The 2009 Tour de France will begin July 4 in the principality of Monaco, organizers announced on Friday.

This will be the first time the Tour has set out from the principality, though stages have finished there in five editions, including the famous finish between Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor when the Tour last visited Monaco, in 1964.

In 2009, the Grand Départ will be a 15km individual time trial that includes a section of the famous Monaco Grand Prix circuit. Stage two will also begin in Monaco.

The opening stages of the ’09 Tour will showcase southeastern France, a region through which the convoy rarely passes. In the last 30 years, only Nice has hosted the Grand Départ, serving as a springboard for Bernard Hinault to achieve his third victory.

Stage winners in Monaco
1939
Stage 12, Saint-Raphaël-Monaco: Maurice Archambaud (France)
Stage 13, Monaco-Monaco: Pierre Gallien (France)

1952
Stage 12, Sestrières -Monaco: Jan Nolten (Holland)

1953
Stage 16, Marseilles-Monaco: Wim Van Est (Holland)

1955
Stage 9, Briançon -Monaco: Raphaël Géminiani (France)

1964
Stage 9, Briançon-Monaco: Jacques Anquetil (France)

For information regarding the Grand Départ from Monaco, see www.letour.fr.