The Tour de France of 2001 was relatively short, but also difficult, with a number of heavy mountain stages, a team time trial and a climbing time trial. France was done 'clockwise', and thus the Alps were visited before the Pyrenees. The Tour started in France, but in the first week Belgium was visited as well. The finish was, as is traditional, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

The great favorite was the winner of 1999 and 2000, the American Lance Armstrong. His major opponent, like last year, would probably be German Jan Ullrich. Other major contenders seemed to be Joseba Beloki from Spain, Christophe Moreau from France and Francesco Casagrande from Italy. Not starting, because their teams were not selected, were Swiss Alex Zülle, Italian climber Marco Pantani and Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini.

Erik Zabel wins his record sixth consecutive Maillot vert (or green jersey) in the points classification as the best sprinter.

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Stages

External links

* 2001 Tour de France comprehensive results

Tour de France
Category:Tour de France