Italy Leg of the 2008 Tour de France

The 2008 Tour de France starts tomorrow, July 5, on the northwest coast of France and ends July 27 in Paris. Covering 3,500 kilometers, much of it in hilly terrain, the Tour de France is one of the world's top bike races. Watching the race, either in person or on TV, is very exciting. Follow the action on about.com's France Travel blog.

Although most of the race takes place in France, this year's course includes a leg into Italy's beautiful Piedmont region on July 20, followed by a rest day in Cuneo at the foot of the Maritime Alps (see Piedmont Map).

This is my favorite route for driving from Italy to France, a drive I made just a couple months ago. We had a fantastic, inexpensive lunch at Belsito Restaurant (see photo) in Borgo S. Damazzo, on the Tour de France route. Leaving Cuneo, one travels through small picturesque villages and beautiful natural scenery through the Maritime Alps into France.

Cuneo, well served by public transportation, makes a good base for excursions into the mountains, valleys, and nearby small towns. Find out more about Cuneo in my Cuneo Travel Guide and see photos of the nearby Stura Valley in our Stura Valley Picture Gallery.

More about the 2008 Tour de France including a map, stage list, and facts about the race.

_{Picture of Belsito Restaurant © James Martin, Europe Travel}