The route for the 2010 Tour de France was announced Oct. 14, and on paper it could be most difficult route in years. Without a team time trial, competition for the overall title could be fierce.

It's also about this time of the year, when I begin to think about attending the follow summer's event. It's a love-hate relationship. It's a great trip and it's exhausting.

I've attended the event 11 times, beginning in 1997 with Jan Ullrich's win. A year later, it was the late Marco Pantani's rule. Then Lance Arsmtrong won se
ven straight years, followed by Floyd Landis' victory and subsequent dethronment. And last summer, it was Armstrong's return to the peloton and his third-place finish to Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck.

The Tour for me is more about everything else surrounding the event — the people, villages, restaurants, the sheer enjoyment of the open road — than it is the competition.

So what of 2010 and the start July 3 in Rotterdam? We'll see.

To read more about the 2010 Tour de France, visit: National Cycling Examiner/Examiner.com