The World Of Cycling Comes To Monaco

Last updated : 06 July 2009 By Kev Monks in Monaco
The cycling world has descended on Monaco for the 96th running of the Tour De France.

The principality which is only two square kilometres in size, is the second smallest state in the world and has a population of 32,000.

Built on rocks nestling between the French and Italian Riviera's, Monaco is a principality which has been built in an upward direction and I've never seen so many sets of stairs in one town.

The tour starts with a prologue around the streets, many of you will know well from the world famous Grand Prix on Saturday. This will be fifteen kilometres long and will be followed on Sunday by the race departing Monaco and arriving some 187km later in Brignoles.

Twenty teams are competing in this year's race and tonight at Port Hercule, they were introduced to the press and public.

The event which saw roads blocks and Mark Cavendish stuck in a traffic jam, was started by a carnival procession. This lasted for about an hour.

After Prince Albert had received a standing ovation from the 6,500 housed in a temporary stand, the teams starting with Bouygues Telecom were introduced to the crowd.

The riders had to fight their way through a sea of international press but ourselves and ITV4 did catch up with Team Colombia High Road rider Mark Cavendish. We congratulated him on his success this season and he said that he was here to win stages.


Riders stopped by the media

The event organisers now seemed keen to rush through the riders who were corralled in front of British registered boats with names such as Ava, Sweet Pea, Pamela IV,George and further out to see Roman Avramovich's little holiday yacht, before being introduced to the audience.

Suddenly, things went barmy in the press area as Lance Armstrong's Astanta team tried to get through. There was a mass scrum all trying to get that one shot of the American seven times tour winner.



He was quickly ushered onto the stage where he received a standing ovation and said that he had "an extreme sense of excitement and nerves about being in this tour," and added that he was delighted to be here in Monaco and in the Tour De France.

The race starts on Saturday and you can see the action at ITV4 at 4.30pm or on Eurosport.