Every July, the worlds best cyclists race
more than 3500 km around France, and sometimes the
surrounding countries, in the Tour de France. This
image from the Moderate resolution Imaging
Spectroradiometer (MODIS) shows the varied terrain
which challenges the riders. The race started in western France at
Futuroscope, and headed toward Brittany. In these mostly flat
#147;stages (as each days race
is called) sprinting specialists usually dash
for the finish out of the main pack of riders. The race then moved to the Pyrenees
mountains, in southern France along the border with Spain.
Climbers and the overall favorites shine in the mountains,
often gaining 10 minutes or more on their rivals. Only a few
days after the Pyrenees climbs the race was again in the
mountains. First Mont Ventoux, an extinct volcano in Provence,
and then the massive Alps, with altitudes as high as
2,645 meters, challenged the racers. Finally the race headed
toward Paris and a July 23rd finish in Paris.
Go Lance!
To learn more about MODIS, visit the MODIS web.
Image by Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land group, NASA GSFC