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The Tour de France is one of the most gruelling sporting events in the World. In the 96th edition of the race, the cyclists would traverse total of 3,445 Kilometres over 21 stages, with terrain ranging from the ascents of the Pyrenees to the plains of Central France. Six countries would be part of the action this year - Monaco, France, Spain, Andorra, Switzerland and Italy.

A total of twenty teams would compete, including 17 of the 18 UCI ProTour teams (all except Fuji-Servetto), and three others, Skil-Shimano, Cervélo TestTeam and Agritubel. Each team starts with a total of 9 riders, and as a result there are 180 cyclists in all.

The favourites this year include defending champion Carlos Satre, 2007 champ ion Alberto Contador, Giro D'Italia winner Denis Menchov and two-time runner-up Cadel Evans. But there is one man in particular that we would be paying an extra close eye to: Seven-time winner Lance Armstrong.

The man needs no introduction. After retiring in 2005, the Texan once against returned to pro-cycling to raise awareness for Cancer and his Livestrong Foundation. But although he was written off by most critics before the Tour began, after a number of crashes including one which saw him break his collar-bone, Lance has shown that he's still got it in him to compete at the highest level. After Stage 4, the Team Time Trial in Montpellier, Armstrong was even tied for the lead, and his rivals would make a big mistake writing him off.

Overall classification:
1. Alberto CONTADOR (ASTANA) 85h 48' 35"
2. Andy SCHLECK (TEAM SAXO BANK) + 4' 11"
3. Lance ARMSTRONG (ASTANA) + 5' 24"
4. Bradley WIGGINS (GARMIN-SLIPSTREAM) + 6' 01
5. Frank SCHLECK (TEAM SAXO BANK) + 6' 04'

Team:
1. ASTANA - 256h 02' 58"
2. GARMIN-SLIPSTREAM + 22' 35"
3. TEAM SAXO BANK + 28' 34"

Points Leader:

1. Thor HUSHOVD (CERVELO TEST TEAM) 280 points
2. Mark CAVENDISH (TEAM COLUMBIA-HTC) 270 points
3. Gerald CIOLEK (TEAM MILRAM) 172 points

Climber:
1. Franco PELLIZOTTI (LIQUIGAS) 210 points
2. Egoi MARTINEZ (EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI) 135 points
3. Pierrick FEDRIGO (BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM) 126 points

Stage 21: 26th July, Montereau-Fault-Yonne to Paris Champs-Élysées (164 km)

Stage Results:
1. Mark CAVENDISH (TEAM COLUMBIA-HTC) 4h 02' 18"
2. Mark RENSHAW (TEAM COLUMBIA-HTC) + 0' 00"
3. Tyler FARRAR (GARMIN-SLIPSTREAM) + 0'00"

Stage Description:The Tour ended as usual with the fabulous settings of Paris. The overall individual awards were unfortunately already wrapped up, so the stage had understandably lesser amount of excitement than usual. Mark CAVENDISH however wanted to leave on a positive note and won yet another stage, and also ran Thor HUSHOVD close in the points standing, although the Norwegian was always going to take home the Green Jersey. Alberto CONTADOR as expceted took the Yellow Jersey, but the story of the Tour is definitely Lance ARMSTRONG, who at the age of 37 was still competitive enough to finish thrid overall.

Stage 20: 25th July, Montelimar to Mount Ventoux (167 km)

Stage Results:
1. Juan Manuel GARATA (RABOBANK) 4h 39' 21"
2. Tony MARTIN (TEAM COLUMBIA-HTC) + 0' 03"
3. Andy SCHLECK (TEAM SAXO BANK) + 0' 38"

Stage Description: "Mount Baldy" has seen some of the most legendary moments from the Tour's history, although this was the first time that it played host to the penultimate stage. This is considered the Tour's toughest climb, and for that very reason seeing Lance ARMSTRONG finish fifth 20 days into the Tour would probably be a slap in the face for his critics. He's also virtually assured of a podium finish.

Stage 19: 24th July, Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas (178 km)

Stage Results:
1. Mark CAVENDISH (TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC) 3h 50' 35"
2. Thor HUSHOVD (CERVELO TEST TEAM) + 0' 00"
3. Gerald CIOLEK (TEAM MILRAM) + 0' 0"

Stage Desciptions: Alberto CONTADOR mantained his lead of over 4 minutes. Barring any disaster the Spaniard should win his Second Tour title. This stage, being a flat terrain, was suited for firebrands, so unsurprisingly we found Mark CAVENDISH grab yet another stage win. But the Norwegian Thor HUSHOVD still has a demanding lead in the race for the Green Jersey, ahead by 25 points.

Stage 18: 23rd July, Annecy to Annecy (40.5 km)

Stage Standings:
1. Alberto CONTADOR (ASTANA) 48' 30"
2. Fabian CANCELLARA (TEAM SAXO BANK) +0' 03"
3. Mikhail IGNATIEV (TEAM KATUSHA) + 0' 15"

Stage Description: The riders cycled around Lake Annecy in the final time trial of the Tour. Alberto CONTADOR came up with yet another brilliant performance, and only the bravest would say he could still lose his grip on the Yellow Jersey. He has a lead of over 4 minutes now, and the only mystery that remains is probably where Lance ARMSTRONG will finish. He is in 3rd place, but has Bradley WIGGINS lurking not far behind.

Stage 17: 22nd July, Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Bornand (169.5 km)

Stage Results:
1. Frank SCHLECK (TEAM SAXO BANK) 4h 53' 54"
2. Alberto CONTADOR (ASTANA) + 0' 00"
3. Andy SCHLECK (TEAM SAXO BANK) +0' 00"

Stage Description: This was expected to be a crucial stage in the battle for the best climber, with five ascents that would count towards the classification. Alberto CONTADOR consolidated his lead at the top, as teammate and nearest rival Lance ARMSTRONG fell behind to 4th place. TEAM SAXO BANK made inroads, with both Andy and Frank SCHLECK in the top 3 today, which sees them take the 2nd and 3rd place in the overall classification. Franco PELLIZOTTI meanwhile should surely now win the Best Climber award.

Stage 16: 21st July, Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (159 km)

Stage Results:
1. Mikel ASTARLOZA (EUSKATEL-EUSKADI) 4h 14' 20"
2. Sandy CASAR (FRANCAISE DE JAUX) +0' 06"
3. Pierrick FREDRIGO (BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM) + 0' 06"

Stage Description: Riders needed to make the most of the rest day on Monday, since Stage 16 saw them climb over 30 kms to peak at 2,469 meters above sea level. The Grand-Saint-Bernard pass was visited for the first time on the Tour after a gap of 43 years. ASTARLOZA produced a brilliant late charge 2 kms from the finish line to win the stage, while it became apparent that Lance ARMSTRONG would play second fiddle to Alberto CONTADOR as the Spaniard chases down his second Tour title.

Stage 15: 19th July, Pontarlier to Verbier (207.5km)

Stage Result:
1. Alberto CONTADOR (ASTANA) 5h 3' 58"
2. Andy SCHLECK (TEAM SAXO BANK) + 0' 43"
3. Vincenzo NIBALI (LIQUIGAS) + 1' 03"

Stage Description: The last week of the Tour began with the entry into the Swiss Alps. ASTANA dominated and now lead the TEAM standings after starting the day in 5th place, while Alberto CONTADOR'S stage win gives him a mighty advantage with teammate Lance ARMSTRONG his closest competitor, over a minute back. Rinaldo NOCENTINI, who led the Tour for so long, is now 6th, 2' 30" back.

Stage 14: 18th July, Colmar to Besancon (199 km)

Stage Results:

1. Sergei IVANOV (TEAM KATUSHA) 4h 37' 46"
2. Nicolas ROCHE (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 0' 16"
3. Hayden ROULSTEN (CERVELO TEST TEAM) +0' 16"

Stage Description: The Sprinters needed to get back their focus after the previous stage, in particular Mark CAVENDISH, but the Briton was disqualified. His rival Thor HUSHOVD complained that the Briton tried to barge him into the barriers, resulting in CAVENDISH'S disqualification. The Norwegian has now stretched his lead in the race for the Green Jersey after the Briton failed to gain any points for the second stage in a row. ASTANA also dropped out of the Top 3 of the team's standing, as IVANOV'S daring late charge almost saw him put on the Yellow jersey.

Stage 13: 17th July, Vittel to Colmar (200 km)

Stage Results:

1. Heinrich HAUSSLER (CERVELO TEST TEAM) 4h 56' 26"
2. Amets TXURRUKA (EUSKATEL-EUSKADI) + 4' 11"
3. Brice FEILLU (AGRITUBEL) + 6' 13"

Stage Description: A medium mountain terrain, this route often proves to be a tricky stage. The battle for the Best Climber heated up with Franco PELLIZOTTI wiping out a massive deficit and jumping Egoi MARTINEZ to take the lead. Christophe KERN of the COFIDIS team can be said to be out of contention now, 30 points behind the leading duo.

Stage 12: Thursday, 16th July,Tonnerre to Vittel (211.5 km)

Stage Results:

1. Nicki SORENSEN (TEAM SAXO BANK) 4h 52' 24"
2. Laurent LEFEVRE (BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM) + 0' 48"
3. Franco PELLIZOTTI (LIQUIGAS) + 0' 48"

Stage Desciption: The sprinters enjoyed this stage through the plains. It was one of those stages where Team managers would have been foolish to make a strong prediction in the comfort of their cars.

Stage 11: Wednesday, 15th July, Vatan to Saint-Fargeu (192 km)

Stage Results:

1. Mark CAVENDISH (TEAM COLUMBIA-HTC) 4h 17' 55"
2. Tyler FARRAR (GARMIN-SLIPSTREAM) + 0' 00"
3. Yauheni HUTAROVICH (FRANCAISE DES JEUX) + 0' 00"

Stage Description: The riders are now halfway between Monaco and Paris. This stage is likely to prove decisive in the race for the Green Jersey as yet again the sprinters were on top. Lance Armstrong predicted a CAVENDISH win on his Twitter blog, and the Brit delivered.

Stage 10: Tuesday, 14th July, Limoges to Issoudun (194.5 km)

Stage Results:

1. Mark CAVENDISH (TEAM COLUMBIA-HTC) 4h 46' 43"
2. Thor HUSHOVD (CERVELO TEST TEAM) + 0' 00"
3. Tyler FARRAR (GARMIN-SLIPSTREAM) +0' 00"

Stage Description: The riders returned to the centre of France after spending the last couple of days at the Pyrenees. A return to the plains suited the sprinters best.

Stage 9: Sunday, 12th July, Saint Gaudens to Tarbes (160.5 km)

Stage Results:

1. Pierrick FEDRIGO (BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM) 4h 05' 31"
2. Franco PELLIZOTTI (LIQUIGAS) + 0' 00"
3. Oscar FREIRE (RABOBANK) + 0' 34"

Stage Description:The last stage of the Pyrenees saw the riders cycle through some of the great classics of the region. With 13th July being a rest day, there were a few who were ready to push the pace a couple of notches higer.

Stage 8: Saturday, 11th July, Andorre la-Vieille (176.5 km)
Stage Results:
1. Luis-Leon SANCHEZ (CAISSE D'EPARGNE) 4h 31' 50"
2. Sandy CASAR (FRANCAISE DES JEUX) + 0' 00"
3. Mikel ASTARLOZA (EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI) + 0' 00"

Stage Description:It was Day 2 in the Pyrenees, and with three ascents during the course, it offered the climbers a chance to make their mark.

File Photograph Copyright: Celso Flores