[NOTE: This file now has “live tracking” of the race. Read more.]

Last year, shortly after Google Earth was released, a bunch of Tour de France (TdF) fans in the Google Earth Community (GEC) put up the complete route of the 2005 TdF. The race was still going on while they were completing it. This year, the complete TdF 2006 course has already been mapped in Google Earth well ahead of the July 1st start (see the official TdF 2006 web site). It’s a network link, so any refinements will get updated automatically, so save it in your “My Places” if you plan to follow the race. Once it loads, you will just see the tracks for each stage. For more details open up the folder and turn on each stage’s detailed placemarks showing the checkpoints. You can check out the satellite photos, but more importantly make sure you use the pan/tilt features in GE so you can see the mountains they go through. Thanks to ‘lucifer666’ at the GEC, who also did the Volvo Ocean Race network link.

Read other interesting Google Earth stories in the following categories: 3D Models, Flying, Sailing, Science, Sightseeing, Sports, Tips, and more.

About Frank Taylor Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.