VIDEO: Tour de France Delivers Competition and Beauty

Weekends in McHenry County are cycling time for many outdoor enthusiasts.

With the addition of new bicycle lanes and paths throughout Crystal Lake and Cary, it appears more and more people are getting into the peddling spirit. 

For a bit of inspiration, try watching a bit of the 99th Tour de France (on NBC Sports Network) before you leave the house.

Only eight days remain for the 2,173-mile race, which started June 30, until the riders finish in traditional dramatic fashion on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, on July 22.

The cyclists, who hale from all parts of the world, must cover 92 to 135 miles per day, sometimes climbing through fog and clouds on mountainsides in the Alps and Pyrenees. This year's course includes five mountain stages, four medium mountain stages, nine flat, and two time trial-days, according to the 2012 Tour de France website.

The physical challenge of the race is impressive on its own. But the beauty that accompanies it is breathtaking at times. The footage includes scenic air shots of the mountains, cathedrals, castles, rivers and valleys. The riders speed through picturesque small towns and past fields of sunflowers. 

A few minutes of watching the Tour is all the inspiration you'll need when gliding down the Prairie Path, the trail by Cary-Algonquin Road, or facing the challenge of the "big hill" at Veteran Acres. (It'll also make you appreciate the flat terrain of the Midwest).

Happy Trails to You!