Barcelona hosted the Tour de France 2009 last weekend for the first time in 44 years. The riders battled the rain during a rare couple of stormy days for Barcelona and the slick roads caused several accidents in the city. However, Norwegian sprinter, Thor Hushovd, triumphed through the conditions and brought his team, Cervelo, their first stage Tour win, as the passage through Barcelona concluded Stage 6 of the 2009 tour.

After leaving the city, the riders biked into the Pyrenees in a difficult 224km stage whose end only marked a third of the entire 21 stage race. Barcelona residents and visitors were able to view the riders at two times during the race last week. On Thursday July 9, they arrived in the early afternoon through Montjuich and left from around the Plaza Espanyol the next morning heading towards Andorra.

The Tour de France is an annual bike race that attracts the top biciclists from around the world. It has been going on since 1903 and has since been considered one of the greatest sporting speculations in the world. The tour route varies from year to year, but always ends in Paris. This year Barcelona was lucky enough to experience the sporting tradition.

For coverage and photos  of the Tour de France 2009 in Barcelona click here and also check out Barcelona accommodations that were right near the action this July.