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© A.S.O.
The Principality of Monaco is situated in the south east of France, next to the Mediterranean, twenty kilometres east of Nice. Divided into districts, of which Monte-Carlo is the most famous, it stretches out over a surface area of 2 square km and is the second smallest state in the world after the Vatican City
Independent since 1297, this constitutional monarchy is governed by the sovereign Prince Albert II since 2005.
Albert DE MONACO & Christian Prudhomme - © A.S.O.
“I am delighted to announce that the 2009 Tour de France will start from Monaco. The Principality had the pleasure, a very long time ago, of seeing the Tour de France pass through the town, in 1964 for the last time. Forty five years later, we will have the honour of hosting the start of this unique adventure.
This selection rewards the efforts of the Principality in developing and promoting sport in Monaco.
Cycling is an extreme sport, one of the most testing, both physically and mentally. To reach the highest level requires qualities like courage, determination and perseverance. Those who have had the honour of wearing the yellow jersey can testify to the passion, the commitment and the surpassing of one’s limits needed to succeed in this venture.
An ever-increasing public eagerly follows this fabulous sporting competition, now a phenomenon of society.
Beyond attachment to the competition’s champions, the public has adopted as its own this legendary event that honours the countryside, the towns and, as is the case this year, the neighbouring countries it visits.
A stimulus, fuelling performance and emotion, the Tour has always moved with the times, even though this may mean being tainted by its evils. I would like to praise the intransigence of the organisers who assumed the measures required to preserve the nobility of this sport.
There are still several months to go before this event takes place, but the announcement has already roused the enthusiasm of the entire Monegasque population. I am convinced that the 2009 Tour de France will reinforce the already close link between Monaco and France.”
Albert DE MONACO
© Presse Sports
On Saturday the 4th of July 2009 Monaco will host the Tour de France for the sixth time.
This will be the 17th time, since 1954 in Amsterdam, that the race will be launched from outside France. There have not been many starts from the south: four in total, and only one from the south-east, from Nice, in the region bordering that of the Alpes-Maritimes, in 1981.
It was in 1939 that the Tour visited the Principality for the first time, during the 12th stage, Saint-Raphaël - Monaco, won by the French rider Maurice Archambaud. René Vietto wore the Yellow Jersey before losing it in the Alps to the future champion, the Belgian rider Sylvère Maes.
After the War, in 1946, Apo Lazaridès triumphed in a five stage race, Monaco-Paris, which heralded the revival of the Tour one year later.
In the 1950s finishes in Monaco crowned the Dutch riders Jan Nolten and Wim van Est and then Raphaël Géminiani. And in 1964 the finish of the 9th stage, Briançon-Monaco, was the backdrop to one of the epic Anquetil-Poulidor combats.
The Normand rider was the first to enter the cinder track of the original Louis II stadium. Poulidor caught up with him for a battle in the sprint. But, astoundingly, as soon as he crossed the finishing line, he stopped whilst Anquetil carried straight on racing. There was still another lap to go but, perhaps duped by memories of the Tour d’Espagne, where a fraction of a lap at the finish made all the difference, Poupou finished 5th in the stage, leaving victory and the one minute bonus to his rival. Following further action packed feats, including the legendary climb of the Puy de Dôme, Jacques Anquetil won his 5th Tour in Paris… 55 seconds ahead of Raymond Poulidor.
| Years | Stages | Winners | Yellow Jersey | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1939 |
stage 12 | Saint-Raphaël > Monaco | 121,5 km (2e demi-étape) |  |
Maurice ARCHAMBAUD | |
René VIETTO |
| stage 13 | Monaco > Monaco | 101,5 km | |
Pierre GALLIEN | |
René VIETTO | |
| stage 14 | Monaco > Digne-les-Bains | 175 km | |
Maurice CLOAREC | |
René VIETTO | |
1952 |
stage 12 | Sestrières > Monaco | 251 km |  |
Jan NOLTEN |  |
Fausto COPPI |
| stage 13 | Monaco > Aix-en-Provence | 214 km | |
Raoul RÉMY | |
Fausto COPPI | |
1953 |
stage 16 | Marseille > Monaco | 236 km | |
Wim VAN EST | |
Jean MALLÉJAC |
| stage 17 | Monaco > Gap | 261 km | |
Wout WAGTMANS | |
Jean MALLÉJAC | |
1955 |
stage 9 | Briançon > Monaco | 270 km | |
Raphaël GEMINIANI | |
Antonin ROLLAND |
| stage | Monaco > Marseille | 240 km | |
Lucien LAZARIDÈS | |
Antonin ROLLAND | |
1964 |
stage 9 | Briançon > Monaco | 239 km | |
Jacques ANQUETIL | |
Georges GROUSSARD |
| stage 10 | Monaco > Hyères | 187,5 km (1re demi-étape) | |
Jan JANSSEN/td> | |
Georges GROUSSARD | |
© Presse Sports
© Presse Sports
© Presse Sports
The Monte-Carlo Car Rally, in January.
In the heart of winter, it marks the launch of the World Rally Championship. The rally starts and finishes in Monaco but the main part of the race takes place on the mountain roads of the Alps.
The Monte-Carlo Tennis Masters Series tournament, in April.
The first great competition of the hard court season is launched from the legendary setting of the Monte-Carlo Country Club and attracts top world tennis players each spring.
The Monaco Grand Prix, in May.
The one and only race of its kind, the circuit winds its way through the streets of the city. The Monaco GP is a landmark event on the calendar of the Formula 1 Motor Racing World Championships.
The International Swimming Meeting, in June.
The Olympic pool at the Rainier III Water Sports Stadium receives a glittering line-up of champion swimmers for this stage of the Mare Nostrum swimming tournament.
The Monte-Carlo International Show Jumping competition, in June.
Organised at the Port Hercule (Hercule Harbour), it is one of the events of the Global Champions Tour, a world tour approved by the International Equestrian Federation. Leading world riders participate.
The Herculis Meeting, in July.
A Super Grand Prix status athletics meeting: the best athletes from around the world compete at the Louis II Stadium.
The European Supercup, in August.
This is a football match between the winners of the Champions League and the winners of the UEFA Cup. The game is played at the Louis II Stadium.
The Iron Man 70.3, in September.
A triathlon race: 1, 9 km of swimming, 90 km of cycling, and 27, 1 km of running, the equivalent of 70, 3 American miles.
And also:
First Division football, throughout the football season.
AS Monaco competes in the national French Championships. The club with the red and white striped shirts has won seven championship titles, five French Cup titles, one League Cup. It has also participated in two European finals in 1992 and 2004.
Cycling in MonacoFounded in 1985, the Cycling Federation of Monaco is affiliated to the International Cycling Union. The Principality’s club, the Cycling Union of Monaco, which recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, has 135 members and six disciplines: road, mountain bike, BMX, track, cyclo-cross and trial. It organises notably the Monaco Criterium in March and the Jean-Luc Schopf Trophy in June. |
