratches to his neck, but will be OK to start Saturday's 11.8-mile time trial from Fromentine to Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile.
"He did not see the special sign we make when the car has to brake," T-Mobile press officer Luuc Eisenga said by telephone. "The window is smashed. But it's nothing serious. He'll be OK to start the race."
Ullrich hit the rear windscreen, which smashed into pieces, and suffered cuts near the throat.
The spokesman said the German, a five-time Tour runner-up, was treated by the team doctor, who said the bruises and cuts were only superficial.
The Tour starts Saturday with a 19-km time trial between Fromentine and Noirmoutier on Saturday.
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