Tour de France 2010: Prologue preview

• Thursday, 10 June 2010
• Cycling Weekly
• 1 Comments

PROLOGUE
Date: Saturday, July 3 2010
From/to: Rotterdam (Netherlands)
Distance: 8.9km
Type: Individual time trial, flat

Start/finish town: Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the largest seaport in Europe and one of the main ports worldwide. Located in the Province of South Holland, on the banks of the River Meuse, one of the rivers of the Rhine and Meuse delta, the city boasts about 600,000 inhabitants while the greater urban area boasts about 1.2 million people.

The name of Rotterdam dates back to the 13th century with the construction of a "dam" on the Rotte River. The construction of the Nieuwe Waterweg (new waterway) in 1875 marked the rapid development of the city.

420 million tons of goods are transported every year through the port, generating 80,000 direct jobs for the inhabitants of Rotterdam and 200,000 jobs for people living outside the city limits.

Rotterdam can also pride itself in the cultural diversity of its population with 174 nationalities and is the first large European city that elected a mayor with Moroccan origins, Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb. The inhabitants have the reputation of working hard, but also of being generous people.

Related links
Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index