Monday, 13 July is the first rest day of the 2009 Tour de France and just 46 seconds separates the top five in the general classification
- The smallest gap between the top five on the first rest day in the last 50 years was the 31 seconds separating yellow jersey holder Lech Piasecki from fifth placed Czeslaw Lang in 1987.
- The first rest day in 1987 though was after the second stage whereas this year’s Tour has now had nine stages.
- The 1971 Tour de France also had a small gap between the top five at this stage. Leader Eddy Merckx, who went on to win the race, had a lead of just 43 seconds over fifth placed Gianni Motta.
