A number of other cities bid including Utrecht to stage the opening stage of the tour but Netherlands was given a tour start for the fifth time.
The first stage will take place on July 3rd 2010 and will be a 9km time trial starting and finishing in Zuidplein. The next day, the second stage will tour the city before heading towards the border with Belgium about 20km away from Antwerp.
More information can be found here
http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/COURSE/us/grand_depart_2010.html
A tour poster.
The 2009 tour starts in Monte Carlo on July 4th and reports from this tour will appear on this site.
Lance Armstrong has confirmed that he will ride the le tour saying: said: "The Tour is the biggest bike race in the world. We need to tell this [cancer] story on the biggest stage.".
Armstrong is expected to be a number two and ride to support Alberto Contador. He said: : "I'm committed to riding for the best guy. If you've been away for three or four years it would be silly for anybody to think I could pick up where I left off."