The 2009 Tour of Spain will begin in the Netherlands, in the first overseas launch of the race in more than 12 years, organisers announced Wednesday.

The Dutch city of Assen will be the starting point of the 64th Vuelta on August 29, 2009, and the next two stages will also take place in the Netherlands.

The fourth stage will go through the Netherlands before concluding in the Belgian city of Liege.

After a rest day, the race will pick up in the northeastern Spanish city of Tarragona.

The route will be particularly mountainous this year, especially in the second week.

“Almost all the mountain stages are concentrated in the second week, when the overall leaders will come to the fore,” Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde said at the presentation. “It’s a Tour for climbers.”

Also present were his compatriots Alberto Contador, Carlos Sastre and Samuel Sanchez.

But of these, only Sanchez, a gold medal winner at the Beijing Olympics, was able to confirm “100 percent” that he will take part.

The cyclists appeared happy with the route, despite some concern over the long trip from Liege to Tarragona.

The Tour concludes in Madrid on September 20.

“All the ingredients are there to enjoy great cycling,” said the Vuelta’s new director Javier Guillen, who succeeded Victor Cordero, who had been in the job since 1995.

File Photo: CorVos Pro