The 2006 Tour de France was the 93rd Tour de France,taking place from July 1 to July 23,2006.
The Tour began with a prologue in Strasbourg,on the French-German border,and ended Sunday July 23 in Paris.The distance of the course (run counterclockwise around France) was 3657 km (2272 miles).The race was the third fastest in average speed.Along the way,the cyclists passed through six different countries including France,The Netherlands (a stop at Valkenburg in Stage 3),Belgium (at Huy,Stages 3 and 4),Luxembourg (at Esch-sur-Alzette,Stages 2 and 3),Germany (though not stopping there,Stage 1) and Spain (Pla-de-Beret,Stage 11).The presentation of the course was made by the new director of Le Tour,Christian Prudhomme.For the first time since the 1999 edition,there was no team time trial.
The event,as with some of the Tours of the late 1990s,was marred by doping scandals.Prior to the tour,numerous riders - including the two favourites Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso - were expelled from the tour due to their link with the Operación Puerto doping case.After the tour,the winner Floyd Landis was found to have failed a drugs test after stage 17; runner up Óscar Pereiro Sio currently also claims the title.As of October 2006,Landis is still officially considered the winner,whilst he appeals against the failed test.