Google Earth launches Tour de France tie-in
Caroline McCarthy Former Staff writer, CNET News
Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos.
There might be no Lance Armstrong in this year's Tour, but never fear--Google Earth has a new way to keep you interested in the famed cycling race.
Google has made a downloadable file, available on the Tour's official Web site, that maps the winding course onto Google Earth's satellite imagery. Cycling fans can browse day-to-day information, learn fun facts about the places that the riders traverse, and even use Google Earth's 3D feature to get an idea of just how steep those Alps climbs are.