HSH Prince Albert of Monaco • 5 July 2009 • La Turbie

Photos: monacoeye

Prince Albert, a former Olympic medallist, got involved in the two opening stages, by awarding the prizes for Stage One and riding in front of the cyclists on Stage Two in the open-top Tour de France car.

He looked like he was having fun !

Photos: monacoeye • 5 July 2009 • La Turbie

Tour de France leaders (top) and peloton (bottom) arrive in La Turbie. The 8.5 km of road from Monaco took 15 minutes and involved a climb of 491 metres from sea-level.

Cyclist Lance Armstrong • 2009 Tour de France, Monaco.

Photos: monacoeye • Monaco • 4 July 2009

The return of Lance Armstrong to the Tour with Astana, after a four year absence, is the story dominating the French news.

Here he is hurtling up Boulevard du Jardin Exotique on the Stage 1 time trial. He put in a respectable performance, finishing 10th fastest. Cancellara, Contador and Bradley Wiggins were 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

The French TV commentator begrudgingly conceded that Lance looks like he is still a force to be reckoned with!

Whatever the establishment may think, the public are well behind him. Everywhere he goes he is preceded by cheering crowds and followed by a large press pack.

Cyclist Mark Cavendish (middle row, 2nd from right) laps Monaco with his Columbia Tour de France team-mates.

Photo: monacoeye • 2 July 2009 • Monaco

British Olympic gold-medallist Mark Cavendish won the second, Monaco - Brignoles, stage of the Tour de France, in a sprint finish, on Sunday.

He went on to win the third stage through the Camargues to La Grande Motte, on Monday, and currently wears the Green Jersey, as points leader.

Swiss Cyclist Fabian Cancellara • Tour de France - Stage 1 - Monaco 2009

Photo: AW • Monaco • 4th July 2009

Fabian Cancellara made a good start to this year's Tour de France by winning the Yellow Jersey in Saturday's Monaco-Monaco Stage.

Teams, TV crews and the whole Tour de France shebang have been streaming into the principality this week in the build up to the Grand Depart of the Tour de France, which this year starts in Monaco, this Saturday, 4th July 2009.

We crossed the Cofidis team near Sainte Agnes on Thursday afternoon. Incredibly in the near 30 degree heat, having climbed 950 metres from Monaco, the team looked very relaxed, hadn't broken a sweat, were chatting merrily and said hello as they passed !

Two to three hundred thousand people are expected to visit Monaco for the event. There are a few new yachts around. The recently launched CRN Tacanuyaso MS is berthed under Fort Antoine. Al Mirqab and A have been sailing along the coast nearby.

The route for Saturday's Monaco-Monaco 15 km Stage 1 is: Port, Casino, Princess Charlotte, Jardin Exotique, back above Monaco along Moyenne Corniche to Bon Voyage, down past Tennis, Larvotto, back to Port.

The first rider leaves at 4 pm on this time trial and is expected to take 20 minutes to complete the circuit. Cyclists then leave every minute until 7 pm. The "Caravan" (free key-rings etc) leaves at 1.30 p.m. *

*These times are taken from the official Tour de France website, but it seems they have started a little earlier than scheduled…

Sunday's Stage 2 is much longer: 187 km Monaco - Brignoles, via Nice, Grasse, Fayence and Draguignan, starting at 12.20 in the Place du Casino.