07 July 2006 | Author: C. Philip

Tour de France goes 3D with Google Earth

Google is giving cycling fans a treat with 3D footage of the most exciting cycle race in history on Google Earth.

Google Earth

Google Earth is a downloadable product which combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to let you explore the world geographically. The zooming, rotating and general navigating capabilities of this program are staggering and you will be blown away when you discover the ease at which you can take yourself into any town or village in the world. Google Earth's technology enables users to interact with massive quantities of satellite imagery and GIS data thus giving them the world at their fingertips. If you want to try out Google Earth then just follow this link.

Tour de France

As this article is being written, the action is heating up in the world's most famous cycle race. Cyclists are pushing their bodies to their limits, climbing severe inclines through villages and towns in the French Alps. The phenomenal efforts of these athletes around the stages can now be fully appreciated as sports fans are now able to trace the route in 3D. The quality and accuracy of the technology allows the user to get pin point images of every incline, hair pin bend and stretch of road. 2D maps simply do not compare with this technology which will leave keen cyclists captivated.

You can fly around the route using a new KML file which is available on the official tour website. You are able to see the entire course overlaid on satellite imagery for Google Earth.

This Google Earth tour feature is available in French, German, Spanish and English. Pick your language and got to the "Tour on Google Earth" link in the left hand navigation. You will be able to see the starts, finishes and information on cities along the way. You can make full use of the functions available such as a great on the tilt function, this will allow you to gauge the real severity of inclines on which the cyclists make heroic assents.

We warn you, you may become truly engrossed in this technology - perhaps even obsessed. If you don't already, you may even take up cycling. Is this a grand plan from Google to get the nation fit? I wouldn't put it past them!

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