The Tour de france has started! Today is the Prologue time trial.

Distance:
7.3km

Start Location:
Place du Glacis - Luxembourg

Start Time:
First rider start: 4 p.m., then at one-minute intervals for 189 riders.

Description:
Course: This is just about as tricky (and as slow) as a prologue course can be. Besides containing about 20 turns, there are stretches of cobblestones, narrow streets in the old town of Luxembourg and three bridge crossings. The 7.3km course drops 225 feet in the first 2km to the Alzette River; climbs back 100 feet beneath the city walls at 4km; drops back to the riverbank; and then climbs 150 feet up the switchback Cat. 4 Rue de Prague at 5km. The last 2km is on straight, wider roads, slightly uphill to the Rue des Glacis. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain or there’ll be a host of riders falling.

It isn't raining and Lance Armstrong starts last in about an hour and 15 minutes.

Course description courtesy of VeloNews.